Statement By 60 Plus Association President James L. Martin

Arlington, VA — “President Bush has called for tax reform and tax simplification repeatedly since he first took office. On behalf of America’s senior citizens, we believe he is right, and the time is now.

The 60 Plus Association commends Representative Steve King (R-IA), who has introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.J. Res. 16, to permanently repeal the 16th Amendment. The 16th Amendment erected the IRS and gives Congress the power to lay taxes upon – and collect taxes from – income.

While this may seem like an uphill climb, any battle worth undertaking is one worth pursuing with vigor, especially when our country’s economic future hangs in the balance.

What Congressman King seeks is the onset for repeal of what has become burdensome, extraordinarily complex and in many cases, just plain wasteful. Income taxes are thought by many to be a disincentive for people to be productive. Even more shocking, soaring federal tax appetites since the 16th Amendment was enacted (during the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson) have seen unimaginable increases of some 170,000 percent!

Besides the 5 million senior citizen supporters of the 60 Plus Association, H.R. Res. 16 has the strong support of the 350,000-member National Taxpayer Union and strong co-sponsorship of Representatives’ John Linder, Sam Johnson, John Culberson, Kevin Brady, Dan Burton, Ralph Hall, Ron Paul, Jeff Miller, Tom Feeney, John Hostettler, Tom DeLay and Jeff Flake.

Undoubtedly, tax preparers and K Street lawyers won’t support this legislation, because it promises to untangle the mess of federal income taxes.

Whatever form of consumption tax that more fairly levies against our economic choices is a matter for future debate as legislation like Congressman King’s takes flight. We at 60 Plus look forward to that momentum.”