All House GOP freshmen - including Reps. Merrill Cook and Chris Cannon of Utah - said Thursday they are banding together to push sweeping reform to simplify the tax code.
"I am pleased that this Congress, for the first time in many years, has passed some tax cuts for the American people," Cannon said. "It is an important first step. However, much more must be done to simplify and reduce the tax code."For example, Cook said that changes to bring the tax cuts actually lengthened the already complex tax code from 9,451 pages to 10,271.
"I'm disappointed that Congress hasn't seriously tackled tax reform yet," Cook said. "I'm proud to join this group in simplifying our code, providing more tax relief to Americans and getting rid of anti-family taxes such as the `marriage tax.' "
GOP freshmen outlined principles for a tax reform bill they plan to introduce next year, including simplifying the tax code, strengthening families, rewarding hard work and entrepreneurship, providing incentives to save and invest, and helping improve education.
Cannon said he especially wants to eliminate the "marriage penalty" in income tax, where married couples pay more tax in some circumstances than single people with the same incomes.
"We must support tax policies that strengthen families, not weaken them," Cannon said. "We must support tax policies that help women succeed, not overtax them for joining their husbands in the workplace to support their families."
Cook also announced that he plans a spring conference on tax reform in Utah.
"This spring I am planning a seminar to debate tax reform proposals. I anticipate the proposals sponsored by Rep. (Dick) Armey and Rep. (Bill) Archer (both R-Texas) - the flat tax and the national sales tax - will headline the event. Either would be an improvement of our current system," Cook said.