Tax reform: Why Rep. Dave Camp won't rest until it's done
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Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R) of Michigan has led the House's tax-writing panel since 2011. Representative Camp was the guest at the April 11 Monitor Breakfast.
The need for tax reform:
"The code is too complicated. Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year complying with the code. For the average person, it is about 13 hours. It is a cost and a drag on the economy of about $168 billion."
His decision to write tax legislation through a committee process rather than behind closed doors:
"You build to ... consensus on big things from the committee level up, from the ground up.... The best way to do that is through a committee process. I'm going to walk down every street I can to get tax reform done."
The idea of doing away with the federal income tax in favor of another approach, such as a consumption tax:
"One of the concerns you have with alternative forms [of taxation] is because states, many states, rely on an income tax ... [and so] you will still have an income tax.... The worry is, do you layer on another level of taxation in addition to the income tax? I think that would not be a good thing."
The dramatic increase in people signing up for federal disability benefits:
"That is an area that ... is very much in need of attention.... [T]he program is in real trouble in terms of its solvency and so we are going to be forced to take a look at it."
A possible run for the US Senate seat being vacated by retiring Carl Levin:
"I'm committed to tax reform.... I'm not taking a serious look at the race."