re: #420 BeachDem

Way back in 2004, when now esteemed head of Heritage Foundation, Jim DeMint was running for Senate, here’s what he had to say on Meet the Press. Talk about argle bargle.

MR. RUSSERT: Well, hold on. When you say, “I want to abolish the IRS,” that sounds good and people say, “Oh, isn’t that a great idea?”

REP. DeMINT: Sure.

MR. RUSSERT: (long statement about bill DeMint co-sponsored and Washington Post criticism of it)
That’s an idea that you co-sponsored.

REP. DeMINT: I would not support any bill that raised the taxes on any American, and I never have, over 50 times I’ve voted

MR. RUSSERT: But what would do you?

REP. DeMINT: And it depends on how you shape that sales tax plan…(blah blah)

MR. RUSSERT: Will you have a refundable aspect for the poor?

REP. DeMINT: Well, I’m glad you asked that, Tim, because if just had a straight sales tax, it will hurt people.

MR. RUSSERT: But then you’re not abolishing the IRS. You need a bureaucracy in order to oversee and manage the refundability. ( Note: I remember watching this and Russert was really trying not to laugh in his face)

REP. DeMINT: …We could reduce the cost of taxes on every American. And, Tim, I just want to make it clear, I wouldn’t vote for any plan that came out of the House that raised taxes on lower income.

MR. RUSSERT: The personal income tax is a progressive tax, the more you make, the higher the tax you pay. A sales tax is across the board. It hits everybody.

REP. DeMINT: Not with refunds. And you look at the different plans. They all have exceptions or refunds to hold the poor harmless, and I would not vote for any sales tax plan that raised taxes on the poor or middle class or anyone.

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