Andrew Yang on Flat Tax: (Social Security )
Fund Freedom Dividend payments with 10% VAT

Joe Biden on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Oct 15, 2020)
End tax cuts for wealthy and corporations; not all tax cuts

BIDEN: About $1.3 trillion of the $2 trillion in his cuts went to the top one-tenth of 1%. That's what I'm talking about eliminating, not all the tax cuts. You have 91 out of the Fortune 500 companies not paying a single solitary penny. If you raise the corporate tax back to 28%, which is a fair tax, you'd raise one trillion, three hundred billion dollars. If you made sure that people making over $400 grand paid what they did [under] Bush, 39.6%, you would raise another $92 billion.

TRUMP: Our corporate taxes were the highest in the world, and now they're among the lower taxes. They're not the lowest, but they're among the lowest. That means jobs. If we get in, we're going to do the middle income tax package. If [Biden] comes along and raises rates, all those companies that are coming in, they will leave the U.S. so fast your head will spin. We can't let that happen.

Tom Steyer on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Feb 24, 2020)
Unbearable inequality in most unfair tax regime I've seen

Cory Booker on Flat Tax: (Welfare & Poverty Oct 15, 2019)
Level of U.S. child poverty is a moral obscenity

Andrew Yang on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Apr 2, 2019)
Institute 10% VAT, like 160 other countries

Out of 193 countries, 160 already have VAT or goods and services tax, including all developed countries except the United States. The average VAT in Europe is 20 percent. It is well developed and its efficiency has been established. If we adopted a VAT at half the average European level, we could pay for a universal basic income for all American adults.

A VAT would result in slightly higher prices. But technological advancement would continue to drive down the cost of most things.

Donald Trump on Flat Tax: (Corporations Apr 17, 2018)
Historic tax cuts and reforms for American businesses

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP said, "Tuesday is a day hardworking Americans may dread more than any other. Tax Day. A day that individuals and families, small business owners and part-time workers struggle to conquer a burdensome, complex and extremely unfair tax code to determine how much money they owe the government. But we are changing Tax Day for Americans across the country. This is the last year Americans will fill out outdated, complicated tax forms. In the years ahead, because I signed one of the largest tax cuts in history and the most sweeping tax reform in a generation, many Americans will complete their taxes on a simple, single sheet of paper."

Stacey Abrams on Flat Tax: (Technology May 2, 2017)
We must invest in public infrastructure

Stacey Abrams on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Mar 30, 2017)
Keep graduated income tax instead of 5.4% flat tax

MY VOTE: NO. While this plan will close important loopholes that penalize low-income married couples, in its current form, the legislation increases taxes on single low-income taxpayers.

Donald Trump on Flat Tax: (Free Trade Sep 27, 2016)
FactCheck: No, VATs are not tariffs against US exports

When a company in Germany makes goods to sell at home, it has to pay the VAT. But if it makes them to sell in the US, it doesn't--the tax gets waived at the border. If a US company sells in Germany, it does have to pay the VAT. [The UC Irvine] interpretation is that] border adjustability turns the VAT into an "implicit export subsidy" for foreign companies and an "implicit tariff" on US exporters. This is just dead wrong. Everybody has to pay Germany's VAT when they're selling goods in Germany. Nobody has to pay Germany's VAT when they're selling goods outside of Germany.

You can't really blame Trump for this one: a guy with a PhD in economics fed this stuff to him.

Bill Weld on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Jun 22, 2016)
Cut taxes without abolishing the IRS

JOHNSON: Imagine life in this country without the IRS. Greatly simplified. The more money you make, the more things you consume.

WELD: You know, I don't think you have to go so far as to abolishing the IRS. I think if you give the people the sense that taxes are only going to go down--they may not go down a lot, but they're not going to go up. And that's something both Gary and I did. He cut taxes 14 times, never raised them. I cut taxes 21 times, never raised them. The result was, in my case that when I took office, it was a recession, 1991. We had the highest unemployment rate of all 11 industrialized states. At the end of my first term, we had the lowest because businesses have the confidence to build that plant next door. So, you know, in terms of industrial policy, in my case, biotech, telecom, software: We grew those industries in Massachusetts by paying attention to them. And the same could happen at the federal level.

Ted Cruz on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Nov 10, 2015)
There are more words in the tax code than in the Bible

Ted Cruz on Flat Tax: (Corporations Oct 28, 2015)
Business flat tax of 16%; big business same as small

Rand Paul on Flat Tax: (Social Security Oct 28, 2015)
Shifting payroll tax to business helps middle class the most

PAUL: Much of the discussion is centered over whether or not the different tax plans help the middle class. In fact, it's the chief argument by Democrats against many of the different flat tax proposals. Mine is unique in the sense that my tax plan actually gets rid of the payroll tax as well. It shifts it to the business, and it would allow middle class people to get a tax cut. If you just cut their income tax, there isn't much income tax to cut. Mine actually cuts the payroll tax, and I think it would spread the tax cut across all socioeconomic levels, and would allow then it to be something that would be broadly supported by the public in an election.

CRUZ: Rand's plan is a good plan. My 10% plan also eliminates the payroll tax.

John Kasich on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Oct 28, 2015)
My plan is no fantasy; I moved Ohio from $8B to $2B surplus

CARSON: You also have to get rid of all the deductions and all the loopholes. You also have to do some strategic cutting in several places. Remember, we have 645 federal agencies and subagencies. Anybody who tells me that we need every penny in every one of those is in a fantasy world.

Gov. KASICH: We're going to have a 10% tithe, and just fix everything with waste, fraud, and abuse? Folks, we've got to wake up! These plans would put us trillions of dollars in debt. I actually have a plan. Why don't we just give a chicken in every pot while we're coming up with these fantasy tax gains? You have to deal with entitlements. You have to control discretionary spending. I went into Ohio where we had an $8 billion hole, and now we have a $2 billion surplus. We are up 347,000 jobs. In Washington, I fought to get the budget balanced. I was the architect. We cut taxes, and we have a $5 trillion projected surplus when I left.

Ted Cruz on Flat Tax: (Environment Sep 27, 2015)
Take on EPA and agencies that strangle small businesses

Some of you may be thinking, "that makes common sense to me. Live within your means. Don't bankrupt our grandkids. Follow the Constitution. But can it be done?"

I think where we are today is very much like the late 1970s. Same failed economic policies. Same misery, stagnation and malaise. The same feckless and naive foreign policies. In fact, the exact same countries: Russia and Iran, openly mocking the President of the United States. Why is it that analogy gives me so much hope and optimism? Because we know how that story ended: millions of men and women rose up and became the Reagan Revolution.

Rand Paul on Flat Tax: (Social Security Sep 16, 2015)
Get rid of payroll tax to give working class a tax cut

Donald Trump on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Sep 16, 2015)
Raise graduated taxes on hedge fund managers

CARSON: The people who [oppose flat taxes]--that's called socialism.

Q: What about the FairTax?

TRUMP: What I don't like about the FairTax is that if you make $200 million a year, you pay 10%, you're paying very little relatively to somebody that's making $50,000 a year, and has to hire H&R Block because the middle class. The hedge fund guys won't like me as much as they like me right now. I know them all, but they'll pay more. I know people that are making a tremendous amount of money and paying virtually no tax, and I think it's unfair.

Rand Paul on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Aug 9, 2015)
Flat tax 14.5% on personal income; & 14.5% value added tax

PAUL: We have to look at everything across the board and all of government needs to be smaller. I have put forward three five-year plans that balance the budget over five years, including significant tax cuts. If you want a Republican that's going to keep government the same size by having revenue neutral tax and not really cutting tax, I'm not the guy. The Tax Foundation said that my plan would create millions of jobs and that mine is the most pro-growth tax plan ever presented. [My tax plan] helps the poor and the working class because my tax plan gets rid of the payroll tax. Social Security will be paid for by businesses and not by individuals, so a guy making $40,000 a year will get $2,000 more in their check every year.

Rand Paul on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Aug 9, 2015)
Flat tax doesn't exacerbate income inequality

PAUL: Income inequality is due to some people working harder and selling more things. If people voluntarily buy more of your stuff, you'll have more money. And it is a fallacious notion to say that rich people get more money back in a tax cut. If you cut taxes by 10%, 10% of $1 million is more than 10% of $1,000 so obviously people who paid more in taxes will get more back.

Rand Paul on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Apr 7, 2015)
EZ Tax: $700B tax cut via 17% flat tax

The tax reform plan will include a 17% flat tax for individuals and businesses, making it the most competitive in the world. This would bring more businesses back to America, and leave more money in the hands of hard working Americans. The tax reform plan would also provide low and middle-income workers with an exemption from the Social Security payroll tax.

The flat tax would also eliminate every form of unfair, double taxation in the United States, including the capital gains, dividend, estate, gift, and interest tax.

My EZ Tax plan encourages our businesses to be competitive in the global economy with lower rates, while also leaving more money in the hands of the hardworking middle class.

Rand Paul on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Feb 26, 2015)
Balanced budget and a simple, fair tax system

It should include a government that protects your rights and your security. It should include a stronger, better and more agile military. It's time for a new way. A new set of ideas. A new leader: One you can trust--one who works for you.

Ted Cruz on Flat Tax: (Principles & Values Mar 7, 2014)
We win elections by bold principles & a positive agenda

1. Defend the Constitution--all of it.
2. We need to abolish the IRS. We need to adopt a simple flat tax.
3. We need to expand energy in this country and expand high-paying jobs all over America.
4. We need to expand school choice.
5. We need to repeal Dodd-Frank.
6. We need to audit the Federal Reserve.
7. We need to pass a strong balanced budget amendment.
8. We need to repeal every single word of ObamaCare.
9. We need to stop the lawlessness [of Obama and ObamaCare].
10. We need to end the corruption.

Amy Klobuchar on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Oct 20, 2012)
Extend Bush tax cuts except for those earning over $250K

For Bills, what to do about taxes is simple: a flat tax. He favors a solution that would tax every person and business 17.1 percent of their income, with just one or two deductions. That would allow tax returns to shrink to postcard size, and he said it may force some wealthy Americans to pay more.

Congress has three choices to reduce the debt, Bills said: grow the economy, reduce government or raise taxes. He said that cutting government would help the economy grow and could end up bringing in more taxes, even without a tax rate increase.

Mike Gravel on Flat Tax: (Energy & Oil Apr 22, 2008)
Institute a tax on oil

Gravel supports the following principles regarding energy:
• Support international mandatory emission targets to limit global warming.
• Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels.
• When elected president, I would work with Congress to enact a tax on oil to get Americans off carbon-based fuels.
• I would eliminate the income tax and replace it with a progressive fair tax, which would be set at 23%.
• Support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax.

Mike Gravel on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Aug 1, 2007)
I advocate a FairTax: pay as you spend

Mike Gravel on Flat Tax: (Environment Jul 23, 2007)
To get Americans to conserve, change the tax structure

A: Very simple, change our tax structure. Have a fair tax where people are taxed on what they spend rather than what they earn. And our tax system is totally corrupt right now. And so if we now have a retail sales tax, you’ll take this nation of ours from a consuming nation to a savings nation. And that’s the most significant thing we can do to alter climate change.

Mike Gravel on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Feb 21, 2007)
National sales tax; no exceptions; prebates for essentials

Mike Gravel on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Dec 25, 2006)
Repeal the income tax and close down the IRS

The Gravel Agenda: When elected President by the American people, I will:
• Repeal the income tax and closing down the IRS replacing it with a Fair Tax (a national sales tax with a pre-bate for necessities) that will reverse the flight of jobs and capital abroad while balancing the budget;
• Fund education as the top priority it must be in a democracy.

Bill Nelson on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Nov 1, 2006)
National sales tax raises taxes $4,500 versus income tax

HARRIS: There would be a 22% decrease in prices because of embedded costs due to income taxes. The fair tax would not charge people at the poverty level, by paying a ‘prebate’ so it’s revenue-neutral. It would result in growth in our economy. Imagine keeping 100% of your paycheck, without withholding, and without 5 billion hours of tax compliance annually. It’s worthy of debate.

Q: What’s wrong with abolishing the IRS and going to a 23% sales tax?

NELSON: The average taxpayer would be paying $4,500 more per year in taxes under that plan than what they do now. 95% of all Americans would end up paying more tax under that plan.

Mike Gravel on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Apr 17, 2006)
Tax system unfairness only superceded by incomprehensibility

Ken Salazar on Flat Tax: (Corporations Aug 11, 2004)
Close loopholes that encourage overseas headquarters

Ken Salazar on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Jun 19, 2004)
More tax cuts and ending of loopholes

Ken Salazar on Flat Tax: (Budget & Economy Mar 10, 2004)
Cut national debt and close tax loopholes

Jesse Ventura on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Dec 10, 2000)
Modernize, simplify, & clarify tax system

• A better tax system will be more understandable and predictable for taxpayers, so they know how much tax they’re paying & why, and what government is doing with those dollars.
• A better tax system will be more fair, balancing citizens’ ability to pay and the cost and benefits of the government services they consume, and building confidence that the tax laws are being applied evenhandedly to all.
• A fair tax system will eliminate unfunded mandates by assigning tax responsibility to the same level of government that defines what levels of service will be provided.
• A better tax system will be modern, reflecting the economy, technology, and society of the 21st century so we can raise sufficient revenue to meet future needs, be competitive with other states and countries and incorporate new technology and ways of doing business.
• And finally, a better tax system will just make sense, with tax laws that don’t undermine citizens and communities from doing the right things.

Donald Trump on Flat Tax: (Tax Reform Jul 2, 2000)
Opposes flat tax; benefits wealthy too much

I object to the flat tax:
• It is unfair to the poor; eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit [hurts] taxpayers at the lowest rungs of the ladder.
• It is unfair to workers by taxing them for health insurance and other benefits.
• Only the wealthy would reap a windfall, because a flat tax would allow them to cash in interest payments and capital gains without paying personal income taxes.
• I don’t believe that a flat tax could raise enough revenue to keep the government operating.