While 2013 might seem far off, it will come quickly, as will the tax hike for every tax-paying American if Congress does nothing to stop it. The issue of revenue and taxes has been at the forefront of the national discussion lately. I strongly believe that we should not raise taxes on any individual American when so many folks are struggling to put food on the table, and small businesses are lacking the resources to hire new employees. At the same time, the federal government has proven again and again that it cannot responsibly allocate the money it is already receiving from our taxpayers. We’ve seen various examples of misuse of resources, as well as a continued determination by the Administration to spend money that we simply do not have. With so much waste, fraud, and abuse already existing, why should folks trust the bloated federal government with even more of their hard earned dollars? This is why I believe it is critical for Congress to address the government’s spending problems. In recent years, the federal government has overextended itself, and it is critical that Congress closely examine its expenditures to ensure that Americans’ tax dollars are being allocated in the most effective way. Households across the country have to budget responsibly; Congress should be held to the same standard.
While excessive spending is at the heart of Washington’s problems, I do believe that fundamental reform of our tax code is necessary to stimulate economic growth and begin to tackle our nation’s deficit. Our current tax code is incredibly complicated and full of layers, forcing small businesses and job creators to waste countless hours determining how much they owe in taxes, rather than pursuing innovations and growing their businesses. This must change. “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes.” This duty is spelled out in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, and it is a power that the Founding Fathers would not want me to take lightly. Those who crafted the Constitution included this authority for a specific purpose: “to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.” It is absolutely critical for Congress to ensure that it is using this responsibility wisely and effectively, rather than simply as a blind and reckless reaction to excessive spending by the federal government.
In the coming months, Congress must tackle this issue. I strongly believe Congress should not procrastinate and wait until December 23 to prevent a tax hike. I believe a comprehensive package creating a fairer, simpler tax code is the most responsible method, and I am hopeful that the House, Senate, and President will rise to this challenge in order to provide certainty and stability to the American public and to our nation’s economy.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the various tax proposals that come before Congress, as well as any other issues that you’d like to discuss. As always, you can reach me by phone at (202) 225-4261, through email on my website at www.wittman.house.gov, via Twitter (www.twitter.com/robwittman), or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/reprobwittman).
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee where he is the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
