Blunt backs increasing income tax base

Sen. Roy Blunt

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican who typically stands in fierce opposition of federal tax increases, told reporters last week that he would be open to expanding the federal income tax base to include more citizens.

As the Congressional “Super Committee” on deficit reduction nears it’s deadline for presenting recommendations on how to stabilized the federal budget, Blunt said he would not oppose requiring more Americans to pay a federal income tax.

Under current federal law, nearly half of all U.S. residents don’t pay federal income taxes because they don’t make enough money. However, these individuals still pay payroll, sales and other taxes.

Blunt said that requiring a more citizens to pay taxes would give them more interest in the system and in making reforms.

“My view is that we have been mistaken in moving people totally off the income tax roll,” Blunt said during a conference call with reporters last week. “What you pay in income tax might not be very much, but suddenly you’re in the income tax system.”

The Super Committee is far from a final proposal, but Blunt said increasing the income tax base was not likely to be among their recommendations.

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Posted by Tim Sampson on November 16, 2011. Filed under Budget and Taxes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry