Election 2012
Where do the presidential candidates stand on the FairTax?
In the past elections, AZFT has kept our supporters informed about where
the candidates stand on the FairTax. This election will be no different.
We will soon be updating our Candidate Scorecard to reflect the opinions
of this years' crop of candidates. In the meantime, here is where the
current presidential candidates stand on the FairTax.
Michelle Bachman: Neutral – "I
love the FairTax. If we were starting over from scratch, I would
favor a national sales tax." However, she has refused to
co-sponsor HR 25 because she believes "we would end up with
a dual tax, a national sales tax and an income tax."
Herman Cain: Favors –
He strongly supports the FairTax but advocates a 2 phase process. First,
passing his 9-9-9 plan which eliminates most federal taxes and combines
a 9% individual flat tax with a 9% national sales tax. Then moving to
the FairTax.
Newt Gingrich: Neutral –
Although briefed multiple times by FairTax experts he maintains, “...the
FairTax is a good idea but I’m not yet convinced it’s a doable idea....”
He supports a dual system of the current tax code and an optional flat
income tax which keeps payroll taxes and the IRS.
Jon Huntsman: Unknown –
Supports removing loopholes and deductions and combing the income tax
into three rates while eliminating capital gains taxes, dividends taxes
and the AMT and lowering the corporate tax rate.
Gary Johnson: Favors –
“The fair tax is leading my list” for tax code reform but also promotes
simplification such as untaxing savings and investment while eliminating
corporate income taxes.
President Barack Obama: Unknown –
His economic team was briefed on the FairTax and he has stated a sales
tax would be regressive.
Ron Paul: Favors – "I'll
vote for the FairTax if it comes up because I have made a promise that
I would do anything to get rid of the income tax and the IRS, and repeal
the 16th amendment and that FairTax certainly moves it in that direction."
Rick Perry: Favors –
“Another option would be to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution…altogether,
and then pursue an alternative model of taxation such as a national sales
tax or the Fair Tax."
Mitt Romney: Neutral –
Likes the idea of a consumption based tax but wants it to be structured
in a way that it doesn’t provide a windfall for the wealthiest or burdens
middle income Americans.
Rick Santorum: Unknown –
Supports lower taxes in general and none on manufacturers.
Full Court Press
In keeping with the Operation Co-sponsor campaign—to increase the number
of FairTax co-sponsors in the House and Senate—it is our commitment to
launch a full court press on this years' candidates. We want every candidate
to be educated about the FairTax AND to commit to becoming a co-sponsor
of the bill if elected.
We need volunteers to contact candidates in their district. If you can
assist, please email us at info@azfairtax.org.