Ron DeSantis on Tax Reform : Jan 10, 2024
Flat tax: better for growth & ends weaponization of IRS

DESANTIS: I would only do it if people are better off than they are now. I mean, I want people paying less taxes. We have a spending problem in this country. It's not a tax problem in this country. And if you had something that was simple and transparent, not only would that better for economic growth, it's also better to end the weaponization of government. The IRS has been weaponized against conservatives going back to the Obama administration.

Q: So would working families would pay the same rate as billionaires?

DESANTIS: You'd exempt working-class people-- the first $40 or $50 grand, that's just to subsist. So you would have no tax up to a certain point, and then it would just be a single rate. So if somebody makes twice as much, and they pay twice as much.

Ron DeSantis on Tax Reform : Jan 4, 2024
Eliminate the IRS; have a single rate and just a flat tax

I understand the importance of agriculture for our country. It's not just an economic issue, food security is a national security issue. And I think we're more secure and better when we have family farms that are viable and that can pass that down from generation to generation. I don't want everything to be massive corporations. We need to eliminate the death tax on these family farms so that they can pass it down without getting taxed.

Donald Trump on 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.

Corey Stapleton on Tax Reform : Nov 1, 2000
No flat tax; no super-majority; yes to sales tax

A: No.

Q: Would you support returning any operating surplus to Montana taxpayers?

A: Yes.

Q: Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?

A: No.

Q: Should the state reimburse local governments for revenues lost due to state-mandated property tax cuts?

A: No.

Q: Do you support giving cities and counties the ability to enact local sales taxes with voter approval?

A: No.

Q: Do you support requiring a two-thirds vote by lawmakers to approve any new or increased tax or fee?

A: No.

Q: Do you support implementing a state sales tax?

A: Yes.

Donald Trump on 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.