March 28, 1972
Page 10425
S. 3378
Mr. NELSON: Mr. President, Senator Moss and Senator MUSKIE have requested that their names be added as cosponsors of S. 3378, the Tax Reform Act of 1972.
I ask unanimous consent that Senator MUSKIE's statement on this proposed legislation be printed in the RECORD at this point.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
STATEMENT BY SENATOR EDMUND S. MUSKIE ON COSPONSORSHIP OF TAX REFORM ACT OF 1972
I am co-sponsoring Senator Nelson's Tax Reform Act of 1972 because of my conviction that tax reform is one of the most urgent issues facing the Congress. I want to do all that I can to assist the passage of comprehensive meaningful reform legislation that will end many of the inequities of our federal tax system. Senator Nelson correctly points out that a tax system supposedly progressive, designed to tax people according to their ability to pay, has in fact become an unfair, discriminatory system which shelters the wealthy from a fair share of the tax burden. The American people recognize this inequity and they are demanding an end to it. Their demand does not represent, as some would argue, a retreat from responsibility, or a diminished commitment to the public welfare. Instead, it represents a simple, just appeal for fairness in the distribution of the tax burden. Congress must respond to this appeal with the kind of legislation advanced by Senator Nelson.
However, as Senator Nelson stated when he introduced his legislation, supporters of tax reform do not agree on all details of reform. There are items in my tax reform program not contained in Senator Nelson's bill. There are some details of Senator Nelson's bill not contained in my own program. Therefore, to further consideration of the details of all aspects of tax reform, I intend to introduce a tax reform bill which embodies the proposals in my program. This bill will not be competitive with Senator Nelson's. I simply hope, by its introduction, to add to the momentum for tax reform in Congress and encourage a dialogue which will lead to enactment of the best tax reform measure possible.