Joe Biden deployed his infamously weird whisper gimmick while delivering remarks on the economy and inflation Thursday, leaning into the microphone to say he would reject the House Republicans’ tax legislation should the bills make it through Congress.
“Let me be very clear, if any of these bills make it to my desk: I will veto them,” Biden whispered menacingly.
Biden took the opportunity to blast the new GOP House majority for passing a bill Monday night that would rescind $72 billion in IRS funding for new IRS agents.
“Like many Americans I was disappointed that the very first bill that Republicans in the House of Representatives passed would help wealthy people and big corporations cheat on their taxes at the expense of ordinary middle-class taxpayers,” he said, completely mischaracterizing what the Republicans had done.
Biden then ridiculed other GOP proposals, including a bill to eliminate the IRS, and implement a national sales tax in its place.
“A national sales tax. That’s a great idea. It would raise taxes on the middle class by taxing thousands of everyday items from groceries to gas. While cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans,” Biden said.
“Go home and tell your moms. They’re going to be real excited about that,’ he told reporters in the room.
Biden creepily whispers that he will VETO the bill repealing his 87,000 IRS agents. pic.twitter.com/VYrOjK2Nny
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 12, 2023
The “Fair Tax Act” proposed by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), would remove the national income tax, death, gift and payroll taxes, and abolish the IRS, but would implement a national consumption tax in their place.
“Cosponsoring this Georgia-made legislation was my first act as a Member of Congress and is, fittingly, the first bill I am introducing in the 118th Congress,” Carter said in a press release.
“Instead of adding 87,000 new agents to weaponize the IRS against small business owners and middle America, this bill will eliminate the need for the department entirely by simplifying the tax code with provisions that work for the American people and encourage growth and innovation,” Carter continued.
“Armed, unelected bureaucrats should not have more power over your paycheck than you do,” he added.
There are eleven co-signers signed onto the bill, including Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), (Rep. Bob Good, R-Va.), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), and House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.).
“As a former small business owner, I understand the unnecessary burden our failing income tax system has on Americans,” said Duncan in a statement. “The Fair Tax Act eliminates the tax code, replaces the income tax with a sales tax, and abolishes the abusive Internal Revenue Service. If enacted, this will invigorate the American taxpayer and help more Americans achieve the American Dream.”
“I support the Fair Tax because it simplifies our tax code,” said Good in a statement. “This transforms the U.S. tax code from a mandatory, progressive, and convoluted system to a fully transparent and unbiased system which does away with the IRS as we know it. It is good for our economy because it encourages work, savings, and investment. Thank you to my colleague Rep. Buddy Carter for leading this effort to simplify the system for American taxpayers.”
“I’m very proud to once again co-sponsor the FairTax (sic) Act,” said Cammack in a statement. “We’ve seen a continued growth of the IRS and a persistent punishment of hardworking Americans via the tax code. What we’re calling for is a simplified and fair code that works for all, not just some.”
“I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that fights back against the weaponization of the IRS and stops punishing those who work hard to succeed,” she added.