Rick Perry Previews His Next Economic Plan
EmailLAS VEGAS – After his strongest debate performance since his entrance in the presidential race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry shared a portion of his forthcoming economic growth plan which he will unveil in next week in South Carolina. The economic growth plan will include a flat tax, spending cuts, a balanced budget amendment and a call for entitlement reform.
“In six days, I’m going to release the details of an economic growth package that will create jobs, create growth, create investor confidence in America again,” Perry said at the Western Republican Leadership Conference Wednesday morning. “Scrapping the three million words of the current tax code, starting over with something simpler — a flat tax. I want to make the tax code so simple that even [Treasury Secretary] Timothy Geithner can file his taxes on time.”
Perry expressed his commitment to cutting spending and reforming entitlement programs, but offered no specifics. The Texas governor, who touts his own success in balancing the budget in the Lone Star State, made a call for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
“I will barnstorm this country from day one going to all 50 states if that’s required to generate the support for a balanced budget amendment that will require the necessary, that will demand the necessary changes be placed in our Constitution and make tough choices year after year,” he said.
The Texas governor, who came out swinging in Tuesday night’s debate, attempted to differentiate himself from the other candidates, characterizing himself as anti-establishment.
“I am not the candidate of the establishment. You won’t hear a lot of shifting nuance from me,” Perry said. “I’m going to give the American people a huge big old helping of unbridled truth that we can’t continue to spend what we’re spending, that we can’t avoid entitlement reform because we’re afraid of the third rail of politics.”
Perry’s appearance at the debate and speech Wednesday morning marked his first appearance in Nevada this campaign cycle, and he presented a more energetic persona than in previous weeks. Perry bounded onto the stage at the Western Republican Leadership Conference full of energy, at times even sounding like a yell-leader.
“Let’s get Washington out of the way in order to save and preserve the American way. Let’s do it. Let’s roll,” Perry said as he closed his speech while shaking his hands in the air.
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Unless he has the house and 60 Seats in the Senate the left won’t let it be passed ever.
Posted by: snewsom2997 | October 19, 2011, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Not in favor of any flat tax. We cannot fund our government that way, without putting undue stress on the middle class and poor.
We have to have a tiered tax system…….but it can be “books” smaller, and simpler, with no credits, deductions, or loopholes. That would also mean no child tax credits, because illegal immigrants are using that aspect of the tax code, to avoid paying any income taxes. If we have to put up with them, they must be made to pay taxes.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | October 19, 2011, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
A huge confidence booster would to see any elected Washington official as they call them, loose their matching working salary income for retirement life which also includes the one that their spouse receives, if they are going to talk flat taxes. As far as i am concerned both Perry and Cain started off good but their fat cat ideologies are becoming very alarming, everyone eludes away from the talk of bringing our Made in America jobs home, instead they are thinking up ways to morph and corrupt the leftovers of perversion, thats what we are working with, what are now the leftovers and what has been perverted of what is considered beyond filthy greed and paying through the nose to Corps like Haliburton to be the worlds police force.
Posted by: NewUnion | October 19, 2011, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
Perry is far from perfect, but he is miles ahead of the current occupant of the White House!
Posted by: PappyHappy | October 19, 2011, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Rick: I totally agree with you. I will not vote for anyone who advocates a flat tax. I would agree with no credits, deductions, or loopholes and a flat tax system that was progressive. I think that EVERYONE should pay something to support the government, even if it is just $50; however, I also think that the loopholes that the rich have been able to take advantage of should be eliminated.
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | October 19, 2011, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Perry had quite a few strikes against him in my book before I even saw how BRAINLESS he is. Now that I’m SURE about that the rest just makes him a SOLID LOSER. When will people ever learn that dumb cowboys from Texas are NOT the ANSWER!!!
Posted by: demNme5 | October 19, 2011, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
According to another web site, Perry’s Texas has 4 of the 10 worst cities to have the lowest credit score average in the country. Something wrong there. I would not vote for him. He Is like a Puffer Fish, needing to have a big ego in front of others for showing off.
Posted by: cmerckel | October 19, 2011, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Interesting….the flat tax idea has been proposed many times, typically from an independent or a Democrat. I am all for eliminating tax loopholes for the wealthy, but would not be in favor of a flat tax unless it is graduated based on income. A 10% tax across the board is not fair, as 10% of a $40,000 salary has a much stronger impact than 10% on a $250,000 salary. Graduating the flat tax level upward for higher incomes is something that should be considered. However, a flat tax rate will never be supported by the legal and accounting industries, there is too much money involved.
Posted by: RohnertPark1 | October 19, 2011, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Are there people who still believe that a flat tax in this country would work? Maybe if 100% of what everyone earned was disposable income as opposed to requiring a minimum amount for food, clothingk shelter, and other necessities. There’s a reason for the graduated tax scale so that the more you make, the more they take. Perry just pulled off the incredible feat of shooting himself in the foot by putting his foot in his mouth and then shooting his mouth off.
Posted by: Publius | October 19, 2011, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Will his tax apply to illegal aliens? Or do they get a free ride like in Texas.
Posted by: GrandInquisitor | October 19, 2011, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
A simple idea from a simple man. If such a thing could be enacted, it would already have been done. Just more pie-in-the-sky talking points to keep his name in the news. Perry needs to realize he is already out of the race.
Posted by: Wayne | October 19, 2011, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
Rick Perry isn’t a George Bush clone……He is the even more mentally challenged (retarded) Bush.
Posted by: rippedpockets | October 19, 2011, 10:12 pm 10:12 pm
““I will barnstorm this country from day one going to all 50 states if that’s required to generate the support for a balanced budget amendment that will require the necessary, that will demand the necessary changes be placed in our Constitution and make tough choices year after year,” he said”.
Careful what you wish for, Rick. While your plan is a joke and will never be implemented, consider this: IF we had a balanced budget amendment in place, it could just as easily be used to RAISE federal taxes as it could be to cut spending programs. There are two ways to balance the budget: cut spending or raise taxes (or a combination of the two). Nobody would be stupid enough to craft an amendment that specified the balancing of the budget MUST be achieved through cuts alone. So a balanced budget amendment would allow – in fact could FORCE – a federal tax increase to be enacted. Which just might cause Grover Norquist’s head to explode……………..
Posted by: Searambler | October 20, 2011, 11:28 am 11:28 am