Congressman Jim Bridenstine Files Bill to Repeal 16th Amendment (Income Tax)

Congressman Jim Bridenstine Files Bill to Repeal 16th Amendment (Income Tax)

Washington, DC, November 18, 2013 - Congressman Jim Bridenstine has introduced a bill (HJ Res 104) in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the 16th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which allows the federal government to levy the income tax.

Congressman Bridenstine said, “Viable alternative plans for raising revenue fairly to support constitutionally enumerated functions of the federal government have been proposed.  As long as the 16th Amendment is in place and lobbyists dominate Washington, these alternatives will never be considered.”

The result of this repeal will be to eliminate the personal and corporate income tax, the estate and gift taxes, and taxes on investment earnings at the federal level.  A constitutional amendment can be repealed by another amendment, which requires approval of three fourths of the states for ratification.  After ratification, Congress and the states will have two years to decide on an alternative revenue stream.  Bridenstine supports the Fair Tax, but he says this effort also has supporters from the Flat Tax community.

Original co-sponsors of the amendment include Congressmen Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Thomas Massie (R-KY).

Bridenstine commented, “The 4th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees ‘The right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.’  The 16th Amendment effectively negates the 4th Amendment.  The 16th Amendment should be repealed and the IRS should be eliminated.”

The personal and corporate income tax is a punitive tax on productive effort which discourages investment, innovation, risk-taking and job formation within the United States.  The income tax code has become too complex for citizens to understand, and the annual time and expense required to comply with the income tax code has become intolerably burdensome.

Furthermore, the income tax is inherently unfair with different tax rates applying to various taxpayers.  The tax code is subject to endless manipulation by groups seeking to advantage themselves relative to others.  Worse, the Internal Revenue Service which administers the income tax has been used as a political weapon to suppress 1st Amendment rights and influence elections. 

A significant coalition of organizations and individuals is supporting the “Repeal 16” effort that Bridenstine’s amendment initiates.  Americans for Limited Government, Americans for Fair Taxation, the Tea Party Patriots, Free Market America, and Competitive Governance Action have a straightforward message for Washington lawmakers: end the current corrupting tax system and the oppressive IRS.  

The website www.Repeal16.org offers further information and a repeal petition.  The Repeal 16 coalition enthusiastically supports the Bridenstine amendment.

http://www.repeal16.org/repeal-16-legislation.html