A national anti-tax organization is calling out the chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee for comments signaling what they are characterizing as a willingness to increase taxes by the Fiscal Commission, which is tasked with finding ways to “improve the long-term fiscal condition of the federal government.”
U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas made the comment on the American Compass podcast, saying, “Revenue is on the table for the fiscal commission for consideration.”
He then named Club for Growth and said that while he believed their mission was good, he disagreed with pledging against new revenue because it would prevent lawmakers from ending certain Democrat tax incentives, such as those towards unreliable green energy.
“Under this tax pledge you couldn’t repeal this Democrat green energy tax giveaway and put that some of that money, if not all of it, towards reducing the deficit,” said Arrington.
Club for Growth, however, says they do not consider repealing these tax credits to be a tax increase when accompanied by major tax reductions, such as making the Trump tax cuts permanent.
The comment comes at a time when former President Donald Trump is championing new tax cuts.
Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Texas Scorecard, “When the Budget Chairman signals that he is open to tax increases, all it does is hurt Republicans’ chances of keeping our majority.
“Voting to raise taxes on hard working American families is not, and will never be, a conservative policy position. Just this week, President Trump and Speaker Johnson both sent a clear signal that a fresh round of tax cuts will be their top priority in the next Congress,” said McIntosh. “Despite what the ‘conservative’ tax hikers funded by the radical left might claim, Washington has a spending problem—not a revenue problem. In order to restore fiscal sanity to the United States, we must rely on the free-market principles that have allowed our country to thrive for generations.”
Arrington, however, disputed the allegation.
“I do not support tax rate increases. Anyone saying otherwise is wrong,” Arrington told Texas Scorecard. “We need a low and competitive tax rate. With respect to revenue – the 75,000 pages of our tax code and official tax guidance are riddled with special interest tax breaks and loopholes. Ending handouts that only benefit a few like the SALT deduction and Biden’s Green New Deal subsidies will not only increase revenue, but are good policy.”
