Speaking Tuesday, Oklahoma U.S. Senator Tom Coburn criticized Congress, calling on members to support comprehensive tax reform.
“The way to solve that problem though is saying that by a certain date, say four months from now, that tax code’s gone,” Mr. Coburn said in an interview with MSNBC. “Now Congress and the president, you’ve got four months, put in a tax code in that is stimulative to the country, still slightly progressive, fair, and make sure everybody is participating in carrying the load in the country. Americans would accept that.”
The Oklahoma Republican added that he thinks the current tax code is partially responsible for the current state of the U.S. economy, saying the current tax code is “riddled” with tax earmarks.
“One of the reasons we’re having trouble creating a dynamic economy… is that you have a tax code that is riddled with tax earmarks,” Mr. Coburn said.
Mr. Coburn’s comments come as President Obama has called on congressional lawmakers to consider eliminating various tax loopholes, saying the elimination of tax loopholes will allow for additional economic stimulative measures.
Speaking Tuesday, Mr. Coburn said the Obama administration was partly to blame for failed attempts at reforming the nation’s tax code.
“I think there’s a real deficit of leadership,” Mr. Coburn said. “I think most Americans would like to be treated like grown-ups.”
The Oklahoma Republican has faced criticism in the past months as Republicans have sought lower taxes as part of President Obama’s proposal to increase the nation’s debt ceiling. Mr. Coburn has repeatedly called on Republicans to consider elimination tax loopholes, saying they represent a form of “socialism.”
