Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has taken a break from his curious campaign strategy of ripping on prospective voters by doing something really weird: announcing a dramatic plan to restructure the tax code.
What's more, it's actually pretty good.
It's part of his new jobs plan but the restructuring of the tax code would involve the removal of all loopholes, deductions and tax expenditures and the elimination of the home mortgage deduction. It focuses on four areas: tax reform, regulatory reform, energy independence and free trade.
As Jim Pethokoukis writes:
To me, the Huntsman plan looks like pro-free market populism, anti-crony capitalism
The plan is being announced a week before President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announce their plans. I wonder if this puts the pressure on them to come up with something as dramatic.
From the CNN story:
Huntsman would eliminate capital gains, dividends taxes, and the Alternative Minimum Tax, and reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 percent. His plan calls for three individual tax brackets set at eight, 14 and 23 percent. The changes to the tax code would be revenue-neutral. ...
"The President believes that we can tax and spend and regulate our way to prosperity. We cannot. We must compete our way to prosperity," Huntsman plans to say. "We need American entrepreneurs not only thinking of products like the iPhone or Segway; we need American workers building those products. It's time for made in America to mean something again."
It's a shame Huntsman spent the last several weeks ripping on voters. Otherwise this plan would probably receive a much better reception. Or is it a good enough plan to let bygones be bygones?
What do you think? Does this make you want to give Huntsman another look?
- Comment (26)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
No second look for Huntsman, but it's a good plan. Hopefully one of the other candidates will run on something similar.
Jul '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
I don't care how good his plan is. After 4 years of having an elitist snob look down his nose at me, there is no way I'm voting for another one. Besides, for that kind of reform to pass we need to pick up 12 more seats in the Senate this upcoming cycle. My guess is that if we do get the super majority then tax reform becomes a major legislative priority no matter who the republican president is.
-E
Jun '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Give Huntsman another look? No. I will not vote for a candidate the Democrat Party and the talking heads on MSNBC endorse as the best Republican candidate.
Huntsman's plan is only a start. A flat or fair tax would be better. Substantially reducing the tax on profits made by corporations overseas would probably infuse a good deal of money into the economy and allow some companies to consider expansion and hiring.
If a Republican candidate can't articulate a short and long term plan to restructure entitlements and reduce the size of the federal government BEFORE the election then he or she does not deserve the nomination.
Huntsman - wrong man, wrong party, wrong ideas on the role of government - wrong, wrong, wrong. The right thing for Huntsman to do is to run as Obama's running mate.
Mar '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Jon Who?
Sep '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Huntsman is polling lower than Gary Johnson fer cryin out loud.
For every good fiscal policy that Huntsman proposes, I would bet that Ron Paul could propose ten.
I understand why MSM outlets love talking about Huntsman, but I'm not sure why conservative outlets give him the time of day.
Sep '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Either CNN misstates the particulars of the plan or the plan is not revenue neutral. If and when a copy of the plan is available it will be interesting to see. If the plan contains the solution to all of our problems, which I seriously doubt it does, it could be implemented by anyone. We don’t need a condescending snob to do it.
Nov '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Tax simplification is a pipedream anyway. First the tax system is less about raising revenue than influencing public policy, and promoting a reward/punshment mechanism.I don't see politicians or theri parties giving that up.
Second tax simplicfication eliminates a lot of good paying jobs in the short run. Take the estate tax for example. The actual tax itself generates about $5Billion a year. However, it is estimated thatAmericans spend $30Billion a year in professional fees, tax planning, life insurance and other products to escape estate taxes. Assuming a 30% tax rate, that is $9Billion in taxable revenue. So instead of it being a $5 Billion revenue issue, is is really a $14Billion issue, plus those who need some type of career rebalance.
Consider that approx 60% of the face amount of life insurance, not number of policies, is written for estate tax avoidance, and you can understand why the Insurance industry wants to drop the estate exclusion to $1-Million.
Sep '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
I said it with one scotch in my gut during the live chat and I'll repeat it: Huntsman's a mole; a stalking horse in the Greek Trojan horse tradition; the Republican Gollum who just found the ring in the Misty Mountains and can spend the rest of his career letting it poison his mind so he can fling invective at the Republican hobbits down in Hobbiton while he hogs the mike until his Democrat ring masters throw him out of the twin towers to be ground under the wheels of Hillary's primary challenge bus as it steamrolls him and Obama on its way to a Nixonian deal with China.
The Huntsman Campaign is the 2011 Roadkill to Nowhere Tour. Get out of the way. He's got the steering wheel, and he's driving off a cliff.
Apr '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
I'll admit the ideas are a good start. However, good ideas presented by one who has little respect for those who agree with such ideas tend to remain ideas and rarely become practice.
Nov '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
What do you think? Does this make you want to give Huntsman another look? ·
Well, honestly, no. Thank you for bringing it to our attention, though. It is an intriguing and bold plan worth a look. Mr. Hunstman, however, is a self-absorbed prat with ideological inconsistencies that purport to show thoughtfulness, but really demonstrate confusion.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Dec '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Any GOP candidate that doesn't have a similar plan will be finished.
I have yet to see a single positive post or article about Huntsman from a conservative - no one since Reagan has been this effective at uniting conservatives.
Aug '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
The Segway? Jon Huntsman thinks the Segway is a shining example of American innovation?
Dec '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
A believer in Anthropogenic Global Warming is coming out on a platform that includes energy independence?
Oy. Here come the windmills and fuels distilled from RINO poop.
May '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
The plan is pretty good- I think we could make Huntsman the chairman of the GOP Platform Committee Jobs and Business Subcommittee.
Jul '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
I have never before seen so many conservatives railing against a simplification of the tax code, and in such a conservative-friendly way. All this hate, simply because of who has suggested it? Time to put our prejudices aside and call a spade a spade, regardless of who's holding it. I like simplified taxes. I know a lot of Ricocheteers do, too. Thank you, Jon.
Now Governor Huntsman, please explain what in heaven's name you are doing wasting your and other people's time and money in this Presidential race that you are so sure to lose it is almost laughable.
May '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Humza Ahmad: I have never before seen so many conservatives railing against a simplification of the tax code, and in such a conservative-friendly way. All this hate, simply because of who has suggested it? Time to put our prejudices aside and call a spade a spade, regardless of who's holding it. I like simplified taxes. I know a lot of Ricocheteers do, too. Thank you, Jon.
Now Governor Huntsman, please explain what in heaven's name you are doing wasting your and other people's time and money in this Presidential race that you are so sure to lose it is almost laughable. · Aug 31 at 2:43pm
You see, Humza, you and I completely agree! And we both agree that Huntsman should turn his immediate attention to a different endeavor.
Jul '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Just a thought - perhaps he's putting down his marker for Secy. of Treasury under Pres. Perry?
Jul '11
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Humza Ahmad: I have never before seen so many conservatives railing against a simplification of the tax code, and in such a conservative-friendly way. All this hate, simply because of who has suggested it? Time to put our prejudices aside and call a spade a spade, regardless of who's holding it. I like simplified taxes. I know a lot of Ricocheteers do, too. Thank you, Jon.
Now Governor Huntsman, please explain what in heaven's name you are doing wasting your and other people's time and money in this Presidential race that you are so sure to lose it is almost laughable. · Aug 31 at 2:43pm
I don't see much railing against simplification of the tax code on this post. The railing is towards Huntsman, who is a tool in every sense of the word. The fact that he is hawking a plan for tax reform simply shows that he understands that he has to propose SOMETHING that appeals to conservatives.
-E
Jul '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
CandE
I don't see much railing against simplification of the tax code on this post. The railing is towards Huntsman, who is a tool in every sense of the word. The fact that he is hawking a plan for tax reform simply shows that he understands that he has to propose SOMETHING that appeals to conservatives.
-E · Aug 31 at 7:17pm
You're right, he needs to propose something. Just like every other candidate. And that's what sets him apart, the fact that he has made an actual, detailed policy proposal, unlike any of his opponents. That in itself deserves credit.
Jul '10
Re: Huntsman Takes Break From Mocking Voters To Announce Intriguing Jobs Plan
Duane Oyen
You see, Humza, you and I completely agree! And we both agree that Huntsman should turn his immediate attention to a different endeavor. · Aug 31 at 3:35pm
Great minds, Mr. Oyen; great minds :)