Tax Code Corruption

Steve Forbes has good suggestions for reforming Congress and restraining the growth of government. John Shadegg has addressed two of them, the need to put earmarks and "off-budget" spending through the regular appropriation process, which itself needs to be more transparent and tough.

Forbes points out:

Our tax code--all 9 million words of it--is the biggest source of lobbying and corruption in Washington. The thing has been amended 14,000 times since 1986. Tax bills have become feeding frenzies for special interests, as well as a way for pols to try to buy votes through manufacturing ever more tax credits. The flat tax would eliminate all of this.

He also mentions the need for redistricting reform, which we know to our cost in Illinois. Neighborhoods are so chopped up around here people become very cynical and unengaged.