Sean Hannity and Sen. Chambliss Spar Over "New Revenue" Versus "Raising Taxes"
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) generated heat when he appeared to distance himself from Grover Norquist’s tax pledge, which opposes efforts to raise taxes. Tonight on Hannity, he addressed why he has decided to go against the pledge.
Sen. Chambliss believes, “The Simpson-Bowles plan that came out, that says if we’re going to address the long-term debt of this country, recommended that you eliminate all tax credits and tax exclusions in a major tax reform package.”
He continued, “The Gang of Six that I was a part of, still am a part of, followed that recommendation.
We think you ought to eliminate all of that. That will generate about $1.2 trillion dollars in revenue, not new taxes, revenue.”
The senator says part of that revenue generated should go toward paying down the debt. The problem he has with Norquist is that he claims it’s a tax increase because the rest of it will go to lowering tax rates.
Sean Hannity wasn’t buying it, saying that the “new revenue” is raising taxes. He said, “Senator, this math doesn’t add up, in all honesty here. Look, I understand where the government is. I’m very concerned. This is the first generation where Americans are saddling their kids with unsustainable debt. I just, as a conservative, I believe in economic growth."
