Roby on Tax Reform: You Should Be Able to Keep More of Your Money in Your Pocket

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala., issued the following news release:

As Congressional Republicans unveiled their highly-anticipated tax reform plan, U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-Ala.) said the goal is to allow all taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Roby attended today's House GOP summit to discuss the joint House, Senate, and White House plan to overhaul the nation's complicated tax code. In a video message to her constituents, Roby spelled out the basics of the tax reform legislation set to be considered in the House over the next few weeks.

"It was a productive meeting, and the message I would relay to those I represent is simple: We want to lower tax rates for every taxpayer so that Americans can keep and invest more of what they earn," Roby said. "You should be able to keep more of your money in your pocket."

"I'm ready to get this done. It is time to deliver some meaningful results to the American people. Tax reform presents a tremendous opportunity to move this country ahead, and I'm committed to getting it done."

The full text of Roby's video message is below.

"I spent most of the day meeting with my Republican colleagues discussing a plan to fix our broken tax code.

"It was a productive meeting, and the message I would relay to those I represent is simple: We want to cut your taxes so that you keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.

"For decades, Americans have been sold this idea that if we only pay more and more in taxes, the government will take care of our every need.

"I don't believe that. When it comes to using money wisely to take care of everyday needs, I trust the people far more than I trust the government.

"That's why conservatives are moving forward with a tax reform plan over the next few weeks, with the goal of getting legislation to the President's desk this year.

"There are three basic tenets of our tax reform plan, and I'd like to take a minute to share them with you.

"Number one: Lower tax rates for every taxpayer so that Americans can keep and invest more of what they earn. Again, you should be able to keep more of your money in your pocket.

"Number Two: Lower business tax rates so we can be globally competitive while closing the loopholes put in place for corporations to avoid paying these high tax rates we currently have. Did you know that many small businesses pay as much as 44 percent in taxes? That amounts to more than almost anywhere in the world, and it keeps business operators from being able to hire new employees, give raises to existing ones, and expand their operations. Our plan lowers business taxes to grow our economy and create jobs.

"Number Three: Simplify the tax code and clean house at the IRS to make it an agency that works for taxpayers, not against them. For far too long, our complicated tax code and the agency that is trusted to enforce it has worked to benefit the government at the expense of the people, and its time to change that.

"Ultimately, our goal is to overhaul the tax code to make it simpler, fairer, and flatter.

"I'm ready to get this done. It's time to deliver some meaningful results for the American people. It's no secret that I have been very frustrated by the Senate's failure pass legislation, including our Obamacare repeal bill.

"We can't change the past, but I hope we can learn from it and press on. Tax reform represents a tremendous opportunity to move this country ahead, and as your voice in Congress, I'm committed to getting it done."