Experts Debate Flat Tax at Tiring Line5
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REEDER NAMED NATION'S TOP KICKER - PAGE 9 TCU DAILY SKIFF ', DECEMBER 1,1995 TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 93RDYEAR, NO. 55 Experts debate flat tax at Tiring Line5 Sides remain divided along partisan lines • BP^iik * BY BLAKE SIMS of the National Center for Policy fcfcyg^j^M|g^^^ajjHiH TCU DAILY SKIFF Analysis. Buckley joined Goodman in asserting that the flat tax is sup- iw^.. Sparks flew Thursday afternoon in ported by the 14th Amendment. 0 TCU's Ed Landreth Auditorium as "All Americans should be treated 59 E£l L leading taxation experts clashed on equally under the law," Buckley said. \M0 %S. V • » * ^ ■P the issue of a flat tax. He said under the Armey proposal, a Those arguing for abandoning the family of four earning S40.()(K) per current tax code for a new, simplified year would pay about SHOO, while version said the economy would reap Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, tremendous benefits. Those opposing would pay approximately S2I2 mil- the measure said it would not be fair lion. to the middle class. Lester Thurow, dean of the Sloan Michael Kinsley, from CNN's School of Management at the Mass- "Crossfire," got laughs from the achusetts Institute of Technology, packed Ed Landreth Auditorium as said the current federal income tax he introduced the panelists and the system is not as complicated as the ' A \ 'W debate topic. flat tax advocates make it seem. He William F, Buckley, host of "Firing said the only part of calculating taxes — ^M Line." opened the formal debate by that is complicated is figuring / \ offering the flat tax proposal written income, and that wouldn't change by Texas Congressman Dick Armey under the Armey proposal. r v - irti (R), as the standard set of issues to be Thurow said the taxable income argued. deductions currently allowed for 1 " *%» 1 The proposal would replace the home mortgage interest payments current, three-level income tax with and medical care costs would likely a flat tax rate of 17 percent. Former survive congressional debate and Delaware Governor Pete du Pont make their way into the new tax code. TCU Daily Skiff/ Blake Sims said citizens' income is currently Those deductions would also compli- Camera crews prepare to film the debate before the "Firing Line" show yesterday at TCI. w here national personality William taxed four times by the federal gov- cate the flat tax plan. Buckley, host of the show, opened the formal debate by offering the flat tax proposal written by Texas Congressman Dick ernment. He said capital gains and interest Armey (R). The debate will air on PBS on over 200 stations nationwide in December. The two "Firing Line" programs will Du Pont said it is taxed as earnings, on investments would not be included then again when it gains interest. He as taxable income, and therefore cor- be broadcast on public television stations in January. For more behind-the-scenes views, see photo essay on page 6. said the money is taxed yet another porate America would simply change and presidential candidate George would not be fair in practice. They ily of four would have to make debate along with the National Cen- time when it helps secure gains in the way it pays its executives to get McGovern. and Steven Mann, assis- said it would be regressive, meaning S36.0O0 before it would ha\e any tax ter for Policy Analysis, a free-market capital and finally upon death. around the law. tant professor of finance in TCU's it would tax a higher percentage of a liability, Kuttner said that simply think tank in Dallas, and the Hafton Others arguing for the flat tax were Others arguing against the flat tax M.J. Neeley School of Business. pmir family's income on necessary moved the lax burden to the middle W. Sumners Foundation The debate former California Governor Jerry were economics writer Robert Kut- Kuttner. McGovern and Thurow items. class. is part of the foundation's lecture Brown and John Goodman, president tner, former South Dakota senator all argued that the proposed flat tax While Buckley argued that a fam- TCU co-hosted the "Firing Line" series. Next Frontier Campaign Hutchison to address seniors nears its $100 million goal BY IZUMI COUCH ating class and their families w ill look ing public relations major, is pleased the commencement speech. the> itor Center and the SI 1.5 million on TCU DAILY SKIFF forward to hearing her." to have Hutchison speak at his grad- should have chosen someone who BY GREGOR ESCH uation, he said. appeals to a wider audience." said TCU DAILY SKIFF the F. Howard and Mary D. Walsh Hutchison is the first woman to rep- Performing Arts Center were com- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R- resent Texas in the United States Sen- "I think it's outstanding." Cantella. Brandy Butler, a junior More than S82 million in gifts and pleted this fall, Davis said. The Texas) is slated to deliver the com- ate. After being elected in June 1993. a former chairman of the TCU Col- advertising public relations major pledges have been received toward alumni and visitor center should be mencement speech for this semester's she was re-elected in November 1994 lege Republicans, said. "I think she is "The scandal thai occurred while she TCU's SI00 million Next Frontier completed late next year, and by graduation ceremony on Dec. 16. to a full six-year term in the Senate. a true leader and a wonderful was treasurer left a bad taste in my fund-raising campaign as of the end then, the work on the performing arts Hutchison will be addressing a According to her biography, speaker. And she's an outstanding mouth" of October. center should be well under way, he graduating class of approximately Hutchison grew up in La Marque, example for everyone to follow. I Even though sonic students may TCU is pleased with the progress said. 460 students along with their fami- Texas, and attended college and law think we should be honored." object to hosting her, I c I College of the campaign, now in its fourth With the funding in hand, TCU lies and friends in Daniel Meyer Col- school at the University of Texas. Her Not all students are happy with Democrats President Sondra Haltom year, said Bronson Davis, vice chan- Chancellor William Tucker is eager iseum. Chancellor William Tucker many accomplishments include her TCU's choice of selecting Hutchison said she did not foresee :m> conflict in cellor for university advancement. to see the performing arts center will introduce her. two-time election to the Texas House as commencement speaker. One rea- having Hutchison speak at com- The Next Frontier Campaign, which come into being. "I invited the senator on behalf of of Representatives, her position as son for the dissent is the controversy mencement officially began in June of 1992, is "Soon the performing arts at TCU the university," Tucker said. "I'm Vice Chairman of the National that surrounded Hutchison during her "She is a \er> respected eon- scheduled to reach its goal in Decem- will have facilities to match first-rate delighted, in view of her heavy respon- Transportation Safety Board, and her time in office as Texas State Treasurer gressperson in her own right, and 1 ber of 1997. programs in music and theater," sibilities in Washington and Texas, that election in 1990 to the position of "I'm a Republican, but I \iew peo- don't think there will be am negative Fund-raising projects for the $6.2 she's able to take the time to be with us Texas State Treasurer. ple as individuals, and 1 think if TCU reaction on the part of the I IT million Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Vis- sec Frontier, page 10 at commencement. I know the gradu- Chad Cantella, a senior advertis- were going to select a politician to give Democrats." Haltoin said FALL FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE Financial aid packets available Monday COURSE EXAMINATION TIME DAY TIME DAY 8:00 Mwr 8:00-10:30 Monday, Dec. 11 Tuition assistance provided by government, endowment sometimes "overbooked" 9:00 MWF 8:00-10:30 Friday, Dec. 15 10:00 MWF 8:00-10:30 Wednesday, Dec. 13 earned by students through academic 11:00 MWF 11:30-2:00 Wednesday, Dec. 13 BY SHANNON WALLER He said TCU promises financial "As returning students, they want to MWF 11:30-2:00 Monday, Dec. 11 12:00 TCU DAILY SKIFF awards to more people than it has know if the money will still be there." achievement or special performance 1:00 MWF 11:30-2:00 Friday, Dec. 15 money for. in the same way airline he said. "If we over-award, the none) Scott said students automatically 2:00 MWF 3:00-5:30 Wednesday, Dec. 13 3:00 MWF 3:00-5:30 Friday, Dec. 15 The yearly crunch to file financial flights overbook seats. However, he will come out of the school's pocket." apply for scholarships when the) 3:30. MWF 3:00-5:30 Friday, Dec, 15 aid applications is often a confusing said the school must stop at some poinl Scott said when this summon arises. appl> for admission. I le said this type 4:00 MWF 3:00-5:30 Monday, Dec. 11 and frustrating one, but it is unneces- to make sure everyone comes and to the school will always cover its guar- of aid is usually based on high school MWF 3:00-5:30 Monday, Dec.