The Ripon Society’s Congressional Report: Public Policies for Debate 2005 Tax Reform Health Care National Security Infrastructure Education Homeownership The Ripon Society, founded in 1962, is a nonprofit think tank, research, and grassroots outreach organization. Taking its name from the Republican Party’s birthplace in Ripon, Wisconsin, The Ripon Society is dedicated to the Republican Party’s founding principles and commitment to liberty. While times change, The Ripon Society believes that certain values are permanent. To this end, The Ripon Society promotes a common sense agenda that is committed to limited government, a vibrant free market economy, strong families, civil rights, and a foreign policy guided by America’s national interests. Through its nationally recognized magazine, The Ripon Forum, State Policy Outreach events, policy breakfast, lunch, and dinner series, Listening Tours and public policy papers, The Ripon Society advances debate and dialogue within the Republican Party. Photo courtesy of Rachel K. Ayerst Photo courtesy of Rachel K. Publisher The Ripon Society President Emeritus The Hon. Bill Frenzel President Richard S. Kessler Executive Director Elvis Oxley Policy Director, Editor Stephen F. Manfredi Communications Director Jeffrey T.Kuhner Executive Operations Director Karen Padgett Corporate Finance Director Robin Kessler Design/Art Direction The Ripon Society’s John M. Boone Congressional Report: Production Public Policies for Debate Banta Corp. 2005 Table Of Contents Proudly printed in the U.S.A. 4 Letter From the President Emeritus Tax Reform and Economic Growth 5 —By Bruce Bartlett The Perils of Drug Importation 15 —By Robert Goldberg Does the Transatlantic Alliance Still Make Sense? 25 —By John O’Sullivan Modernizing Our Nation’s Infrastructure 33 —By Adrian Moore Closing the Racial Gap in Education 41 —By Abigail Thernstrom and Stephan Thernstrom Minority Homeownership and the American Dream 51 —By Steven Hornburg 65 Biographies 3 The Honorable Bill Frenzel January 2005 Dear Members and Friends: The Ripon Society thanks you for your continued support and interest in the important work it is doing. As you are aware, The Ripon Society has been a prominent Republican think tank and policy outreach organization for over forty years. In the coming year, Ripon will further expand its role as a policy and grassroots Republican organization. The re-election of President George W. Bush and Republican gains in both the House and Senate last November will offer Republicans a better opportunity to help shape an agenda during the 109th Congress. The Ripon Society intends to play a major role in influenc- ing policy decisions by directing the dialogue towards better ideas based on our commitment to limited government, free market institutions, individual liberties, and a strong national defense. Our First Annual Congressional Retreat and these six policy papers are designed, above all, to encourage vigorous policy debate and arrive at common-sense solutions. As always, The Ripon Society prides itself on seeking consensus through thoughtful debate. The GOP should be the party of the “Big Tent,” which is open to diverse points of view. At least one common theme runs through each of these significant policy papers—namely the benefits of limited government. While government is necessary, our Republican principles warn us that unrestrained, expansive government should be avoided at all cost. When government makes the choices, it creates more losers than winners. The likely result is not only unfairness but also perverse incentives and an inefficient allocation of resources. This favoritism is seen time and again wherever government intervenes. In our policy paper on drug importation, for example, government price controls are shown to create unreasonable incentives and stifle innovation in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries. This, and other examples, should remind us of the effectiveness of free market institutions, and the need to structure legislative policies that promote the general welfare. While these papers do not constitute an endorsement of a specific policy agenda, they do reflect The Ripon Society’s commitment to advancing thoughtful public policy debate. The Ripon Society will continue to be an engine of public policy and make contributions to the pol- icy dialogue in this vital session of Congress. Only by identifying and enacting responsible solu- tions to our nation’s public policy dilemmas can the Republican Party hope to create a permanent majority. Yours cordially, Bill Frenzel President Emeritus 4 Tax Reform Congressional Report Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images 5 Congresswoman Deborah Pryce One of the things that I appreciate most about being a Republican is the diversity of opinions that we hold. It is a com- fort to know that our party, and more importantly, our nation, can arrive at common-sense solutions to the most complicated public policy questions. Over the years, The Ripon Society has played an essential role in fostering thoughtful policy dialogue to promote the pub- lic good on a wide range of issues. Tax reform is one of those issues where all people of good will can recognize a problem, but arriving at the best solution is not always as obvious. I know that Americans are extremely hard working people. Simple fairness dictates that they deserve to keep more of their paycheck to care for their families. For this reason, tax relief is vital, not only to grow our economy and create more jobs, but to allow all Americans the opportunity to live out their greatest dreams. Burdensome taxes and an overly complicated tax code present significant barriers to the economic security of all citizens. The importance of empowering Americans by creating greater opportunity can get lost in the debate over how to reform our tax code. The Ripon Society’s commitment to open debate and consensus building is especially important today. With tax reform on the agenda in the next Congressional session, understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each reform model is essen- tial. An informed citizenry is vital to a functioning democracy. Americans must know the differ- ences between a flat tax, value-added tax, consumption tax, and all sorts of variations if they are to participate in our government. By producing significant policy papers to encourage discussion and debate, The Ripon Society has made a great contribution to our nation’s tax reform dialogue. Let the debate continue! 6 Tax Reform and Economic Growth Bruce Bartlett It is becoming increasingly clear that tax reform will—or at in exchange for increasing the tax burden on corporations, least should—be a key item on the political agenda in 2005. Congress might be willing to modernize our corporate tax sys- With nearly 20 years having passed since the last major tax tem, making it more efficient and improving the ability of reform effort, the Tax Reform Act of 1986, it seems appropriate American firms to compete in the world market. to consider a new tax reform agenda for the future. This is espe- Following is a review of some general principles of tax cially true because the tax code has become immensely more reform, some suggestions for specific tax changes, and a discus- complex and in dire need of simplification in the time since the sion of the political and economic circumstances under which Tax Reform Act. Moreover, growing tax evasion and glaring the debate on this issue is likely to occur. problems on the corporate side are eroding the tax base and cre- ating gross unfairness, as individuals and businesses are taxed at Comprehensive Income Tax Option widely different rates depending on how aggressively they Generally speaking, there are two basic approaches to fun- engage in tax sheltering or evasion activities. damental tax reform that have long been debated among econo- Unfortunately, there is no consensus on how to reform the mists and tax theorists. The first is known as a comprehensive tax code. Moreover, the need for reform and simplification may income tax. It is based on what is called the Haig-Simons defi- soon be overwhelmed by pressure to raise net federal revenue. nition of income, which is consumption plus the change in net The federal budget is in severe deficit and the impending retire- worth between two points in time.1 ment of the baby boom generation is going to increase the need Under such a tax system, there would be no special treat- for revenue to pay promised benefits. Even if Social Security is ment for dividends, capital gains or saving. All income would reformed soon, it will not reduce the growth of entitlement be taxed, but only once. There would be no place for any sort of spending for many years to come. special deductions, credits, 401(k) and Keogh accounts, or the Therefore, it seems probable that tax reform will have to corporate income tax, which constitutes a double tax on income take place in the context of raising taxes, rather than cutting generated in the corporate sector.2 them. This is not necessarily a bad thing from the point of view The idea is to have gross income and taxable income be as of tax reform. Political and economic pressure to raise revenue close to each other as possible. Under our current system, the to reduce the deficit may force action on reform measures that two can diverge dramatically. This creates unfairness, because might otherwise be politically impossible to enact. For example, two taxpayers in similar circumstances can pay quite different 7 Tax Reform tax rates. And it creates inefficiency, because investment and tax because there would be no taxation of saving or investment. other economic activities are being dictated by the tax code However, there is no reason why we could not have progressive instead of the free market. rates on a consumption base.8 Alternatively, we could have a flat The Brookings Institution has long been associated with rate on a comprehensive income tax base.