(Bad) Character-laden Tim Griffin is just all over the map on taxes. He was for the “Fair” Tax. Then he was against. Then he was for a flat tax. But he says he’s also for preserving the home mortgage interest deduction, which is just the sort of reason why a flat tax is not only regressive, but a non-starter. All the special pleaders like Griffin will want special set-asides that will make the “flat” tax anything but flat. A homeowner with a mortgage will have a lower tax than someone not paying mortgage interest. That ain’t flat.
The Joyce Elliott campaign calls Griffin’s hand on this. Expect a defense of his flip-floppery and contradictions shortly from his apologists over at the DOG editorial page. Elliott supports the mortgage interest deduction and a progressive income tax.
Griffin, meanwhle, rolls out an an ad in which he dons a hard hat and promises to create jobs by cutting taxes and balancing the budget. Which taxes? Which expenditures? He’ll save that for another day, but we already know the millionaires are high on his list of priorities.