White House Backs Off Bush Sales Tax Quip

[Schweddy]

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON - Administration officials on Wednesday denied that President Bush is considering a national sales tax, a day after the Republican incumbent created a stir by calling such a tax "an interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously."

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry seized on Bush's comments — made while the president was campaigning in Florida Tuesday — and suggested such a plan would create a new tax on working families.

"Families already squeezed by rising health care costs, gas costs and college costs would have to carry a whole new tax burden," Kerry said in a statement.

The flap was prompted by an exchange between Bush and a supporter who asked during a town-hall meeting in Niceville, Fla., about Bush's position on legislation for a national sales tax.

"He's talking about getting rid of the current tax system and replacing it with a national sales tax," Bush told his audience. "It's an interesting idea. You know, I'm not exactly sure how big the national sales tax is going to have to be, but it's the kind of interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously."

C'mon W don't let us down. Rumor has it that this is on the adgenda for the next administration.