WASHINGTON– Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) today saluted presidential candidate Steve Forbes for the role he played making the flat tax and Social Security privatization key issues during the 1996 and 2000 presidential campaigns.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, issued the following statement praising Mr. Forbes for all he has done for the American political system and taxpayers:
"Mr. Forbes has done more to advance the interests of taxpayers than most nominees of their own party. Mr. Forbes brought the flat tax to the forefront of the political debate. He made it an issue, and for that taxpayers thank him. His candidacy highlighted significant tax reduction, moving to a flat one rate marginal income tax.
"Mr. Forbes should also be lauded for calling for the reform of the social security system to a fully funded system. His candidacy legitimized social security privatization.
"Steve Forbes believes that people should be able to partially invest their FICA taxes in private retirement accounts. He believes that taxpayers should not be subject to the evils of discriminatory taxation and that taxes should be paid once and once only, no double taxation. These beliefs are shared by taxpayers across the country.
"Steve Forbes changed America more than most who ran for president and some that have served as president. His leadership and input will be sorely missed."