Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
A House Joint Resolution (HJR0017) urging the U.S. Congress to enact House Resolution 25 (H.R. 25), also known as the “Fair Tax Act of 2023”, (now refiled as the Fair Tax Act of 2025) was recommended for passage by the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Tuesday, March 4.
The resolution is sponsored by Jake McCalmon (R- Franklin- District 63) who introduced his legislation during the committee meeting on Tuesday. While there was little discussion before the vote, Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2) spoke in favor of both the resolution and H.R. 25, proclaiming the spirit of the resolution to be “in the right place,” and reminding the committee that the income tax instituted by Congress in 1913 was promoted as being only temporary.
The vote was 19-3 in favor with 1 vote by Democrat Rep. Chism marked Present Not Voting (PNV). Representatives voting “Yes” were Baum, Boyd, Capley, Cochran, Crawford, Faison, Grant, Garrett, Grills, Hale, Hicks G, Hulsey, Lamberth, Parkinson (the lone Democrat “Yes” vote), Sparks, Vaughn, Williams, and Zachary.
The three “No” votes came from Democrat Reps. Freeman, Miller, and Shaw.
Amongst the resolution’s numerous provisions, it denounces federal payroll taxes, including those on social security, Medicare payroll, and self-employment, promotes a broad-based national sales tax, and supports the repealing of the 16th Amendment, all consistent with H.R. 25’s aim of promoting, “freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity”.
The HJR also acknowledges the current income tax system:
– Penalizes marriage instead of rewarding it
– Harms economic growth
– Has reduced the standard of living for the public
– Impedes the international competitiveness of the U.S. industry
– Reduces savings and investments in this country by taxing income multiple times
– Slows the capital formation necessary for real wages to steadily increase
– Lowers productivity
– Imposes unacceptable and unnecessary administrative and compliance costs on individual and business taxpayers
– Is unfair and unequitable
– Unnecessarily intrudes upon the privacy and civil rights of United States citizens
– Hides the true costs of government by embedding taxes in the costs of everything that Americans buy
– Is not being complied with at satisfactory levels and “therefore, raises the tax burden on law-abiding citizens” and “impedes upward social mobility”
HJR0017 will now head to the House Calendar & Rules Committee to secure a consideration date before the full House. If passed, an “appropriate” copy of the resolution will be sent to the U.S. President and each member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation.
The Tennessee Conservative will continue to monitor and report on the status of this resolution.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
