mikegreg

• 1) Simplify the internal revenue code - if you took 60 lines per page with no margins (that's a lot of lines) the code is 34.5 inches high. The regulations are 3.5 times larger. That's almost 13 feet high. Nobody can understand all of that. Congress has passed more than 4,000 code sections in the last 10 years - that's more than 1 code section per day. When I started, I could hold the internal revenue code and the regulations in my hand! - I've actually got them at home.

• 2) Address issues related to inversions and international tax

• 3) Fund the IRS properly - increase funding consistent with the recommendations of the non-partisan IRS oversight board (2.3 Billion!)

In general, I would argue, from a historical perspective, when representative Rostenkowski [spelling fixed] was the chairman of the committee he made sure he understood all changes to the revenue code. When he was convicted and left his post the growth in the revenue code became exponential.

After that it became a game of making changes by those who wanted to help out particular constituents rather than fully exploring policy implications nationally - that continues to this day.

I believe that the industry of tax preparers appreciates having a more complex tax code to keep them in business. I don't believe the IRS wants a more complex tax code.

I have not had any experience with lizard people, but to be fair: I have spent limited time in Washington, DC.

Good questions! No. And ... maybe, I honestly don't know for certain, but clearly the trend is the opposite direction.