Houston Chronicle - Texas on the Potomac: John Cornyn, Sam Johnson Call for Federal Tax Transparency Laws

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By Rachel Jackson

Sen. John Cornyn has introduced a bill mandating Congress' transparency about any taxes a new bill might levy, following a model in Texas that requires disclosures about whether the proposed law raises taxes.

The Tax Transparency Act of 2013, introduced to the Senate last week and referred to the finance committee, will require every tax-related bill, amendment and conference report to include a transparency statement that makes it easy for taxpayers to understand its effects on taxes.

The bill is modeled after a similar law in Texas which requires the state legislature to disclose exactly how and if it will raise taxes on citizens.

Cornyn said the Texas law provides transparency and sunshine to tax regulations in the state and should be a model for similar federal laws.

Congressmen Sam Johnson, R-Plano, introduced a House version of the bill last week that prohibits any consideration from Congress on tax bills unless they have a transparency statement attached to them.

"The American people deserve to know upfront whether legislation will affect their taxes," Johnson said. "Texas understands the importance of this commonsense idea. It's time for Washington to follow in Texas' footsteps on transparency and taxes."

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