Ron Johnson on IRS Targeting: Trump's Harvard Move and Tax Code Simplification

IRS and Tax Code Concerns

• 🎯 Senator Ron Johnson expresses opposition to the IRS being used to punish opponents, citing his past concerns during the Obama administration regarding the targeting of Tea Party groups.
• 💡 He reiterates his stance against government "weaponization" of the IRS, regardless of the administration in power.

Trump's Harvard Tax Status Threat

• 🏛️ Johnson is asked about President Trump's instruction to the IRS to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status.
• 🤔 While not directly condemning Trump's action, Johnson emphasizes his broader concern about the complexity of the tax code and its potential for misuse.

Call for Tax Code Simplification

• ✂️ Johnson advocates for simplifying and rationalizing the tax code to prevent its use for social and economic engineering.
• 💰 He suggests that a simpler tax code would raise necessary revenue and reduce the ambiguity that allows for targeting.
• 🎓 Johnson questions the value of tax-exempt status for entities like universities, especially when they do not appear to make a profit, highlighting this as an example of tax code complexity.
• 🤝 He believes simplifying the tax code is the ultimate solution to prevent the misuse of tax exemptions by any administration.