Ted Cruz slammed the U.S. tax code during the fourth presidential debate in Milwaukee Tuesday, saying that the code had more words in it than the Bible and arguing that he would reform it be abolishing 25 programs, including the IRS and four other government agencies.
"There are more words in the IRS code than there are in the Bible," he said in response to a question from Fox News moderator Maria Bartiromo. "And not a one of them is as good."
Cruz proposed a simple flat tax would not apply to the first $36,000 of income, with all Americans paying 10 percent after that. "No income taxes, no payroll taxes, no nothing."
For companies, the Texas senator proposed a 16 percent flat tax that he said was "fair and across the board."
Cruz's spending plan would eliminate 25 programs — federal subsidies to sugar farmers, among them — and five U.S. government agencies, including the IRS and the Departments of Commerce and energy.
Ending these programs would "stop bankrupting our kids and grandkids," Cruz said.