I’m a big fan of the flat tax as a way of neutering the punitive and convoluted internal revenue code in Washington.
But I’m even more aggressive at the state level.
That’s why I’m very excited about a new proposal from Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.
He’s already implemented some good school choice reform, notwithstanding wretched and predictable opposition from the state’s teachers’ union.
Now he wants to get rid of the state’s personal and corporate income taxes.
This would be a big and bold step, and I shared some evidence recently showing that states with no income tax grow faster and create more jobs.
I also discussed Jindal’s proposal last week on Fox Business News.
Some people probably think Jindal is pushing this agenda merely because he may run for President in 2016.
My attitude is “so what?”
So long as he implements better policy, I don’t care if he’s motivated by a Ouija board.
But since he has a reputation for being a policy wonk, I suspect his motivations are to make Louisiana a more prosperous state.
And if bold reform also happens to increase his national stature, I’m sure he’s more than happy to reap any political benefits.
If he succeeds, Louisiana will enjoy more growth.
Equally important, as I stated in the interview, his success would show that Obama’s class-warfare agenda may have some appeal in basket-case states such as California, but it doesn’t have much support among people who understand that growth is the only effective (and moral) way of achieving a better life.