Expand the AMT!

We shouldn’t get rid of the AMT we should expand it.  The AMT is a flat tax, it’s broad-based (few loopholes), it doesn’t allow for deduction of state and local taxes (which only increases the incentive of states and localities to raise taxes) and it’s simple.  The AMT should be reformed along the edges e.g. by indexing it to inflation (after more people are covered!) but overall it’s a much better tax than the current income tax.

I assume that readers know that I am not in favor of raising taxes but let me be clear.  We should expand the AMT but get rid of the income tax.