Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst Says ‘Scrap The IRS, Let’s Start All Over Again’

Iowa Republican senatorial candidate State Sen. Joni Ernst looks on before a live televised debate at Iowa Public Television studios, Thursday, April 24, 2014, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, was pretty frank about the IRS: scrap it and start from scratch.

That comment came during a discussion on taxes during a debate against Rep. Bruce Braley, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa, on Thursday night.

“I do believe that we need to lower taxes on our hard working Iowans immediately,” Ernst said. “Immediately. Which is something that we have done with this tax cut that we have done in Iowa but then work over the long term to reform our tax system. I say scrap the IRS let’s start all over again.”

Braley tried to capitalize on that remark when his response came.

“Senator Ernst’s answer to everything is scrapping,” Braley said. “Scrap the IRS, get rid of it. Get rid of the Department of Education. Get rid of the EPA. Get rid of the Clean Water Act. Every solution she has is throwing darts at the board trying to get rid of programs that have had significant impacts and made a difference in the lives of Iowans.”

The TPM Polltracker average gives Ernst a 3.5 point lead over Braley.

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