U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) attends the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee hearing that called for executives of Apple to testify on the companies tax practices.
In the hearing, Sen. Paul defended the job-creating efforts Apple has made and lambasted his fellow Members for perpetuating a U.S. tax code that hinders corporate growth and productivity.
If anyone should be on trial here, it should be Congress. I frankly think the committee should apologize to Apple. I think the Congress should be on trial here for creating a bizarre and byzantine tax code that runs into the tens of thousands of pages, for creating a tax code that simply doesn’t compete with the rest of the world. This committee wil admit that Apple hasn’t broken any laws, yet we are forced to sit, and Apple is forced to sit, through a show trial at the whims of politicians when, in fact, Congress should be on trial for chasing the profits of great American companies overseas.
We haul before this committee one of America’s greatest success stories and you want applause? I say, instead of Apple executives, we should have brought in here today a giant mirror, okay, so we could look at the reflection of Congress because this problem is solely and completely created by the awful tax code. If you want to assign blame, the committee needs to look in this mirror and see who created the mess; see who created this tax code that is chasing American companies overseas.
Our corporate tax code is double Canada’s. I never thought I’d be complimenting Canada for their tax code. Ours is double Canada. Double a lot of Europe. Instead of complaining that theirs is too low, why don’t we set about to work [out] that ours is too high?
Apple has 600,000 jobs they’ve created, American jobs, and we want to drag them before this committee to chastise them? I find it abominable. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul, May 21, 2013
Related articles:
Ireland: We have no special tax rate deal with Apple – May 21, 2013
Apple prepares for Washington onslaught: CEO Tim Cook isn’t taking any chances with senators looking to grandstand – May 21, 2013
Watch Apple CEO Tim Cook’s live testimony before U.S. Senate, starting at 9:30am EDT – May 21, 2013
U.S. Senate investigation found no evidence that Apple did anything illegal in avoiding taxes – May 20, 2013
Apple’s U.S. tax fallout set to have global impact – May 20, 2013
Hagens Berman investigating Apple Inc., others regarding tax-avoidance schemes; seeks whistleblower information – May 20, 2013
Grandstanding U.S. Senate panel expected to castigate Apple CEO Tim Cook for leading U.S.’s largest corporate income taxpayer – May 20, 2013
Apple publishes full testimony to be given before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee – May 20, 2013
Apple CEO Tim Cook to propose ‘dramatic simplification’ of U.S. corporate tax laws – May 18, 2013
Apple CEO Tim Cook to propose U.S. tax reform for offshore cash – May 17, 2013
Apple CEO Tim Cook goes on offense in Washington D.C. over $100 billion offshore cache – May 16, 2013
apple pays taxes on stuff sold in U.S
It wants to bring back cash made overseas (cash made from the citizens of China, Korea , Japan etc) back to the U.S but the government puts barriers.
Most countries simplify the tax code so that their companies can happily ‘funnel’ foreign cash back to their countries to build up their own land but some of these senators can’t see that.
If apple is allowed to freely take this foreign cash back :
— if it is given out as dividends income tax will be paid by the recipients
— if Cook invests it in in factories (like the new mac assembly plant and he said components will be made all over the U.S) then the USA is built up and the factories and workers will pay corporate and income tax
— even if the cash just sits in U.S banks, the banks can loan that cash out to americans to do business etc.
Yet the some of the politicos can’t see this.
Building up america with Chinese and Korean money is bad?
I don’t think Apple has done anything wrong. They paid $6 billion last year in the US and have been very beneficial for the US economy.
That said, the idea of apologizing just for having a hearing is pretty lame. He would be more effective arguing the benefits of Apple to the US economy. He just seems like the nut job he is when he says Apple deserves an apology.
And now you know why Steve Jobs appointed Tim Cook to lead Apple. To the nay sayers pay attention. See how Tim Cook made those in congress feel real stupid! Tim Cook has class and doesn’t bend under any pressure what so ever. He stays the course and will continue to lead Apple to great things. He doesn’t have to bark like some CEO’s (Balmer) comes to mind.
Great job Tim Cook!
eh.
I think Rand Paul is a racist pig, but he nailed it in his comments about Apple and the US tax code. Kudos to him for that.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
It’s sad when we have to get excited about having to clarify common sense.
A few thoughts.
1) Rand Paul is an idiot.
2) Apple didn’t do anything illegal.
3) Defending Apple doesn’t make Rand Paul any less of an idiot.