Question

Would a rider be likely to be attached to a bill proposing abolishing the federal income tax and the Internal Revenue Service why or why not

Answer 1

The correct answer is yes. Unfortunately, riders are used both by Republicans and Democrats. Republicans use it mostly to pass a controversial or unpopular provision that would not pass otherwise. Democrats use it mostly to prevent unpopular or controversial bills to pass. Riders have nothing to do with the actual bill and in a sense they hijack the law-making process for the sake of partisanship.

Now, let’s analyze the situation at hand: there is a bill that has been proposed by either party for the specific purpose of abolishing the federal income tax and the Internal Revenue Service. Such a bill is a highly controversial issue since without tax revenues and an enforcing institution the federal government would be bankrupt unless it finds alternate way of getting funds to operate.

It is certain that either party would attach a rider to make sure that the bill to never pass. Democrats would most likely attach a rider imposing strict gun control laws or universal, public health care for all Americans. Republicans would most likely attach a bill to eliminate all taxes on the wealthy or all regulation on financial markets. Both parties would definitely use the technique if the bill displeases their own ideology.