Opinion

STEVE MOORE: The IRS became judge, jury and executioner in a tax-code witch hunt against Americans

More than 60 years ago, the IRS created a program called a conservation easement through a revenue ruling. Its goal was to protect nature, stop development, and save working lands

By Stephen Moore Fox News

Published August 6, 2026 5:00am EDT

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I’m a flat tax guy like Steve Forbes, Chairman & Editor-In-Chief, Forbes Media and author of "Flat Tax Revolution," so in an ideal world, we wouldn’t stuff the IRS tax code with special tax breaks and instead would have one simple, low rate of 18% for everyone.

But if Congress passes tax laws steering people and businesses into certain activities, it can’t just snatch those incentives away indiscriminately. This is called a "bait-and-switch" trap, and here’s a perfect example of such a misdeed.

More than 60 years ago, the IRS created a program called a conservation easement through a revenue ruling. Its goal was to protect nature, stop development, and save working lands. Landowners received a tax incentive for voluntarily setting aside a portion of their land from development.........

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