Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) wants Olympic medal income to be exempt from tax. That idea may tug at emotion and tap into national pride, but it is poor tax policy. Going forward with an exemption for Olympians would simply add another special carve-out. The idea points out — yet again — the serious need for tax code overhaul. With nearly half of Americans paying zero federal income tax, the code is crying out for reform.

Here in North Carolina, our tax code needs an overhaul as well. Agenda 2012 from the John Locke Foundation lays out the path.