Greenspan-need to broaden US tax base, lower rates

WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Thursday that U.S. lawmakers and business interests should be seeking to broaden the tax base as well as lower tax rates.

Speaking at a conference on tax policy sponsored by the Treasury department, Greenspan said the benefits achieved from a widely admired 1986 tax overhaul had been "almost fully unwound" by various tax breaks, credits and other changes.

"I think we should go back to broaden the base and lower the rates and then figure out a political way to keep it there." Greenspan said.