Posted on 03/04/2004 10:31:36 PM PST by scripter
An effort to do away with federal income tax and replace it with a national consumption tax is gaining steam, as activists strive to get at least 100 members of the House of Representatives on board by Independence Day.
"We think we'll be at 100 co-sponsors by July 4," Tom Wright, executive director of Americans for Fair Taxation, told WND.
Wright noted the House bill, H.R. 25, added its latest co-sponsor this week – Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin of Wyoming – bringing the total to 44.
"We're working with our grass-roots people across the country" to get to the goal, Wright said. H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act, is sponsored by Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., who has sponsored similar legislation for the last several years. The latest version of the bill was introduced Jan. 7, 2003.
"The current federal income tax system is broken. Patching up the existing code is pointless. It's time for a fresh approach, a fair approach. It's time for the FairTax," says the group's website.
"From its humble beginnings, the income tax has grown like a cancer by taxing our hard work and discouraging savings and investment."
H.R. 25 would eliminate the federal income tax and replace it with a 23 percent consumption tax paid by the end user. That means business-to-business purchases for the production of goods and services would not be taxed. The organization estimates consumer prices will drop by an estimated 20-30 percent as a result of the change.
The group's website describes how the bill's rebate function works. It assures that those living in poverty would not pay any tax.
"Under the FairTax, no American will pay taxes on necessities. The rebate will be equivalent to the tax paid on essential goods and services. The rebate will be mailed before the tax is actually paid [and] will be paid in equal installments at the beginning of the month. The size of the monthly rebate will be determined by the federal poverty level for a particular household size."
Wright touted the support of the American Farm Bureau. The organization has been educating its membership on the bill, and many state chapters have given the bill legislative priority.
Dumping the income tax has become a campaign issue in many political races this year, Wright says.
"All over Texas, House candidates are supporting it," he said, mentioning races in other states as well.
Wright noted the bill's cause is helped every time Social Security reform is discussed, since, under the plan, the entitlement program would be supported by the consumption tax instead of what he calls the "regressive" Social Security tax.
Americans for Fair Taxation says the first year the plan goes into effect, revenue to the federal government would remain the same. From there, the group claims, revenue will grow due to increased economic activity.
H.R. 25 is pending in the House Ways and Means Committee and has not had a hearing. Once the sponsorship level grows to 100, however, Wright thinks Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif., will take action on the bill.
The bill's Senate version is S.1493, sponsored by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., which was introduced in July.
WND columnist Neal Boortz is a supporter of the plan. In an August column, he addressed the issue of why the idea hasn't been enacted already.
"And just why hasn't it passed?" he wrote. "Because the idea is so bold that many politicians, while personally praising the concept, just assume it can't pass.
"It can pass, my friends. It can pass if the people of America learn the details and then let their elected officials know that they want some action."
Previous stories:
Income tax to end within few years?
National sales tax gains momentum
Group plans 'fair tax' convention
Congress to consider 'fair tax'
I have taken such an oath only in my heart.
Don't worry about it, my GGGGGrandpappy was forced to take said oath by Gen George's troops after getting into a little todo over a tax on whiskey stills in Southern Penn.
And his pappy & grand served under the good General during the Revolution.
Even found the records of it on the net LOL.
So it has sort of been tradition? In my family ever since, one way or another :)
The best we can hope for is flipping over the rocks.
New things will grow under the flipped rocks, but it will take a while and a lot of the things that were slithering under them before they were flipped can be exterminated.
Repeat every generation or so...
What in God's name makes you think that 'being sued' is a right, it is a liability.
I hope though, to lead you away from your Utopian image of congress
LOL, I have no illusion about Congress my friend. I have no doubt that prying the FairTax out of committee intact and enacted the same way will be an uphill battle all the way.
I'll do my part and promote theFairTax legislation as best I may, I expect Rep Linder and those Critter's I know to be committed to the legislation to keep it under control or withdraw it, if it is amended beyond intent.
As far as that goes I have no concerns, my concerns are all those other tax bills lined up in the pipeline waiting for the dead of night enactment, that do create all you say you do not want to see.
It won't, and consequently congress will play havoc with your emotions, play havoc with the intent of the framers of the Constitution, and in the end, play havoc with your pocketbook
Give me some credit for having been through a few turns on the mill. You assume to much.
What in God's name makes you think that 'being sued' is a right, it is a liability.
With rights come responsibilty my friend. You figure to have your day in court without the other guy having his?
If you cannot be sued, you cannot sue, look it up sometime. One of the primary maxims of law.
With today's court system, where win or lose, you go bankrupt, if you are lucky. I would prefer old-fashioned dualing with swords.
No a court is a stacked deck of lawyers. A dual is between you and the person in question. Note, I am NOT saying fight to the death.
No it is a game field where the rules are constantly changed while the ball is in play.
law is the weapon and shield,
No it is a chain to futher enslave the people.
lawyers are enemy spies in the camp.
Does that include that ones that YOU hire...
Does that include that ones that YOU hire...
You had best believe it, and act accordingly.
The full quote after looking it up:
"The Law is the Weapon;
the Courtroom the Battlefield,
The Judge is your Enemy,
your Lawyer is an Enemy Spy"
"Your ability to use the American Legal System as a survival skill in our day equals our forefathers' ability to use firearms as a survival skill in 1776."
Michael H. Brown
Buyer beware ;O)
No it is a game field where the rules are constantly changed while the ball is in play.
Not really, it's just most people have no idea of what the rules are or where to learn them, much less apply them.
It's what you think you know, that you don't; that gets you in trouble, long before you ever see the inside of a courtroom.
As a consequence you are like a lamb among the wolves.
They know the rules,
you don't,
you're lunch.
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