[Melpomene]

A Bloomberg article I read made it sound like Bush was pushing towards a consumption-based tax than an income-based tax.

[traderrob6]

Looks like a wise political move

[Bar-Face]

Way to go Dubya! Appoint a commitee made up professional politicians that screwed up the system in the first place. Reminds me of CBS investigating CBS.

[Cicero]

Probably it makes sense to put politicians rather than economists in charge. The economists will crunch the numbers, but the politicians must judge what can be done within the bounds of political possibility.

[kevkrom]

A Bloomberg article I read made it sound like Bush was pushing towards a consumption-based tax than an income-based tax.

While I would prefer an NRST over an income tax, it is worth pointing out that in the language of economists, a flat income tax is considered a "consumption tax".

[cyncooper]

The article says the panel is to have a report by the end of July and Treasury will review and report to the President by the end of 2005.

BTW, I love this poo-pooing inserted in the article:

That means that popular deductions for millions of Americans -- like interest payments on home mortgages and charitable contributions, among others -- could be affected.

I view this paragraph as an effort to drum up opposition.

[ancient_geezer]

A Taxreform bump for you all.

If you would like to be added to this ping list let me know.

John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and SS/Medicare payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a retail sales tax:

H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Refer for additional information: http://www.fairtax.org, http://www.salestax.org & http://www.geocities.com/cmcofer/ftax.html