They're still streaming in. I've posted from page (approx.) 101 through 111 on 3 threads and I can't keep up with them. I suspect the Tax Panel is astonished to see the volume of unremitting complaint.
I'll leave it to others to post more later, perhaps.
Comment: I believe due to the heavy burden of filing taxes under the current system radical changes should be made, and IRS discarded and a consumption tax system replace the IRS system.
The Fair Tax I have been hearing about seems to be a much fairer and sane system!
Comment: Just stop wasting time and money. The Fair Tax Book has all the info you need to reform our taxes. What a simple solution.
Comment: I'AM A TAX PAYER AND I'AM TIRED OF ALL THIS BULL ON WHOM PAYS THE MOST TAX.
WHITH A FAIR TAX EVERONE WILL PAY A TAX ON WHAT THEY BUY.
READ THE BOOK "FAIR TAX"
Comment: I'm writing today to voice my displeasure with the latest suggested so called improvements or reforms to the broken tax system. Previous statements regarding support for the "Fair Tax" NRST were promising but obviously the "Panel" has folded under pressure from "K Street" and will not do the right thing for the country by supporting the abolishment of the IRS and implementing the "Fair Tax" to fill the Treasury. The "Fair Tax" is the most progressive tax plan available.
Please read the book or go to FairTax.org
to become familier with the program before
making a mockery of this panel. Some have said the program would be to hard to pass in Congress. We the people did not send our representitives to DC to not tackle difficult issues and not do the right thing for the country. Quite frankly We the People are getting a little dissillusioned with the pace and direction of government. Lead, Follow or Get out of the way.
Comment: I am totally disappointed and disgusted hearing that rather than assisting individual taxpayers in sorting out the complicated mess of our income tax system, the panel has found yet another way to increase federal taxes by reducing mortgage interest deductions. Also, by eliminating deductions for employers health care expenses for their employees, this cost will be passed on to consumers in one form or another. Furthermore, I do not believe the panel's suggestions have responded to President Bush's request. What a waste of time!!
Comment: We have never been more ready or more willing to undergo a complete overhaul of our tax system than now. Let's take this chance to totally do away with the IRS, do away with the option for more corruption in Washington and implement the Fair Tax, HR25 as proposed by John Linder from my home state. It would boost our economy and give everyone a fair shot at making their lives as prosperous as they want to. As stated by several experts, it is the only tax plan that would actually help the poor. Let's do it now!!
Comment: I thought your job was to make taxes simpler for the people. The Fair Tax book would be a good place to start. I will make my views known at election time.It is time to clean house.
Comment: Gentlemen: From what has been revealed about your preliminary findings you have utterly failed on all three of the President's charges to you. Your proposals are neither simpler, fairer, nor properly directed. I particularly resent the statement that other alternatives are too complex to be implemented. One alternative, the consumption tax (the Fair Tax) is simple, widely utilized today already by the various states, and could be promptly and fairly implemented. Please go back to the drawing board and fulfill your mandates.
Subject: I'm appalled...
Comment: by the lack of imagination and real thought this panel is putting into the issue of tax reform. Limiting the mortgage deduction to $350,000 is WORSE than the AMT. The 2005 Conforming Loan Limit tops $359,000 and you can bet it will go up when it's adjusted in December. How is a young couple in a major city expected to buy their first home? How are middle class couples who've been working hard for years supposed to buy that second-home-soon-to-become-retirement-home while prices in resort areas are still within reach? Such a drastic reduction in mortgage deductibility won't hit the rich (the truly rich don't NEED mortgages), but it's a body blow to the middle class.
What's the deal, are we getting too "uppity" for you in the rich, ruling class?
Just how is this "reforming" the tax code anyway?
Can we start over with a panel that's actually in touch with what's going on in the real world -- has the foresight and imagination to see what needs to be done to REFORM this country's convoluted, cumbersom, ridiculous tax system -- and the cojones to actually do it?
Comment: From what I have heard you all have failed miserably in following Pres. Bush's mandate to your panel. I would hope that he would disolve your panel and start over again. You all have done noithing to reform our Federal tax code.
I think that the Fair Tax Plan would reforn our tax code.
You people are a total failure.
Comment: I hope you all have read "The Fair Tax Book". Now THAT'S real tax reform, not just nibbling around the edges of a system that is way too big, way too cumbersome and way too expensive to run and maintain.
I strongly urge you to consider the merits of the Fair Tax when you make your recommendations to the President.
As for me, the only candidates I will vote for in the coming elections are ones who support the Fair Tax.
Comment: Just adjusting the taxable level on a home martgage is silly. Concentrate your efforts on the Fair Tax and abolish the IRS and start cutting the federal budget. You all need to think differently and stop moving the tax dollars from one place to another.
Comment: the president requested a complete overhaul of the tax code and the only thing the panel could come up with was more tax increases. this is a disgrace, starting with our former senator connie mack and the rest of the panel.obviously you were not looking after the wellfare of the country but that of your own pockets, since the fair tax could do away with your holly sacred cows, the lobbyists.
the only thing "we the people" are able to do to correct this will be to vote each and everyone of the congressmen that vote against such legislation as HR25 out of office. the special insterest money train must be stopped.
Comment: When President Bush created your commission, it was intended to realistically review our present form of taxation with the intent to streamline it, while keeping it to the point, the monies collected could run the Federal government. In addition, you were to provide such changes that would encourage economic growth.
Unfortunately, based on the information released today, you are doing neither. You will only make the tax system more convoluted and do nothing to assist the growth we need throughout our nation.
While I realize you must have researched other taxation systems, you have summarily dismissed them. Your comments on the Fair Tax Plan illustrate that you either do not totally understand the concept or you do not want to simplify the system, encourage growth and help the poor. This is the only system out that completely absolves the poor of Federal taxes and you are ignoring it, or worse, making false assumptions to the public. Since you have not completed your work, I would hope that you move on the main objective of your commission - Simplify the tax code. If you cannot do this one thing, then you should tell the President to disband your entire commission.
Comment: The FairTaxBill HR25 satisfies all the needed tax reform stated on the web site as follows:
These options should:
simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws;
share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and
promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace.
THE FAIR TAX BILL ACCOMPLISHES ALL OF THESE GOALS.
PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS BILL FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Comment: you were requested to come up with new ideas about tax reform. you did not accomplish the task-only ideas how to increase taxes. you should all resign!! you show nothing but contempt for the taxpayer but you are all about special interests. what about the fair tax??? you people cannot make the tough decisions , but i can at the ballot box!!
Comment: The website says that one of the goals is to have a tax structure that is "appropriately progressive". I am a married father of 7 children, and do not come close to falling under the status of "rich" by any means. But what i do know is that I have read Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto", and that it is the foundational plank of the Communist platform to have a progressive tax system that destroys initiative and eliminates, through confiscation or taxation (often the same thing), private property rights. One of the driving principles of the Founding Fathers was the concept of every man being equal under the law. How is that accomplished when we discriminate and punish those who have produced and achieved, creating jobs and wealth, through hard work and ingenuity? Income taxation doesn't punish the rich, it punishes the productive. The rich are able to escape heavy taxation through special exemption, by living off of dividend payments, etc. not covered by the income tax. I do not begrudge them for that, but the income tax is inherently unfair, and therefore a violation in spirit of the 14th amendment.
I am an enthusiastic proponent of the FairTax plan proposed by John Linder. It eliminates taxes for the poor (so you cover your progressivity), and then taxes everyone at the same rate over and above the basic cost of living. Is this not infinitely more fair.
The tax code we have now is oppressive and unfair, and should be scrapped altogether. When the very people that administer the law can't even agree on the answer to a specific question because of the unfathomable nature and length of teh tax code, you know that it is a problem that can't be fixed, but needs to be eliminated.
Comment: Are you considering the Fair Tax? The Flat Tax?
If not, why not?
Without these two proposals included in your recommendations, I am afraid you will run the risk of a taxpayer groundswell that in the end may unravel your efforts.
Please consider both of these proposals.
And for God's sake, don't eliminate the Mortgage deduction. And if you do, at least balance it with the elimination of the AMT.
Comment: I have read the Fair Tax Book and I agree with it. I want a chance to vote for it. Our current system punishes those who make good choices and rewards those who make bad ones. Anyone who does not support the Fair Tax will not get my vote again.
Comment: Tax reform disguised as a tax increase? You people are dangerous. Have you bothered to read the Fair Tax book? You might have noticed it on the NYT best seller list. Get EDUCATED borrow a spine.
Comment: Nothing I have heard or read to date from the President's panel indicates a meaningful recommendation for tax reform. Many people have heard of the fair tax plan (Boortz, et al) and it addresses all the objectives that President Bush laid out for the panel to achieve. It also has elements to satisfy every interest in this country.
To be sure, it would be a drastic change, but is also is the only way for long-term predictability and growth for the country.
Comment: Please consider congressman John Lenders
ideals on the fair tax book as this is what a lot of Americans want and what I will vote for.
I am deeply distressed to learn today of your rejection of a national sales tax in your discussions. I fear your conclusions came about due to misinformation or lack of information regarding HR 25 and S 25.
Within the next six months, I will become a small business owner. My biggest dread is the complexity, the productive hours wasted, and the fear involved with the present tax system. Under the present system, if I make a small, accidental error, I can be audited. If the CPA I must employ to do my taxes makes a mistake, I pay the penalty with the IRS.
The present tax system is a burden on the hardworking men and women of this country. Those in position to pay large sums of money to tax lawyers are the only ones who benefit, often being able to reduce their tax load into single digits through effective 'handling' of their money.
Let's be fair to everyone. There are two solutions to this present oppressive tax burden: one is to institute a flat tax on all people in the United States, no matter the income bracket, and eliminate all deductions. The other, more practical solution is to tax only what people spend, not what they earn. In doing so, the tax burden would be shared by all Americans who buy things that are not necessities of life. It would also be spread among the many tourists who visit the United States.
Additionally, if you understood the system, a national sales tax would be easier to control and monitor than the present tax system, which requires the monitoring of almost 300 million Americans. There are significantly fewer businesses to monitor. And on top of that, most businesses already have ways of collecting state and local sales taxes; the national sales tax system would be but a small adjustment.
According to Associated Press, the Panel also claims that high tax rates might be a problem if a national sales tax were implemented. If you fully understood the way the FairTax bill works, you would understand that the prices of items sold in the United States would fluctuate very little if HR 25 and S 25 were passed.
There are many positives associated with the rescinding of income taxes and replacement by a national sales tax. Offshore money would return to the US and generate jobs. Citizens would essentially get a pay raise, as they would bring home their entire paycheck while the items they would be buying would cost about the same. Illegal immigrants and other criminals would pay money into our tax system that is presently hidden, unreported, or stashed away in another country. Billions of productive hours would be saved, as every individual would no longer have to file taxes. And these positives are only the tip of the iceberg.
I urge you to reconsider your stance on the sales tax. It is the only way to revamp the system. Merely tweaking the present system and adding to the tax code is not the way to solve our national problems and fix the tax system.
Comment: Why such timidity? We need radical changes to the way we fund our government. Your recommendations only tinker at an already broken system. Why not considerHR-25 (THE FAIR TAX).
Comment: Here's a hint to the Nine Nitwits and Three Treasury Trolls who think they can thwart the desires of the American people and "put one over" on them ... YOU CAN'T!!!
True Tax Reform WILL be an election issue and though all of you feel "protected" since you are not directly elected, each of you should hang your head in shame. You have grossly failed to do your job.
It is obvious from the comments coming into your website that the American people "get it" --- it's a damn shame that none of you do. You all deserve to be blackballed for good from appointative government panels in the future.
Your recent abysmal performance with the intention of passing recommendations to John Snow that do not even come close to meeting he President's charge to you nor enen your own high-flown rhetoric about how "the people" want to fix a terribly broken system is both shameful and deceitful not to mention self-serving and false.
The American people are not that stupid. Pack up and leave since you have failed to do the job set out for you. All you've done is tinker with the tax code for the umpteenth time in almost 100 years. AND YOU SOMEHOW THINK THAT REPEATING THE SAME STUNT AGAIN WILL "FIX" THINGS???
Get Real!! Get the FairTax and let's have some genuine reform and benefit for our country and its taxpayers. And let's stop the foolishness of trying to make people think the FairTax rate is "67 to 84%" as you have tried to do in your press leaks. Good God - how dumb do you think people are? (Don't answer; it's already obvious). Those are rates not from the FairTax but from a "composite" state sales tax (which you have nowhere defined - along with any other numbers) with all exemptions and exceptions (again undefined) in states presently. That's nothing like the FairTax.
You should ALL be ashamed of your cheap, trashy "effort", It is the antithesis of what is actually needed.
Your suggestions for Tax Reform that were released on 10/11/05 were not acceptable!!! Our Country needs real reform to this bloated, regressive system that costs us (the Tax Payers) billions of dollars to comply with, not some minor changes in the tax code which amount to a tax increase.
You guys need to take a serious look at recommending the Fair Tax bill!!!
And, if you gentlemen are not up to doing the job (i.e. real tax reform) then let’s get people in there are!!!
Comment: For quite some time, the consensus has been in my group “tax discussions” that a federal sales tax on consumption would be the only “fair” way to administer tax. Since the idea is finally getting exposure and acceptance, this is a perfect time to weigh in with my thoughts on tax reform.
The viability of a national sales tax is based on a couple of main principles:
1) The more you have, the more you spend. Therefore, the “rich” would pay more tax since they spend more. Simple logic, and 99% true. There are of course certain skin-flints that will live in shacks without electricity and grow their own food, and all the while amass a fortune under their bed or in a jar buried in the back yard. This is an illness that most Americans are immune to, so taxes will be paid every time someone goes shopping. The current system has shelters and loopholes that the wealthier Americans can use to avoid paying taxes, and the result is that they pay a smaller percentage of their gross income on taxes than average middle-income Americans.
2) There is a large tax base that is untapped. These are the thieves, bank robbers, drug dealers, prostitutes, street corner panhandlers, self-employed and anyone else with a means to make money that is not going to be reported on a W-2 or 1099 form. Guess what these people do with this “underground” income? They spend it on stuff. The longer I live, the more I encounter people who make money they don’t report. I guess my irritation with this is only due to the fact that I lack the entrepreneurial spirit required to make money “under the table” at anything – I have always worked for a large corporation that withholds taxes on every penny I make.
Comment: Despite the panel's predictable pronouncements, many of us in the red states, or 'flyover country' as you know it, are convinced of the need for a national sales tax as put forth in HR 25. I have contacted my Representative in Congress as well as the two Senators from my state to inform them of my status as a one-issue voter, i.e., support the FairTax legislation or lose my vote.I'm sorry that you expert economists don't agree; however, you should know that the numbers of those who agree with the FairTax legislation are legion. That may not mean much to an appointed panel but it surely does to elected officials.
Comment: Please, please, please study and endorse the Fair Tax amenment as proposed by John Linder. The existing tax code is impossible to decipher, and favors the myriad of special interests who are led by the lobbyists. PLEASE SIMPLIFY the tax system by adopting a CONSUMPTION based tax as proposed by the FAIR TAX amendment. Our economy would soar!!
P.S. ==> I vote ... ALWAYS
Comment: About what I expected from a group of politicians and Tax "heads". Half of you are owned by lobbies and the others make their living explaining, advising, and finding loopholes in the our current JOKE of a tax system.
That's OK. Enjoy your power while you have it because the FAIR TAX idea will not go away like you might think.The TAX PAYERS have had NO say in how you clowns waste our money for far too long now. I have not talked to ONE average Joe who does not think that the Fair Tax is a great idea and a vast improvement on our current tax system. What scares you guys and what WILL make the Fair tax a reality someday if that it EMPOWERS the voting public!
I see a day coming when we will not only have our Fair Tax but will use it as the jumping off point to real government spending reform.
With the fair tax the American public can see a final dollar figure each year of just how much was collected, and will say "Enough!" WE the PEOPLE want to spend HALF of that money on necessary programs, cut out the "pork" and other "Crap", (like overpaid, do nothing panels) and cut the Sales tax next year!
Comment: Our congressional representatives MUST pass a FAIR TAX bill (ie. Neal Boortz approach)very soon. It will stimulate economic growth, international investment in the U.S., create jobs, and create more disposable income for all. It is a win/win proposal. If we do that and control spending, our country will be on a much better economic path. I will not vote for a senator or my congressman unless they promote support for a Fair Tax bill.
Comment: I'm not real sure why we have a "advisory panel" for tax reform to start with. www.fairtax.org. There lie the answers to your "difficult" task of tax reform. How much of my money is being wasted on you people to blow smoke up the publics ass about tax reform? I can only hope you people take the time to read about the fairtax, STUDY it, and put it in to effect. There is no intelligent argument against it. Whomever reads this, please pass it on to the people are "advising". Thanks
Tax paying citizen that is sick of being robbed by the imperial federal
Comment: Now that we see that our politicians can’t follow simply instructions on simplifying the tax laws I think it's time for us as tax payers to start handing these career politicians their pink slip. I would like to hand the first pink slip to John Lewis in Georgia. In our discussion some of you people are missing the big picture. We want to move America to the greatest tax heaven in the world and the national sales tax is the key. We do not need a flat tax because that will give to much power to the politicians to put us back in the same boat we are trying to get out of. The up coming months are going to be very critical for us, I encourage every America to start handing out pink slips to these politicians that do not serve our needs.
Comment: I respectfully submit the following comments for your consideration in relationship to your debate of homeownership tax deductions.
I have read, heard and seen reports of your consideration of including a scale back of these deductions in your final recommendations. I ask that as you debate this, you take into account what your actions may do to home values, and in turn what those actions would do to middle class families who own homes, especially in high cost of living areas.
My husband and I live in suburban Washington, D.C., specifically in Alexandria, VA. Nearly two years ago, we scrapped together every dime that we could and bought a modest townhome. As I'm sure you are aware, the housing values out here are quite high. While we have a sizeable mortgage on the townhouse that we bought for nearly $350,000, we have been disciplined in our spending, have not taped our equity for frivolous purchases and have made all of our payments on time. Because of this and the appreciation of our home, we have managed to keep ourselves in repectable financial condition.
However, if a cap were place on the deductibility home mortgage interest, I am very concerned about its impact on housing prices. If a $350-400K cap is set on this deduction it will have a dramatic impact on the homes currently valued in the $400K to possibly $700K range. (You can make the arguments that the impact would be lessened the closer you get to $1 Million, but there is little doubt it will dramatically impact home prices close to but above that cap.)
This will have a ripple effect that will devastate the value of homes all the way down the chain, and I do not believe “devastate” is too strong of a word. Surely, you can realize as homes once valued at $500K drop to $400K or $350K that homes currently valued at $350K will no longer retain that value. This will continue down the chain and will severely hard many middle income families.
While I am not one to engage in class warfare, those that look to target one group over another for revenue raising can not believe that people in the middle class struggling to make a living in high cost of living areas are the group that should be targeted. Families in many urban areas would be severely harmed by this proposal.
Some of on the panel may or may not agree with the policies that initially led to these tax preferences. However, these have been in place for some time now and people have made financial decisions in part because of these policies. Even the smallest adjustment could have a dramatic negative effect on millions of middle income Americans. I again ask you to please tread carefully into this very sensitive area.
Comment: Dear Advisory Panel,
I have been following the federal tax reform debate with much interest over the last two years. I was turned on to the subject after listening to Neal Boortz outline the basics of the FairTax plan on his show. After hearing him, I went to the website, fairtax.org, and learned a great deal about this plan. In my opinion, this plan makes the most sense not just for the individual, but also for this country's future success. I waited with great eagerness for his and John Linder's book, The FairTax Book, to arrive on the shelves. I have bought it, read it and am still convinced that this is the way to go.
Your panel states these goals on this website:
The Advisory Panel will submit to the Secretary of the Treasury a report containing revenue neutral policy options for reforming the Federal Internal Revenue Code as soon as practicable, but not later than November 1, 2005. These options should:
- simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws
- share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and
- promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace.
The FairTax plan accomplishses all of these. This country demands a FULL tax reform which abolishes the current Internal Revenue Code. Anything less will not be accepted by the general public.
Comment: As usual, the Lobbiests that put the money in the pockets of you Politicians have again raised their ugly heads. What, did they threaten to keep back any support, well, you are supposed to represent the AMERICAN PEOPLE, not some third rate Lobbiest. The commission has not done any of the things that the President requested, you are recommending increased TAXES, not REFORM the tax code. Do you realize that the American People are sick & tired of the FARCE the Politicians have perpetrated on the Country. I am demanding, as an American Citizen, the FAIR TAX. Beware, Senators Cornyn & Hutchinson - I VOTE, I will campaign and support anyone who supports the FAIR TAX!!
Please take this opportunity to actually look at reforms/replacements for the ponderous system of taxation currently in place. The Fair Tax plan as put forth by Congressman Linder is a simple, yet effective suggestion. Please at least read it and study it, (you yourselves, not your aides) before you ignore it in favor of just disguising new tax increases as reform.
We already have a more onerous tax burden than that thrown off by the revolution of 1776. Offer real solutions, not more BS.
Comment: Americans for Fair Taxation today blasted the Presidential Panel tasked with suggesting fundamental changes to the tax system as, "Fraudulent political theater designed to protect the corrupt tax code and those who profit from its manipulation," said Leo Linbeck, Chairman of the national grassroots organization. "When a Presidential Panel engages in such activities it does a disservice to the American people and to President Bush."
Linbeck was reacting to early reports of the findings of the President’s Advisory Panel on Tax Reform. "They are moving around the deck chairs on a sinking ship but are trying to convince the American public that they are moving mountains," said Linbeck. The Panel's report is due out on November 1.
The fact that the main proposals to emerge are limits on health insurance and mortgage interest deductions reveal the usual Washington mindset of how to more efficiently shear the taxpaying sheep," said Linbeck.
"We must have hit a nerve with our growing grassroots demand for a national retail sales tax because the panel ignored our multi-million research effort defining the proposed plan and instead invented their own phony and flawed national sales tax program and then found it wanting. The Panel went to great lengths to conceal the substance of the Fairtax proposal." said Linbeck. “The Fair Tax deserves a fair hearing, instead, the Panel was driven by the very Washington insiders and tax lobbyists who now profit so handsomely through manipulation of the tax code. "
"While every American knows perfectly well that well-heeled lobbyists are manipulating the federal tax code for profit, this Panel somehow ignored that reality and substituted cowardly politics for strong action. In the process they employed limited findings and let the American people, as well as President Bush, down," said Linbeck.
"Although the Commission was charged with recommending fundamental change to an admittedly dysfunctional federal tax system, they have made it clear they will only propose tinkering around the edges of the current system to eliminate past Washington driven ‘reforms’ like the Alternative Minimum Tax. It is painfully obvious that Washington, D.C. insiders so closely linked with the status quo cannot be trusted to overturn the corrupt system of federal taxation. This effort will have to be driven by the American people," said Linbeck.
Comment: If the reports that came out today are any indication of what you are planing on presenting to the President your panel has truly been a complete waste of time. You have not addressed any way to reduce the burden of compliance that the current tax code puts on the American people. The only recommendations that you have so far seem to be raising taxes. In case you are not aware raising taxes by changing some rules and adding other limitations to exemptions does not reduce the burden of compliance, it only makes them greater. The only meaningful reform that the American people will stand for is a complete and total overhaul of the federal tax code. The Fairtax Plan does this and much more. I suggest that you read up on it.
Comment: We need to adopt the HR25 Fairtax Bill. Read John Linder and Neal Boortz's book.
This HR 25 will cure many of our nations problems.
Comment: After hearing the committee's "ideas" for tax reform, my husband and I are so angry! Is that the best you can come up with? We and many people we know expect nothing less than John Linder/Neal Boortz's FAIR TAX PLAN to be implemented. This county is in need of this change, and you might realize how many people want it if you'd bother checking the NY Best Sellers list once in a while. Your lame ideas for decreasing limits on mortgage interest and employer costs are pathetic! I hope the President fires the bunch of you and puts someone with a brain on it! Get with the plan!
Comment: I am deeply concerned and gravely disappointed with the decision of this panel to not take seriously the enactment of HR 25 - The FairTax proposal. Your committee was charged with reforming the tax code to make it more equitable and simplistic and you have failed on both accounts. All of you are guilty of playing the same old political game that always goes on in Washington and that is carving out new tax regulations or tweaking old tax regulations so as to please the lobbyist and money donors on K Street. Each of you should be ashamed and embarrassed to present these tax proposals that amount to nothing more than disguised tax hikes. Apparently no one in Washington has a spine anymore to stand up and fight for what is right and that is to remove the shackles of the income tax from the ankles of Americans so that this economy can truly grow and to provide true freedom and equality for all. Our founding fathers are once again rolling over in their graves because you were presented with the opportunity to return to each American the freedom from oppressive tax laws and restore the original intent of funding the government with consumption based taxes. Remember this; I will never give up this fight for what is fundamentally right.
Comment: The latest reports of the recommendations that are being put forth to the President are a joke. They are the political easy way out.
For this panel to shut the door on a national sales tax and instead to hint at perhaps suggesting both a national sales tax and an income tax just goes to show how corrupt this panel is.
To take away the evil rich home mortgage deduction is a politically safe move. As well as the deductions for employers when paying for someone elses health expenses. To say that isnt an expense is in itself inept and outright theft.
I have totally lost my confidence in this panel and the President. You are not interested in making our country better. You are just interested in filling the coffers and suppressing the American people as severely but stealthly as possible. I imagine so you can sit up there and play games with the economy.
I am further amazed that no effort has been made to collect taxes on the multiple millions of illegal imigrants that are here working and not paying a dime in taxes. They are driving on our roads, sending their children to our public schools, taking advantage of our social programs and at the same time working and paying nothing in taxes.
I am amazed that nothing has been suggested to REDUCE the cost of complying with our broken, overly complicated tax code.
In short this panel's suggestions show that the lot of you need to be fired. That is the only way this President will restore my faith in him.
You guys should be ashamed and embarrased to have made such inept suggestions. If it wasnt so oppressive and had not so many put such hope in your findings, it would almost be laughable.
H.R. 25 is all that needs to be done. This sort of tax may hurt me in my business. But I would be willing to start over for the american people to get a chance at this sort of financial freedom from its government.
Comment: I recently read an article in the LA Times about your possible "tax reform" ideas to submit to the President. It mentioned reducing the mortgage interest deduction and changing healthcare deductions for businesses. Wow! It took you geniuses this long to come up with that?
What about the Fair Tax? Is it too simple for the federal government or just not Marxist enough? Maybe the lobbyists got to you...
I have been looking forward to hearing your proposals for months, and I am extremely disappointed. The Fair Tax would transform this country into a tax haven for the rest of the world and eliminate all the headaches associated with every April. Our current system punishes hard work and forces companies to send jobs overseas and investors to send money overseas.
For once I thought something good would come out of Washington, but I can't say I'm surprised.
Comment: THANK YOU FOR READING MY COMMENT. I THINK THE ONLY INTELLIGENT WAY TO GO IS FAIRTAX. WOULD YOU RATHER BE TAXED 23% OF WHAT YOU SPEND OR 36% OF WHAT YOU EARN? WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT MORE TAXES CAN BE COLLECTED FROM THAT SO CALLED "UNDERGROUND ECONOMY" OR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT GET PAID CASH OFF THE BOOKS. THOSE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEIR "FAIR" SHARE JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR MONEY AND BUILD TOWARD OUR FUTURES AND NOT PAYING FOR OUR PAST WHICH WE ARE DOING NOW. LOOK IT UP, BUY THE BOOK, RESEARCH THE FAIRTAX AND YOU TO WILL UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR A CHANGE. NOT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS "TINKERING IN THE MARGINS". I THINK WE SEEN QUITE ENOUGH OF THAT ALREADY. DON'T YOU?
Comment: I just wish that the panel had followed the Executive Order and perposed a simpler tax. I would suggest that the panel read the book "FAIR TAX". This should be the answer to the problem along with the repeal of the 16th amendment.
Comment: I would hope that all of the members have enough common sense to endorse the Fair Tax.Any other system is just a redo of what we already have.
Comment: I understand you were commissioned by President Bush to develop a tax reform plan, and what I have found out is very disappointing considering it was said that you considered the FairTax Act as the only revenue neutral tax plan that completely absolves the poor from federal tax liability.
My disappointment is that you favor power over what is best for this country. You put personal goals and ambitions above making this country the #1 tax haven for everyone. I understand that the panel consists of professors, former politicians, and a former IRS commissioner. You may have had jobs, but I don't believe any of you understand what it means to be a business owner. It is a shame people like you have ignored the people and their desire to have the FairTax Act passed and ratified, and the 16th Amendment repealed.
The worst part of this is that you were probably blackmailed by individuals even hungrier and more lustful for power. This is the reason why people in droves are turning to the Libertarian Party. Soon there will be enough Libertarians to kick the politicians out of office through the voting process.
Comment: The preliminary suggestions announced today fail on all 3 guidelines suggested by the President when he empowered this group. Please give consideration to the Fair Tax. It will have as a result significant economic growth, the cost of compliance will decrease significantly, it will be fairer to all than the current system, including the poor.
Comment: Sweeping tax reform is needed and needed soon. The system we now use is flawed and broken and unfair to most of those who pay taxes.
The tax system we now have is not understood even to the wizards working at the IRS whose job it is to police a system that no one can fully understand or apply fairly and consistently.
It is time to apply the KISS and make aping taxes simple with a system that can be understood even by the least educated people in the United States.
From all that has been presented, including yours, the Fair Tax appears to contain the simplest and easiest to understand method which is just pay a simple point of sale 23% on the new goods purchased.
Doing this will eliminate the idea that ‘I’m paying’ too much and allows me to decide just how much tax I am willing to pay.
Comment: It looks like this commission has done very little to reform taxes. When it costs $500M to prepare for taxes annually, there has to be a better way to decrease the tax burden on all Americans. One way is to reduce the size of government, especially by reducing discressionary spending and eliminating the government programs not explicitly in the Constitution. The second way is to eliminate the income tax and change to a consumption tax, as introduced in Rep. John Linder's HR 25 bill - The Fair Tax Bill.
Comment: Unless you guys recommend the FairTax (HR25) you're wasting time and money. But that is what Washington does best so I shouldn't be surprised. We had a Revolution in 1776 over tax rates that were lower than those we now pay. When is someone in Washington going to listen to the people and get some common sense? Bring on the Fair Tax and watch our nation thrive. BUT READ THE BOOK FIRST BEFORE YOU TRASH THE IDEA!!!
Comment: The president gave you an executive order to fix three simple things.
simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws;
share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and
promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace.
What you are proposing will make it harder for people to obtain the dream of owning a home, and raise the price of health insurance for the working class. What is wrong with you? Get out of K streets pocket, and back to the reality that the people are your constituants and not the lobbyists. We want the FairTax! If the FairTax were implimented it WOULD,
simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws;
share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and
promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace.
If you people don't realize that you work for us, you won't have to worry about K street's campaign contributions, when you are unemployed!
FAIRTAX
FAIRTAX
FAIRTAX
FAIRTAX
FAIRTAX
Comment: The following is another situation arising from that 50,000 pages of IRS Tax Code, that the FairTax would eliminate.
I applied for, and was chosen after testing, for job training through a temp agency. I passed the training and was put on live work. I was an outstanding employee, and even received an award for excellence in customer service, although I was supposed to be in sales. But I was never hired. Why? Because I am not a drug addict, or alcoholic or welfare Mom. It seems the company only hired people if the company could get a tax credit for the new employee.
When I asked an employment lawyer about this, I was told that what the company was doing is legal. After working for nothing, I gave up. Five months later I became ill, dehydrated and wound up unconscious in intensive care, with no medical insurance. After that, it was bankruptcy.
Comment: I am just gobsmacked. You are absolutely worthless. I see that many of the particular comments I would have made have been conveyed to you, so I will leave it at that.
Comment: I was completely blown away with your decision to only raise taxes. This is not true tax reform. If you would read "The Fair Tax Book" I'm sure that you would change the outcome of your report.
Comment: Sirs: I refer you back to the name of the commission on which you sit- President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax REFORM.
The Key work being REFORM. It is time to think outside the box, listen to what the people, not the K Ave crowd is telling you. The Fair Tax is the only viable way to provide true tax REFORM. I will vote only for elected officials who support the Fair Tax plan. I suggest you read the book-- It is a good one!
Comment: Please, let's get bold! Do not pussy foot around. We need real tax reform not faux tax reform. The flat tax or fair tax will get us there. Thanks you. William Stehr
Comment: The Fair Tax is the ONLY one that makes sense. It is revenue neutral (if not positive) and it will grow the economy. Why perpetuate the failures of the past? The Fair Tax is what both my wife and I agree makes sense and, frankly, the only one that is "fair."
Comment: Well, so much for reform. Looks like you brilliant folks are raising taxes and not even considering reforming at all.
Have you not heard the PEOPLE nor even consider what's best for we who pay the taxes?
I think you are to beholden to the lawyers and CPA's who have more influence than a few of the REAL people.
Why can't you not be partisan and politically handicapped and see that the IRS is costly, unfair and outdated.
The "Fair Tax" is the only way to go.
I challenge you to respond.
Sm Business man for 30 years
concerned citizen
Comment: Just a simple comment as a citizen. I make a good living, however I have found that it is almost impossible to save any considerable amount of money. I feel like many other Americans, that the present tax system is regressive and basically punishing hard working people. I also think it is regressive towards the economy. As a business owner, I see the direct hit on small business. We make our business decisions partly on tax burden rather than going full steam ahead. The current tax system is too complicated, too costly to the Government, too costly to Business, and too costly for our citizens. All the money spent by everyone is non productive and improves nothing. I have read about the Flat Tax. I have read about the Nat Sales Tax. I think ether one of them is better than what we have now. I hope your committee will come up with a solution that will go down in history. We the people need the biggest tax relief plan you can muster. Thank you for your attention.
Comment: Robin hood stole from the government and returned to the tax payer. Where is he today? You people sure are it. BTW how much the you skim from the government for recommending tax increases? Politicians, what you find at the bottom of an outhouse.
Comment: The Fair Tax is the ONLY proposal that makes sense. Please adopt it as soon as possible.
Comment: Please consider the "Fair" tax. The present system is cumbersome and expensive.
Comment: So here we go again, a bunch of hoopla about how the tax system will be improved and instead all we are going to get is 50 more pages to the Tax Code. Ladies and Gentlemen, listen to the people who pay the taxes. The Fair Tax will be easy to comprehend, take no time to complete and result in a much more equitable system. This country is dying under government paper. How about simplifying our lives so that we can take the additional time saved to be productive in society rather than filing endless forms. You have had a chance to do something good for the country but instead seem to have decided to "blow it". Listen to the people who are crying out for fairness, Support The Fair Tax. The Fair Tax will ensure that everyone pays his fair share according to consumption patterns, will result in increased savings and will be easy to comply with and to understand. From the sound of the reports on the news today, it sounds like your committee doesn't even understand the concept. Take the time to read Neal Boortz's book and you will easily see the benefit. Open your eyes and your minds!
Comment: Are you kidding me? President Bush sets up a task force to reform the tax system, and this is the best you can do? The solution is to raise taxes? If I were President I would fire every one on the panel. Since I am just a citizen I will work to fire the panel from the ballot box. The American people deserve better from our government. What about giving other ideas consideration, such as the Fair Tax? Or coming up with something else? Just Raise Taxes? What a joke.
Comment: Gentlemen, and I do use that term loosly due to the manner in which we were treated, We have many years of dealig with you. We normally hired a professional so we wouldn't be in trouble with your rules. It's a shame a citizen has to go to that expense because of the maze you use as rules; of course, it's a shame your agents use an exclaimer so you cannot trust what they tell you also. We went out of country as ex-patriot. While there, we were careful to stay the required number of days, we also made a point to go to the counselate and vote for our government. After following all the rules and returning home successfully, several years passed and suddenly we were audited. We were not only audited, we were lied to, steamed-rolled, threatened, harassed, and made to feel like we had done a very evil disloyalty to our government. I have never understood why we weren't treated like the rest of the employees in our company and were singled out for the royal treatment. The treatment you gave us was shameful. The Fair Tax can't be as badly managed as the joke you are using now.
Comment: After all this time, the best this panel could come up with was to put a cap on mortgage interest deductions and levy a tax increase on employees by limiting the amount employers can deduct for health insurance?
President Bush asked for major reform: simplification of the tax code, encouraging home ownership, a more equitable system. YOU HAVE FAILED ON ALL COUNTS.
Are you all sleeping with K streeet lobbyists?
How much did the taxpayers have to shell out for this uninspired nightmare?
Comment: I am simply dumbfounded at the actions of the panel. Asked to recommend alternatives that are simpler, fairer, more pro-growth, you come up with ... nothing. Even more extraordinary is that there is a reform that would accomplish all the President's stated goals - HR 25.
The panel members do not fear losing their jobs - because they are unelected. What a pity.
THe nrst (HR 25) is the best alternative, obviously. The panel is wasting a once in history opportunity. SHame on them.
Comment: Pathetic! That is the only word to describe your intentions announced yesterday!
The people want REAL, HONEST, tax REFORM such as that described in HR25/S25, currently before both houses of congress and have said as much to you at every opportunity yet you completely and totally ignore them and offer only more tinkering!
PATHETIC! You should be individually and collectively ashamed of yourselves for letting your country and the president down in this manner!
Comment: Did you ever give the Fair Tax Plan (HR25) any real concideration?
Please read the first paragraph of your April 13, 2005 statement entitled "America Needs a Better Tax System" and then tell me again how making the current tax mess more complex is the best solution you can come up with.
HR25 is not without it's flaws, however when it comes to finding a plan that is simple, fair and easy to administer you won't find a better solution.
I think I speak for a large portion of the American people when I say the Fair Tax Plan is the only plan on the table that addresses the problems of the current system in a constructive and fair manner.
You were right about one thing, finding a solution that satisfies all competing interests is diffcult. I was thouroughly disgusted to find out that you decided to take the easy way out and came up with another quick fix.
Comment: The only tax reform the taxpayers want to see is the elimination of the IRS and passing H.R. 25. Do the President a favor and recomend something bold, not more complex tax laws!
Comment: Dear Sirs,
What in the hell is the matter with you dim bulbs? Reform means changes that will improve the situation not just propogate it with different rules or options.
The only way to fix the tax code of this great country it to inact a "Fair Tax" code. Get off you colective duffs and recomend to the President and Congress that they disban the IRS and inact a "Fair Tax". I am tired of you so-called-people stealling MY MONEY to give to someone else.
The only fair way to collect taxes for the Federal Govt. is by a "Fair Tax" law. Period....
Comment: Early in President Bush's first term I read a single paragraph in a news article that was a sort of overview of Bush's plans for his presidency. The paragraph said that the president had formed a tax advisory panel that was looking at reforms, among them a national retail sales tax or a flat tax. A complete overhauling of the God awful mess that serves as our present-day tax code.
Since first reading that paragraph I have waited eagerly to see what reforms this commission would recommend. I've discussed it with friends and family. I've been excited that we might see meaningful reform that would help reduce the burden on taxpayers and possibly encourage legislators to look for ways to shrink the size and scope of the federal government.
What a disappointment. It's like telling a child for a week that you have a huge surprise for him that he's really going to love. Telling the child each day that on Friday he will receive a big surprise. And on Friday the surprise is a half a stick of gum.
That's what this proposal is: a half a stick of gum.
You've wasted your time, my hopes and, doubtless, many thousands of taxpayer dollars for this half a stick of gum. This panel must have consisted of nothing but college professors.
Comment: What you have proposed is not tax reform, but simple tinkering. Please consider the Fair Tax as a true reform.
Comment: I hope nobody on this panel was paid for their services,they did absolutely nothing they were asked to do.
Comment: You call this tax reform, you must think the American taxpayer's are stupid and not paying attention to this. Your mandate from the President was to look at tax reform not a SHELL GAME of hide the tax increase. This country needs to eliminate the IRS and it's present tax structure. I find it amazing that there are not businessmen or common people on this panel and you all can take you PHD's and thrown them out the window. Try doing a little open minded research and read the book by John Lender and Neal Boortz its called THE FAIR TAX. You just might learn what real tax reform is and read between the lines of what the President was really telling you to do. The taxpaper's in this country are fed up with all the bureaucrats and the wasted spending of our hard earned money and we want a reform in the tax structure.
Comment: The president gave you an executive order to fix three simple things.
simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws;
share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and
promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace.
What you are proposing will make it harder for people to obtain the dream of owning a home, and raise the price of health insurance for the working class. What is wrong with you? Get out of K streets pocket, and back to the reality that the people are your constituants and not the lobbyists. We want the FairTax! If the FairTax were implimented it WOULD,
simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws;
share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and
promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace.
If you people don't realize that you work for us, you won't have to worry about K street's campaign contributions, when you are unemployed!
FAIRTAX
FAIRTAX
FAIRTAX
Subject: your job
Comment: you failed!
Comment: Your committe is made up of people who are a part of acedemia and people who have been in goverment which contributed to the present tax system.
PLEASE look at the FAIR TAX system which Representative John Linder is proposing.
Every state should have a recall movement in place to remove any legislator who does not openly support this bill - that is the only way they will pay attention.
Write them and ask for their position on HR 25 and S 25 then start a recall petition to have them removed if they do not get behind it. No room for the luke warm here they need to take action now.
You will have no problem getting the required signatures.
Awesome - You should get a recall petition going in your home state.
Here is what we are doing we are launching a recall petition for anyone who is no publicly declared support - In the event they vote against this Fair Tax bill or plan is to press for a recall election.
This process has already started with letters to each representative informing them of our desire to see HR 25 passed into law - quickly- and a promise to recall those who do not support it.
This will be the only way that we get the tax whores in Washington to make the changes we need. Write or email your congressman to vote for HR25.