Mr Roskam's statement that "American companies are paying the highest tax in the industrialized world" is patently false. While the U.S. published corporate tax rate is 35%, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has shown that effective rate paid by corporations on profits earned from activities within the U.S. is far less, averaging 25.6% from 1987 through 2008. In 2011, total corporate federal taxes paid fell to 12.1%, the lowest level since 1972 and among the lowest in the developed world. Again from the CBO, the US government also raises less revenue from corporate taxes that most developed nations, only 2% of GDP in 2011. See:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/03/30/456005/reminder-corporate-taxes-very-low/?mobile=nc

Current tax rates are clearly not impacting corporate profits. Commerce Department data show corporate profits in 2010 accounted for the highest percentage of GDP in 50 years. See:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/03/418171/corporate-taxes-40-year-low/

Mr Roskam efforts would be better devoted addressing taxes in the context of income distribution. The lion share of corporate profits are being generated and hoarded by banks creating a wealthy elite in Wall Street while small businesses and wage earners suffer with declining wages and unemployment. From 1975 to 2008, the Economic Policy Institute shows that 94% of wage growth in the U.S. has been captured by the richest 10% of Americans. The remaining 90% have seen 30 years of wage stagnation. Reference:
http://stateofworkingamerica.org/who-gains/#/?start=1921&end=1971
Commerce Department data shows wages and salaries (largely collected by the middle class) now account for the smallest share of GDP since 1955 (54.9%). Lowering corporate tax rates for all corporations would further advantage Wall Street. Mr Roskum should instead focus on lowering rates and/or providing incentives exclusively to small businesses and manufacturing in particular--real employers, offering real work, to middle class families.

Morgan - once again showing the journalistic integrity of Fox news, well done.

DrJoe,
I've been the editor of Barrington Patch since the day the website started back in September of 2010. There was no one before me as I launched this site myself with the help of my colleagues.

I do appreciate your feedback on what you'd like to see on here. There are things I can control about Barrington Patch, like what articles I write and so forth, but there are also things that are out of my control. Local Voices is one of those things.

Some love it, some don't, but the reality is that I can't do anything about it. Local Voices is something on every Patch site across the country. If you don't enjoy reading the blogs on here, there is still plenty more content available that could be more to your liking. We regularly post community news events and local news stories as I'm sure you know.

First of all to Dan F. I never said Patch was supposed to be liberal, your talking out of your tin-foil hat. I find it ironic that right-wingers, who have convinced themselves of 'vast left-wing conspiracies' in the media and in the White House can come here and complain about someone who thinks this site has taken a right-wing bend. Demonstrates how far removed from reality you people really are.

That said, Morgan - My belief is that Patch should not be controversial. People like Dan F. and his ilk can go argue their right-wing conspiracy theories to their hearts content over at slums like the Daily Herald. And I did have a suspicion that you had no control over the right-wing bloggers, but thank-you for coming out and admitting it to be true.

Someone needs to let 'your colleagues' that run the Patch system know that this sort of incendiary, divisive, politics focus attracts the wrong crowd and alienates the people who (used to) come here for local human interest. Unless of course that is their agenda, which would sicken me.

It will probably please the dregs that have started camping out here, but I'm done with Patch. I'm done playing watchdog as Patch becomes FOX, serving opinion-based disinformation disguised as "Facts." Gone from my bookmark list, gone from Facebook. Your politics have overshadowed and outweighed what should have been your only real goal - providing interesting local content, not becoming a bully pulpit for people like Nancy J. Thorner.

Mccloud i see you still believe 88 mill unemployed. Yes, my 14 month old grand daugher is not ready to work. You need some help. Have a good day though.

Are you not the one though that said many times on here that you can't believe everything that you read? If we truly had 25% unemployment in our country it would be considered a depression.

You have no idea what a depression is. The figure is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the same one that provides unemployment numbers. See, the unemployment number goes down by eliminating people from the labor force in it's calculation. It explains why the GDP can go down in 2Q to 1.2% and the unemployment rate gets reduced in 3Q the most in 29 years. There is still time for you to learn about economic enough to vote for Romney.

u 2 are plain funny. I will never vote for a person who cheats on taxes. I don't know what a depression is? Do you 2 work for romney? Seriously?

Yes, he must or he would have no problem releasing 3 or 4 more years of his returns. We have a fundamental diffrence on tax codes. I for one do not have the luxury of forming a dummy corp in the cayman islands to avoid paying the federal govt. You find nothing wrong about that and is why I pay more. You 2 can preach on heres as much as you want, he sucks and he is a flip flopper and another GW bush which this country does not need.

If people thought it through they would realize Corporations do NOT pay taxes !!!! All we do is raise our prices and push the costs onto the consumers !!

You should form a dummy corp, you can be CEO.

No, not true yet again. Think what ya all want.

to both or all of you.

For what ever reason dg guy the reply button does not show up under your comments so this is for you, those cayman island accounts, no they were set up to avoid him paying more than his 13.7%. In other words let me spell this out for you and your nonsensical comment, he would have had to pay over 20% with out doing that. Hey, maybe a smart move for him and his lovely family, but who pays for that in the long run?

He did not claim his cayman island accounts. My lord, please, Watch meet the press or face the nation. Have a good day. I am one of the non 88 mill that have to work. LMAO.

If you are going to cite statistics, at least make sure you understand what they mean. Re the 88MM cited in comments above: Doesn't take much effort to find that it refers to people over the age of 16 "not in the labor force." 82MM of these are NOT unemployed. They responded to labor surveys saying they do not want a job nor have looked for work in the past twelve months. This category includes students, moms, aged, ill, etc. who for personal reasons are not interested in employment. My wife and son fall into this category. Of the remaining 6MM who want a job but have stopped looking, the Department of Labor breaks these down as marginally attached (those who've looked at least once in the prior 12 months but for whatever reason not in the last four weeks), discouraged workers (which includes not only those who have just given up looking but also, prospective workers that lack skills to gain employment), and others (those who have stopped looking for work due to family, transportation or other issues.) See:
http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea38.htm

So 88MM people in the US are NOT unemployed by the standard definition of term. Should you choose the consider these unemployed, note that the number has been greater than 75MM since 2004. It increased by 5MM under Bush and 8MM under Obama.

Mccloud, He made his money in the US of A. But set his accounts up under a dummy corp based in the cayman islands to avoid paying more. God bless him for at least giving that amount to charity. And DG Guy, yes I know all about capitol gains taxes and the rate. I actully follow one the best investors in our countries history which is Warren Buffet. Even he says guys like him and romney need to pay more, but hey, you and Mccloud are smarter then Warren!!!

DG Guy, he makes let say 100,000 on u.s. soil. His accountant sets up widget wackers in cayman islands, he transfers 30,000 to that account and only claims 70,000. This is simplified but how apple, ge capitol, microsoft etc have gotten out of paying what they should have. When i hear our corps pay the highest rates in the world it is funny because it is not what they are paying. Have a good day. Back to work from my lunch break.

DG GUY, its happened. Its was in front of a senate committee not to long ago. Just one of those many loop holes.

There is a tax reform plan in the congress which:
The Fair Tax (HR 25)
Enables workers to keep their entire paychecks
Refunds in advance the tax on purchases of basic necessities
Allows American made products to compete fairly in the world marketplace
Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
Eliminates Corporate Welfare
Collects taxes from underground economy
Abolishes the IRS!
The Fair Tax is a citizens bill to reform the tax code to benefit only one special interest group -- the American people

'Urgent' is the understatement of the decade. Our tax code has been steadily destroying our competitive economy for decades. As other nations reform theirs to be more attractive to business we're worried about ours not paying enough.
HR.25 'The FairTax' will generate the revenue we need, create the economic climate that will attract large amounts of business and still fund the programs that are in desperate need of reform under our current system. When you're $16 trillion in debt, poking at the problem with the stick won't work. We all know it, it's time D.C. heard it from us.

All our representatives love to tell us that we need tax reform and that the system is broken, yet they all seem to have blinders on when it comes to a solution that a large number of We The People support The FairTax HR25 Simple Fair Transparent! www.fairtax.org

If Fairtax is a personal retail sales tax -- why doesnt the legislation say so?

WHy are there huge taxes on health care in HR25? Why are all nursing home patients taxed, without exception?

Why do they tax all government wage and pension expenditures? In fact, why has Fairtax refused to show how much any city would have to pay in wage and pension expenditure taxes?

Faritax sounds great but it's a Grover Norguest Neal Boortz hustle, it's goofy.

Ignore Mark Curran.
Thmain fact he fails to comprehend is that the price you pay for goods and services will remain about the same under the Fair Tax.
You pay $100 now, you will pay $100 even WITH the Fair Tax.
When embedded taxes (and the comploance costs) are removed, wholesale prices comedown about 22%. ANd with domestic goods, the price may even be LOWER with the Fair Tax.

the Fair Tax is a much more equitable way to fund the federal government.
The only people who lose are politicians, lobbyists, and tax attorneys.

Reagan gave us the same flat income tax as is being proposed today. The problem that has us in this end of the rope fiscal crisis has to do with the free trade that came along with the USA still maintaining a closed trade border tax structure only IRS Code. We are putting the federal taxes into the price of domestic product. Not only is that unfair in compting with imports and in export, it also makes the American people ahve to pay for those same taxes again, with no benefit to anyone.

FairTax fits your thread, as it: ends the over 500 billions dollars in compliance costs; has the broadest reach finding at least 2% more from wealth; takes the federal tax out of the price of American product, making even the 22% embedded federal tax in a price of a loaf of bread; eliminates corporate taxes from raising the price of product and investment; Changes our tax structure from a mandate to voluntary; ...

Go to this link to see over 119 FairTax fixes:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/endclasswarfare/doc/244809798875615/

Wages paid by governments are NOT subject to the Fair Tax.
However, all purchases by local, state, and federal government ARE subject to the Fair Tax.
It makes government and private businesses EQUAL.

Like I said, ignore Mark Curran.

I'm a Progressive Democrat and even I can understand the FairTax is more progressive AND Capitalist than any other tax proposal I've ever seen. It's just plain common sense - tax consumption, not production... If everyone can produce without taxation then true capital wealth is created!

I don't understand what the hold up is yes it's revolutionary, but this is just what the country needs a tax that is fair to all.
It's not democratic or republican it's American it takes the football out of political play and gives everyone an even chance. We in California have a sales tax it doesn't effect buying choices we buy what we want the tax is just part of the coast, but with more disposible income we can perhaps buy the size, model, or the neighborhood we truly want.
Politicians step up to the plate help Americans, do this one for the country.

I like the FairTax idea. Illegals and criminals (drug dealers, pimps) will finally be paying into the system. $900 worth of wasted overhead compliance costs will be removed per man, woman, and child. With corporate income taxes gone, companies will return to the US. No more forms to fill and receipts to file. All this, and the poverty level poor will be completely untaxed. Your standard of living (how much stuff you can buy) will rise.

Another great video to watch is this one - shows the hidden costs of tax compliance today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX8EswfGKQw

"The Onerous Compliance Cost of the Internal Revenue Code"

Our tax code is a disaster! Income taxation was designed by Karl Marx!!! TAx on income is communistic. Pass the Fair Tax Act, git-r-dun!!!!

The Fair Tax idea is the best way to resolve the huge tax issues in America that continue to grow. This new sytem would not only help eradicate fraud but also tax the general population more fairly. Wealthier people would contribute more revenue based on higher consumption. The lower earning segment of society would not get taxed on their ernings but instead on what they spend. By the way this is a much simpler system which would save badly needed millions.

The Fair-Tax is the most logical, fair answer to our to the gargantuan tax code we now have to suffer with. People who are able to avoid taxes will now be forced to pay. We will get all the money we earn when we earn it. There will be no tax on "used" things, like houses, people will get a prebate to cover the tax cost for necessities. Social security and medicare will not be effected for those who are eligible. The only losers with the FairTax are the lobbyists on K Street.

Let the House vote on the FAIRTAX.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QRpWir4eDrs

The Income Tax is the Outsourcing Tax
The Income Tax is the harshest penalty for having a successful business in the United States. The politicians regard the Income Tax as the prize, for being in elected to public office. They use the Income Tax to reward their friends and punish their enemies. The Income Tax thus becomes the control over the population to force behavior in accordance with the politician’s agenda.
The Income Tax is the evil system, enforcing central government planning and control. The Free Capitalist economic system that created jobs, economic prosperity and freedom in America cannot co-exist with the Income Tax.
American investors understood these trends decades ago and began moving their business overseas. General Electric has been very successful at avoiding the Income Tax penalty by moving entire divisions overseas. GE has over 330,000 employees with less than half in the United States. GE recorded $14.5 billion in Net Income last year and paid no Income Tax. Jeffrey Immelt, the Chairman and CEO of GE is the head of the President’s Council of Economic advisors.

The Wall Street Journal article “The Tax Cliff Is a Growth Killer” published on July 16, clearly articulates what will happen to America if our politicians continue to use the Income Tax.
Creates more jobs and economic prosperity than any other tax system

I support the Fair Tax,
Please Vote Yes.

F. Jon Howard
Tucson, AZ

Currently what we have as a corporate income tax is actually a corporate earnings tax. If their deductiible expenditures exceed profit, they pay no tax. If corporate taxes are reformed, the tax should be on sales, not profit. As an individual, I have had some years where my expenses exceeded my income, but still had to pay on what I earned. Corporations should pay the same way.

Mr. Roskam;

It is imperative if we are even to have an economic future for this country that we all need for your committee to reportt he Fair Tax bill (HR25) out of committee so that we can pass it. The group of short-sighted people that control our country by bribing our congressmen and their aides (Washington lobbyists) are having their exixtence threatened by this bill because without an income tax, 90% of them wouldn't have an occupation. The lobbyists just want to earn their fees - they don't care about the long view of our economy.

in one of the debates Mitt Romney said he thought the Fair Tax would hurt the middle tax. It is obvious he got that from the flawed 2005 Bush Tax Reform study in which the panel was mandated to study HR 25 and instead made up their own fantasy model which they then criticized as a "23% consumption tax" that would harm the middle class, but that model didn't even have the prebate. Bottom line- The Fair Tax has never been criqued unfavorably by any official study. This is a typical spin campaign against the Fair Tax, probably by the lobbyists bribing the panel members ( my conjecture),

It's time to turn our congress members and the aides who advise them away from the lobbyists' bribes and do what's right for the country which is defintely NOT the status quo by keeping the 70,000 plus page IRS code.

I hope that the aide that is reading these comments has the integrity to actually pass them on to their boss.

The FairTax was proposed more than seven years ago. During that amount of time no one has come up with a convincing reason why we should not adopt it.

Please sign on to the Fair Tax it is what we need to end the horrible tax system we have now. this will get rid of lobbyists, Illegals will be paying tax, Underground economy will be paying taxes. And best of all the Dems can't say the Rich aren't paying their fair share. Revenue neutral and the only way the rate goes up is if thepeople vote on it. It eliminates the IRS income tax and FICA. You get all your money you earn plus get a prebate check according to family sizes up to poverty level to cover the tax on essentials. It is one heck of a deal.

► Synopsis of FairTax Research Conclusions
http://www.scribd.com/doc/98067394/Synopsis-of-FairTax-Research-Conclusions

► A Tax System That Can Unite Our Citizens
http://www.scribd.com/doc/98481996/A-Tax-System-That-Can-Unite-Our-Citizens

Want to grow the economy and create jobs? The FairTax is the best way to do that. It will even help to pay down the deficit. No other plan (or non-plan) comes even close. Any questions?

How possibly can a 13,000 - that's thirteen THOUSAND - page document lend any fairness, legal sanity or pragmatic benefit to a populace as diversified as the American citizenry? Answer: it can not. IT is a judicial disgrace and by its length and complexity must promulgate wealth redistribution and socialism outright.

Please realize that all of the talk of Tax Reform and a "FLAT TAX" is simply re-making the changes to the current Income Tax system that have been tried and seen to fail multiple times in the past 99 years! If we let the politicians get away with their Flat Tax Reform plans, it will only be a few years until we are back to where we are today, or worse.

The FAIRTAX (HR25/S13) is a Tax Replacement Plan, not Tax Reform. The FairTax will totally REPLACE the Federal Income Tax System with a National Consumption Sales Tax on all NEW Goods and Services.

No more Federal tax deductions from your paycheck.
No more death Tax (Inheritance tax).
No Federal Tax on Investment or Savings
Many other Federal Taxes completely eliminated.

Yes, we will pay a National Sales Tax in exchange for the elimination of all Federal Income Taxes, very well worth it in my opinion. But then, I really hate filling out my tax return on April 15!

Dear Congressman Roskam,
I have one of your signs in my yard. I plan on voting for you. Your support of HR 25 is the reason. Your article rightly points out that our tax policy is completely out of date and hails from a time when punishment based tax systems were used. We no longer need to beat people up to raise revenue. We don't need to close businesses, throw people in the streets, break up familys and cause divorces to raise revenue. Each of us is legally liable for payments on the national debt, through our labor. Would you rather be liable for interest payments by spending on by earnings? By taxing earnings your family is subject to confiscation of everything you own or will own in the future; by taxing consumption your liability is gone! REMEMBER the senate hearings on the IRS, REMEMBER the stories of people who had everything taken from them and they were tossed in the street by their govt? Taxing earnings CAUSES prices to rise for everything we consume AND THE wages we receive, as most taxes are passed along to consumers. The second larges industry in the US is tax compliance, (IRS 2009 report to Congress)! Ninety-eight percent of lobbying is for tax loopholes! FOR WHAT?Business taxes pay for roads and infrastructure, where does YOUR income tax go? Be the leader Congressman Roskam! You are not alone, and the American people will support you!

We need to make a big leap America! I watched as many others did today as a man (Felix Baumgartner, of Austria) leaped from a capsule over 128,000 feet above the Earth and fell freely for 4 minutes and 20 seconds then his parachute opened and he glided gently down to the ground, and then safely and gladly walked into the helicopter and went home or to wherever his family was waiting. We can make a big leap too, from the current tax system to the FairTax and we will be very glad that we did. Let's put politics aside, stop procrastinating, bickering and think of what it will mean for America,for this and future generations.

Bill Fisher gives a great elevator pitch for HR25/S13:

The FAIRTAX (HR25/S13) is a Tax Replacement Plan, not Tax Reform. The FairTax will totally REPLACE the Federal Income Tax System with a National Consumption Sales Tax on all NEW Goods and Services.

No more Federal tax deductions from your paycheck.
No more death Tax (Inheritance tax).
No Federal Tax on Investment or Savings
Many other Federal Taxes completely eliminated.

The only thing I would add: The problem with Fairtax is that it is not implemented yet! I would ask everyone pass this around, talk to people, understand Fairtax backwards and forwards. Do this and you will understand that NO ONE has ever given a good reason not to pass this bill. The only reason it isn't passed, is because it would take power out of the IRS' hands.

Let's take this discussion a little further. How did we get here. In the early 20th Century, really smart people convinced the unwashed masses that an income tax would be a great step toward getting money from the evil rich to pay for government and lighten the load on the worker. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" - so to speak. This convincing argument led to the 16th Amendment, which allows the government to tax you directly and to take your whole salary, if it were to be so brazen. Go read the Amendment! What did the Amendment accomplish? Think about it. Since the 16th was ratified, the government owns your paycheck until it takes "what it needs to pay the bills", then lets you have the rest. Our Forefathers broke the bonds with England through the Declaration of Independence where they declared "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." I submit to the reader that the 16th Amendment totally destroys these unalienable rights by taking your property before you even have it in your possession. To have the right to life and liberty, you must be able to acquire property (money to live on) to sustain those rights. The Fair Tax Act repeals the 16th Amendment and only taxes new goods and services consumed by the individual. You get paid before the government is able to tax what you consume. Now, that's American!

The FairTax has a zero marginal tax rate which is a huge incentive for taking the risks necessary to create jobs. It levels the playing field for all businesses foreign and domestic instead of the current system which favors the politcally connected. It makes it more difficult for the off book economy to not pay taxes (they will buy stuff). It makes the us an attractive place for people to put their money instead of finding ways to hide it overseas.

Congressman Roskam,
The tax reform your seek is already a bill --- H.R. 25, the Fair Tax --- before the Ways & Means Committee.
You are a member of the Ways & Means Committee.
Please, please, please take action and send HR 25 to the full House for debate and a vote....... Thanks Clint Incarriere

Dear Congressman Roskam,
Thanks for your support of the FairTax as it makes sense to me. Why not just pay taxes as we go, on purchases of new items, and get it over with, saving bililions as you point up in accounting and filing expenses? Why not become the "World's #1 Tax Haven" and attract businesses here rather than causing their leaving with complicated and excessive IRS taxation on their "incomes"?
Thanks, Peter!
Johnny Gregory

Simpler, Flatter and Fairer, without more is insufficient. The one proposal that addresses every criticism of today's tax code raised by the Congressman is the FairTax, HR25, S13. The FairTax replaces Subtitles A, B and C of today's tax code with a national retail consumption tax on all new goods and services, no exceptions but once and only once. The plan features a prepayment to all citizens and lawfully resident non-citizens to cancel out the effect of the tax at the cash register on essentials - up to the poverty level. The tax also removes the taxes that are built in to the price of every new good one buys and every service one uses.

Indeed the FairTax is the only tax, existing or proposed, that is understandable, efficient, neutral, conducive to economic growth and fair.

Jim Bennett
Summit, NJ

I support the Fair Tax. I'm convinced that the only way we can get out of debt and get back into top spot in the world market, is for us to convert to the Fair Tax!! I think Thomas Jefferson would agree! I realize that it will take power away from the government but....oh wait....the power is supposed to belong to the citizens of this country!! Let's do it and stop saying it's not possible. If tax reform is possible, then we need the Fair Tax!!

Stan Malkemus
QUESTION for all those opposed to FAIR TAX. Do you penalize your children or your family for being productive??? What, then, is logically ethical in the premise that our Federal Government is able to punish and penalize U.S. with Income Taxes.
We are doomed as a nation unless WE THE PEOPLE rid ouselves of the Federal Income Tax System and truly allow the great American free enterprise system to function efficiently. FAIR TAX (perhaps with some adjustments and modifications after it is enacted) will do that for U.S.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Our present tax code is insane. In the origins of our great country, an income tax was forbid. Our founders had insight into the problem and tyranny this type of tax could invoke and lo and behold we have exactly that type of system they warned us of all those years ago. The politicians exploit this insane tax code to instill fear, create class warfare, and envy on the citizens of our great nation. As a nation of innovators the has come to abolish the IRS, which has recently been given the added responsibility of health care (go figure). What other duties will be added to this already tyrannical institution? That's anyones guess. Let's bring this country together and try new things but let's first eliminate the IRS and instate a reasonable tax system one that taxes by consumption. That would be the Fairtax.

I support the FairTax because it does not tax income, and taxes new foreign and domestic goods and services at the same flat rate in the USA. The FairTax provides a standard refund amount of the tax on poverty-level consumption so there's no need for the government to decide what goods or services are necessities and which are not. The standard amount is based on household size and the national poverty limit multiplied by the full tax rate. So, if the poverty limit is, say, $25,000 for a given household size, and the FairTax rate is 23%, then the rebate is $5750 per year. In effect, the FairTax only taxes luxury spending--and is a pure luxury tax.

I am a tax preparer. I see the effect our current tax code has on individuals and small business. The rules and regulations get worse every year. The Fair Tax offers a relief to small business that will allow them to spend time improving and growing their businesses instead of spending time complying to rules they do not understand. Tax planning is as simple as knowing how much money you can spend, not how much is deductible, what tax bracket, MACRS, Bonus depreciation, etc. The relief from stress of threats of audits, fines and penalties is reason enough to pass this bill. H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Bill. I look forward to a day when I can help business grow and be profitable, rather than penalizing their efforts by taxing this, that, and the other thing, all on different tax returns.

In the end analysis only the private citizens are actually paying taxes now. Even if we do not pay and income tax personally we do pay the tax as an imbedded cost of sale from those who make and distribute the products we buy. Business 101; If you tax the guy making or distributing a product he simply passes the cost through in the imbedded price of the product. Plus he has to also imbed all of his accounting costs and compliance costs.

It does not make any sense to increase or decrease the tax on the rich business people. That argument is only for the politics of placating the masses.

Following that course the result always will be it just increases or slightly decreases the price of our products.

The net result of adopting the Fair Tax Plan is that all people and business in this country who purchase new consumables will not have the burden placed on them to report there income. However they will pay an equal share in what they spend.

The plan also eliminates an imbedded tax burden from our exports. This alone will make our products more saleable in foreign markets which will increase exports and decrease the balance of trade problems. Of course that will mean more jobs here.

If you are for creating Jobs in this country vote for the Fair Tax proposal as written.

Got to be a win- win for the America I grew up in. Please pass it.

The current tax code allows the government to manipulate our behavior by offering tax incentives. One of the best benefits of replacing the current tax code with the FairTax --in addition to creating jobs and having everyone pay the same rate -- is that the government cannot control us anymore

The current tax code allows the government to manipulate our behavior by offering tax incentives. One of the best benefits of replacing the current tax code with the FairTax --in addition to creating jobs and having everyone pay the same rate -- is that the government cannot control us anymore.

Congressman, please, please, get behind H.R. 25 the Fair Tax. This would permanently end the class warfare debate, and only tax consumption rather than income.
Kim M. Michaud

Sir, the current tax system is broken. It's imposible to "fix" nearly 80,000 pages of rules, regulations and forms. There is a clear answer to the problem. Wipe the slate clean and start over. HR-25, the FairTax bill, has been submitted to congress over the last ten years, it's vetted, it's time.

If urgency is truly your motive, then there is no better solution to this than HR25 The FairTax. I have made an intense study of it for nearly 10 years. May I suggest you invest a couple hours in this most important issue? You are welcome to call me with questions (4234020937). I am one of millions who would like to see some statesmen in Congress get this bill passed. I am grateful to see you address the issue.

Everyone recognizes that our economy needs funding from the private sector, not the Government. So, why not release the 12-14 trillion dollars sitting offshore waiting to come back to the USA. Also, what about the 14-16 trillion dollars in 401Ks, pensions, and IRA's. These funds immediately become available when the FairTax Act is the law. Passage of FairTax HR-25 solves our economic issues.

+1 for passing FairTax legislation as soon as possible.

Dear Congressman Roskam, Please take a moment and review all these posts begging you to gather the courage to get behind the only thing that can put our economy back on course and save our great nation. Our economy, our ship of state has taken a barrel roll, we are upside down in the water. The Fairtax will bring our ship of state, our economy right side up again, restart our economic engines, and the propellers will be back in the water dirving us forward. None of the chronic poor enonomic indicators can improve naturally without implementing the Fairtax. Please join with other common sense legislators and get this bill out of moth balls, and get the process going to vet it properly through the committee and let the people have a voice represented in a floor. What are you afraid of? If it's not what we say it is, that will become evident soon, and it will be voted down. But if it is what we say it is, that will become evident also. Why should such a potentially great reform be held back from the people. Doing the right thing is always the best politics.

Congressman Roskem,
I did not vote for you, but if you back the Fair Tax I certainly will. We need a well thought out, complete overhaul of the tax system and elimination of the IRS, not "tweeking" or adjusting our present incomprehensible, unfair and costly system.
I want to control my tax by my spending. I do not want to do monster paperwork, divulge my income sources, dependents, mortgage, savings etc., or pay a professional tax preparer just to send the government my money. I know I have to pay for government services but I RESENT deeply having to jump through government hoops to do it.
To me the GOP and Dems are just tweedeldedum and tweedeldedummer. They argue to try to stand out from opponents but are not really different. ANY pol who is not for meaningful reform is just playing partisan games and is not interested in the welfare of our ailing nation. The only way to get my backing and my vote is avow support for the Fair Tax.

Congressman,
It is time to stop taxing production, savings and investment. It is time to tax consumption, end loopholes and return power to the people. HR 25, Fair Tax is the best solution on the table. We urge your support.

The fallacies of the Fair Tax giving you 100% of your paycheck and prices fall a magic 22%. (We'll skip the using a tax-inclusive formula trick to make you think it's a 23% tax. You spend $1.00, you pay $1.30. Looks like 30% to me.) Since they evidently sent out mass emails for their followers to comment here, it might be nice for some of their proponents to understand the facts. They use research by Dr. Dale Jorgenson as the basis for these claims. The problem is they totally misrepresent Dr. Jorgenson's research. He said prices may fall, but for that to happen people would have to continue receiving their current net pay, not 100% of their gross pay. In Dr. Jorgenson's own words: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1470200/posts

Please read the Fair Tax and think! It makes so much sense!

Congressman,
Please don't act like you are all of a sudden a tax reform expert-quit trying to re-invent the wheel. There is already the most researched and thought out tax reform Bill in the history of our Nation ready to be voted on-HR25,S13. The only people that talk negatively about it are those that stand to lose the most by our current 'income' based tax system going away. It is time to stand up for what is right, what is best for the country and it's citizens. The Fair Tax Bill needs to be taken seriously and you also need to investigate it's massive advantages for both the country and it's citizens. I am asking you to read the Bill, do your own background research and get the Bill to the floor for a vote. Quickly!

The U.S. Constitution, Section 9 Paragraph 4 states "No Capitation or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken." I truly believe these brillant men who wrote the constitution were being guided by Divine Providence. If the government can tax directly on a person's labor, they can enslave, control, bully and destroy anything or anyone with the power of the State. The Slave Master Enforcer is the IRS. The reason it is the most feared agency in government is a citizen is presumed guilty. The IRS is the only government agency that can enter your home without a warrant.

We the people were sold to ratify the 16th Amendment by being told, "We're only going to tax the rich, and only 3 percent." The 16th Amendment was ratified Feb 3, 1913. Remember, the 2nd plank of the Communist Manifesto is a graduated Income Tax! Why do they have it? It is to totally control their people, and they already have a police state. Is this what we want? I would like to know who would defend the 78,000 pages of regulations in the Income Tax Code, while I would explain the 133 double space pages, single side of HR25 The FairTax, which has been in congress for more than 10 years.

HR 25 contains a provision to cause the repeal of the 16th Amendment. Let's get with the program.

In my opinion, the best way to show your support for the Fair Tax or a consumption tax, is to vote for Gary Johnson for president. Tell Washington that we don't want More Of The Same! It's the strongest statement American voters can make - reject both the Republican and Democrat big government plans and vote for the candidate with the most executive governing experience on the ballot. http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/

Mr. Roskam deserves a lot of credit for his willingness to tackle the 800 lb gorilla!! When you look at what the income tax had done to this country, from the roughly 5 millions jobs lost to foreign competitors with more favorable tax structures, to persecution by the IRS of innocent Americans who simply failed to understand a horribly complicated tax code, to the corrosive effect of Lobbyists who "buy" special favors and exemptions from Congress, it is clear that something MUST be done.

The income tax has been used in this country for more than 100 years, and has been recognized as a failure since the beginning. It is time to get rid of it, and replace it with something that is simple, fair, and efficient: The FairTax.

Once you understand it, you'll demand it.

Why would anyone be in favor of keeping one of the most convoluted and UNFAIR tax systems in the world,,the one we have now??
What's fair about it?? The current tax code is used to manipulate social behavior which is constantly tinkered with by every politician who thinks THEY know better than we how to spend our money?? Why would you want to KEEP THE IRS,, the most powerful agency of the US Government (NO other agency can TAKE your money and levy taxes on you)??.
Reforming the current system is a JOKE. History proves that ALL efforts to reform the current system have only ADDED complexity and size to the current system. Why would You be in favor of keeping the current 60,000+ page code that not even the HEAD of the IRS can understand???
How can you justify being IN FAVOR of such a system??
NO,, the ONLY answer is to JUNK the current system and TRY something different.
The Flat Tax which would not repeal the 16 Amendment (the IRS) would STILL leave us under their control.
Is The Fair Tax perfect?? Of course not,, but it would be FAR easier and TRANSPARENT to the public to work within its structure than what we have now. But HEY,,, that’s just ME!

Dear Congressman Roskam,

Your post spells out a perfect case for the FairTax proposal. Flat Tax and FairTax are NOT the same thing and will not accomplish similar goals. Only when we shift from a tax on income to a tax on consumption (exempting all up to the poverty line) will the everyone truly pay their "fair share." Our current code encourages the more fortunate among us to pay as little as possible through arcane and labyrinthine loopholes that in effect pick winners and losers. That is what frustrates everyone and creates class warfare. REPLACE, don't attempt another leaky "fix"to , our income tax with the FairTax consumption tax and everyone will truly be taxed fairly and in a compassionate manner.

PLEASE help get this bill to the floor and out of committee so that it can be brought into the full light for more scrutiny. Let the people have their say.

Thank you,
Scott Houston

Would you rather pay 30-35-40+% on everything you make? Or 23% on everything you buy?

Additionally, plz consider what happens when America has NO corporate tax. Other than abusive overseas wages, there will be no reasons for domestic companies to build overseas. In fact, surveys have shown that under the FAIRTAX, domestic and international companies will MOVE to the business friendly United States FAIRTAX climate with no corporate taxes. This results in increased employment, helps alleviate the illegal immigration issue and leads to additional revenues to the federal govt on purchased goods and services. Any one else trying to find a reasonable/responsible way to address the massive and ever increasing $16 trillion debt?!

Add to this the taking away much of the excessive power our political structure has created (politicians and LOBBYISTS), and we can get back to some semblance of government by the people. Remember, a large portion of existing legislation is created around TAX LAWS. TAx this group, exempt this group, support this group who in turn contributes to X campaign. ENUFF!!!!

To those detractors, plz take the time to study the FAIRTAX before crucifying it. After you fully understand it, THEN we can responsibly debate the pros and cons.

Win, win, win!

I agree that we urgently need tax reform, but I must note that the number of tax preparers is not the best argument. I have paid taxes in other countries where the government will pre-prepare your return for you, which is easily done - and would be easily done here - for most wage earners. The preparers in this country, like Jackson Hewitt, concentrate in the same neighborhoods as payday lenders, preying on people too ignorant to realize that their tax returns are simple. (Indeed, part of the reason they want to prepare the returns is because it facilitates the profitable business of giving refund-advance loans at startling interest rates). When it has been proposed in this country that the IRS should pre-prepare wage earner returns, the proposals have been firmly rejected due to heavy lobbying by the paid preparers. Let's get rid of that little bit of corruption, do what other countries do to relieve the bulk of Americans from their April pain, and then turn to the business of tax reform from the point of view of efficiency and fairness.

The present tax system is obviously a disaster and not defensable. Few if any publically defend the prersent 77,000 page mess. When the FairTax is thoughtfully compared with any other replacement plan it is obviously superior. The basic logic of taxing consumption rather than income is overwhelming. This is reinforced with the fairness of only taxing consumption above each person's poverty level. If you need more information go to fairtax.org Your only question then will be why is it not already passed?
John Collet

I support the Fairtax

I can think of only one reason why the FairTax has not been passed. Politicians don't want to give up their power! We are sick of the failures of congress! The working people will eventually revolt Mr. Congressman. Will you go down in history as a hero who had the balls to help end our slavery or will you be remembered as a coward who's political fears trumped his patriotic duty? Change is coming Mr. Congressman. I have faith that you will do your part. Support H.R.25.

Of all the taxes plans and proposals that I have seen, only the Fair Tax makes economic sense because the government would receive the revenue it needs and at the same time allows all Americans to enjoy the fruits of our labor. I and most of my fellow Americans know that we are the best stewards of our money, not the government. Incentives matter and the idea that I control my income and expenditures put the decision in my hands, not a bureaucrat. If I could control my money doesn't it make sense that I would spend it on goods and services that benefit my household and then expand out and help business profit. Business could expand their workforce, provide benefits to their workers. The Fair Tax just makes economic sense.

It's not that politicians don't want to give up their power, but that they don't want to give up their loopholes. Obviously, the guys riding around in $100,000 cars will be paying more with the fair tax. We have got to replace these bums. This is obviously the most fair and equitable tax and provides very little opportunity for fraud.

Congress Roskam: The ball is in your court. Let the full House vote on HR-25.

I hope all of you are contacting your Congressman and telling your friends to contact theirs because, since the House passed HR 6169, tax reform will happen by April 30, 2013 -- or when the Republicans are in charge again.

Taxing consumption (Fair Tax) is better than taxing production (Labor and capital; Income, Payroll, and Business Taxes) FOR AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS. Meaning jobs.
Right now we do not tax imported goods (let other nations do that). We do tax ALL American - produced goods. Under the Fair Tax we tax only goods (and services) consumed here (including foreign made). Exports would not be taxed at all (other than due to consumer purchases by workers and holders of capital).
The Fair Tax is the ultimate tax shelter. And that is a GOOD thing, not bad. The government can still collect lots of taxes due to the prosperity and consumer spending that would result.
-ABE
Adrian B Early, PhD, MBA

Please Mr. Roskam, do the right thing and let this move to the full house so that they have a fair chance to vote on this. Do not DEPRIVE America of this opportunity to have a fair tax system. Let CONGRESS decide--don't YOU make the "decision" passively by preventing this to move to the full house for their vote. PLEASE!

we lose a lot of jobs in this country because the taxes collected are added to the cost of the goods sold. Want jobs? Pass the FairTax!

I just woke up in the middle of the night thinking about suiside. The IRS has brought me this dispair. It is the reason I am failing. Then I think of my family, and how the Fair Tax can solve my problems. Please help me and our country by returning economic freedom to the people ASAP. It's my only hope

I'm 78 yrs old and I have witnessed effects of the 16th amendment in dividing us and bring us to this final cliff of decision. Each and every American citizen has the chance to make the decisions to either just keep kicking the can for some type of 3rd world order country or institute a path of repealing the 16th . HR25 / S13 The Fair Tax Act is the only path, we know of being offered the people to maintain America as we know her with the bonus of a nearly instant robust economy.

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