Is it possible that we could -- in our lifetime -- witness the demise of the IRS? Popular conservative radio talk show host Neal Boortz and Georgia Congressman John Linder's new book on Fair Tax is stirring renewed hope for tax reform throughout America.
The whole idea is based on an across-the-board 23 percent national sales tax. All withholding of taxes -- from income to FICA to SSI -- would end. No more April 15 filings, no more IRS accumulated fines.
According to Linder, Denny Hastert thinks Fair Tax is a pretty cool idea, and within the next two weeks, Hastert will take Lindner to pitch the concept to the President.
Fair Tax may even be a part of a new Contract for America the Republicans are reportedly in the midst of composing, something desperately needed to help the GOP retain the majority in Congress.
But, the sponsors admit, the tax reform concept's acceptance has been a longtime coming. At a Fair Tax rally of 4500 people in Atlanta Georgia last night, Boortz and Linder were joined by Fox News commentator Sean Hannity.
"Big ideas take time,'' [Linder told the audience]. "But we've started to move the country, and they will start to move the Congress.''
Indeed, despite the cool reception the FairTax got from the president's commission, Linder told the crowd Wednesday night that House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has scheduled a meeting with Bush in two weeks to give LInder a chance to pitch the legislation.
Linder said Hastert wants to include the FairTax as part of a new Contract with America, modeled after the 1994 platform that played a major role in Republicans winning a majority in the House for the first time in 40 years.
"We won in '94 because we had new ideas and big ideas,'' Linder said. "We haven't done that since.''
We may see tax reform take place in our lifetime.
If it does, few will have more credit due than faithful locals who have been quietly and persistently pushed the Fair Tax concept for years. Our Illinois stalwart on this issue has been Marilyn Rickert, who has faithfully hit conservative and Republican meetings month after month for several years, reporting on the Fair Tax movement's progress and, even when faced with overwhelming odds, kept moving forward.
Let the discussion begin . . .
