Operation FairTax Victory, a two-part national event in Washington, DC will bring citizen support for the FairTax to the Nation’s Capitol.  On April 15^th there will be a Storm The Hill rally, in which supporters will approach their Congressional representatives in their offices in a very visible media event to demand their support for the FairTax bill (H.R. 25) and for its consideration during the upcoming Congressional session.  On the 16^th there will be speakers and workshops/seminars to provide education, training, and techniques so attendees can better promote the FairTax within their home states.

Speakers for the session include: Mr. Terry Stockham, COO of Americans for FairTaxation (AFFT) (the originators of the FairTax proposal); Mr. Leo Linbeck, Chairman of AFFT (a major force in the creation of the proposal); Dr. Lawrence Kotlikoff, Professor of Economics, Boston University (instrumental in the development of the proposal), on “Economics of the FairTax;” Pastor David Whitney, constitutional scholar, Institute on the Constitution, “Constitutional FairTaxation;” and Mr. Clyde Prestowitz, author, “Three Billion Capitalists….” 

The workshops/seminars include: “Social Networking Online” and “Legislative Lobbying,” presented by the Leadership Institute; “Grass Routes,” presented by Grass Roots Freedom Riders – help plan the route for the Grass Roots Freedom Ride for the  FairTax; and a video/discussion of the book, “So Damn Much Money,” by Robert Kaiser, led by Phil Hanson, AFFT Eastern Regional Director. 

This is a big effort, organized by FairTax Nation, to join together individual FairTax supporters and enthusiasts into a movement that will drive the FairTax bill into the mainstream of Washington politics.  We should give it all the support we can manage.  We hope to register 1,000 volunteers nationwide.  More event information is at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2oqcz4w4e357b79.  Hotel information is at: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=1659964.  Register NOW!

If you can’t make the trip to Washington DC on April 15th, join our FairTax group at the Grandin Theater on Saturday,  May 1^st  at 10:00 am (rescheduled from an earlier post) for the premier screening of the 90-minute movie, “The Inconvenient Tax“.  The movie features the views of John Linder (lead sponsor of H.R. 25 in the House of Representatives), Neal  Boortz (talk-show host and author of “The FairTax Book” and “FairTax: The Truth, Answering The Critics), Mike Huckabee (2008 Republican presidential contender and strong FairTax supporter), Herman Cain (businessman, author, radio commentator, and strong FairTax supporter), and several noted economists, all focusing on the solutions to our onerous tax code. 

This country is going to implode under the weight of its debt and spending if something isn’t done NOW! Although the movie covers several approaches, we believe the best solution, bar none, is the FairTax. We all need to become informed and involved!  Knowledge is power.  Please join us and bring your friends, especially those who are unfamiliar with or are skeptics of the FairTax.  Tickets are $5.00 (to cover our costs) and seating is limited.  Please order your tickets by emailing us at raft@cox.net.  We’ll have handouts containing key Congressional committee phone numbers, as well as your Senator’s and Congressman’s phone numbers. The concession stand will be open….so come and have lunch! 

Help spread the word!

For further details of the event, go to http://YorkTeaParty.org/next or contact the event coordinator at: alexanderofyork@yorkteaparty.org or 757/593-1719

On facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=276727814279

Warning: No alchohol beverages are permitted, but you can bring coolers of sodas and sandwiches as you like.

This group highly supports the FairTax, and has had FairTax speakers at past events. We need a fresh voice. care to talk for ten minutes about the FairTax? For past speaches (we’d like something new, if possible), see: http://www.yorkteaparty.org/speeches   Get reminders on your mobile, Yahoo! Messenger, and email. ]]> http://www.roanokeareafairtax.com/va-fairtax-mrch/feed 0 http://www.roanokeareafairtax.com/fairtax-in-missouri http://www.roanokeareafairtax.com/fairtax-in-missouri#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:13:35 +0000 jackie bledsoe http://www.roanokeareafairtax.com/?p=458 Voters in Missouri may get the chance to vote on the FairTax in November. Here’s what the FairTax proposal (SJR29) in Missouri would look like: Here’s how one Missouri website explains the proposal:

• Repeal state’s 6 percent individual income tax, 6.25 percent corporate income tax and franchise tax beginning Jan. 1, 2012.
• Replace lost revenue with a greatly expanded and higher sales tax.
• Tax items and services that are currently exempt, including groceries, prescription drugs, medical care and K-12 private schooling.
• Eliminate all tax credits, such as those for historic preservation and maternity homes.
• Exempt business-to-business transactions, used goods and college tuition.
• Give all households a “prebate” to cover higher sales taxes on spending up to the poverty level.
• Require two-thirds vote by Legislature to enact more tax exemptions.

NOTE DAY AND DATE CHANGE :  NOW MAY 1ST 10:00 AM

This is a big effort, organized by FairTax Nation, to join together individual FairTax supporters and enthusiasts into a movement that will move the FairTax bill into the mainstream of Washington politics.  We should give it all the support we can manage.  Register NOW!

The VAT taxes the value added to each step of production of every good or service. For example, the addition of a windshield to a work-in-progress new car would require a tax on the increase in value of the car. Providers of goods and services will, of course, pass these taxes along to consumers as costs of production; i.e., as higher prices. In effect, the VAT is a sales tax imposed on all goods and services deemed to be subject to the tax. Further, the complexity of keeping track of all these mini-taxes is such that the VAT is only cost-effective if the tax is high enough. This could result in the tax rate being set at 10-15% and it is further subject to the whims of Congress when it comes to raising the rate.

The VAT, as a flat-rate tax on most of what we buy or consume, is extremely regressive. Unlike the income tax, which has been twisted and contorted in order to give a break to this group or that person, the VAT hits everyone with the same bat. The poor will pay a greater percentage of their expenditures in tax than those of higher income. Only a further set of contortions can relieve this certainty. Bring on thousands more pages of tax regulations!

Fortunately, many of us in the Roanoke Valley are served by a Congressman, Bob Goodlatte, who can be counted upon to vote against a VAT proposal as often as it comes up. Other Congressmen serving our region are not so certain, nor are our two Senators. We need to contact our wavering representatives often and with a simple message: The VAT – Don’t even think about it!

There is an alternative to the income tax with or without the VAT: the FairTax. It provides for the elimination of the income tax and the IRS leading to a whole bunch of changes. Instead of taxing “earned income,” which seems to include money made from any source whatsoever, it taxes only money spent to make a purchase. Since earned income is not taxed there is no need for payroll and withholding taxes and you go home with your full paycheck. There are some workers who, having had their checks reduced in this way for so long, don’t know what their full wage is! Wait, there’s more! Each legal, resident family will receive a monthly refund for the FairTax that will be paid on expenses up to that family’s poverty level meaning that the poorest among us will, unlike the income tax and especially the VAT, pay no tax at all. The rich, on the other hand, will hardly notice the prebate. Between these extremes, every family will have some of its taxes refunded with the most effect felt at the lower incomes.

The income tax is already included in the costs of goods and services by virtue of hidden taxes collected from providers. The VAT would double down on this at every level of production. On the other hand, the FairTax would eliminate all of these taxes! Consequently, as the costs of new goods and services drop – the average amount is 22% – the FairTax is inserted at the level of 23%. Prices would remain essentially at the income-taxed level and well below the plus-VAT level. In fact, had the FairTax been effect a year or so ago, its full-paycheck property would have provided a strong stimulus on its own.

Act now to stop the tax madness! Tell your federal legislators: income tax…NO; VAT…NO; FairTax…YES. Reach them as follows: Perriello – 202-225-4711; Boucher – 202-225-3861; Warner – 202-224-2023; Webb – 202-224-4024. Let them hear from you.

For further information, see www.RoanokeAreaFairTax.com, www.FairTaxNation.com, www.FairTax.org, www.franklincountypatriots.net, and www.RoanokeTeaParty.com.

Most of us have heard about “Twitter” and “Facebook.” These and others are social networking sites designed to allow rapid communication to bazillions of “Followers.” There is another site, “FairTax Nation,” that does the same thing except its primary function is to unite supporters of the FairTax. Its founder is connected to the leadership of Americans for Fair Taxation (AFFT), the group that created and is promoting the FairTax. As I write, they have over 6,200 members.

FairTax Nation (FTN) is attempting to mobilize ordinary citizens around the nation to create a large force of motivated people to advance knowledge of and advocacy for the FairTax. Recently, in association with the successful “9/12 March on Washington,” FTN organized a march on Congress to bring the message into the Congressional office buildings. This power to reach and organize large numbers of committed advocates is what FTN offers that is beyond the local efforts of groups like Roanoke Area FairTax.

I invite all visitors to this site to visit and join FairTax Nation. Further, I urge you to become part of the group on that site devoted to bringing together local supporters both to bring our local efforts to the attention of the nation and to bring national efforts to our area. Access FairTax Nation at www.FairTaxNation.com or by clicking on “FairTax Nation” at the upper right corner of this website under “Blogroll.” Join up and become a member also of “Roanoke Area FairTax” group on the site. I hope you will become my “Friend” and help me to contribute to the national effort to get the FairTax passed.

Submitted by Donald A. Koop

Did you go? Can you send us any you took?