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The FairTax is the popular name that has come to represent two actual bills that have been introduced into Congress: H.R.25 and S.296. Below is the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. It’s basically a mile high view of the bill, but it’s a good place to start.

SUMMARY AS OF:
1/22/2009–Introduced.

Fair Tax Act of 2009 – Repeals the income tax, employment tax, and estate and gift tax. Redesignates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Internal Revenue Code of 2009.

Imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. Sets the sales tax rate at 23% in 2011, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. Allows exemptions from the tax for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions.

Sets forth rules relating to: (1) the collection and remittance of the sales tax; and (2) credits and refunds. Allows a monthly sales tax rebate for families meeting certain size and income requirements.

Grants states the primary authority for the collection of sales tax revenues and the remittance of such revenues to the Treasury. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to: (1) the filing of monthly reports and payments of tax; (2) accounting methods; (3) registration of sellers of goods and services responsible for reporting sales; (4) penalties for noncompliance; and (5) collections, appeals, and taxpayer rights.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate sales tax revenues among: (1) the general revenue; (2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund; (3) the disability insurance trust fund; (4) the hospital insurance trust fund; and (5) the federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund.

Prohibits the funding of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after FY2013. Establishes in the Department of the Treasury: (1) an Excise Tax Bureau to administer excise taxes not administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and (2) a Sales Tax Bureau to administer the national sales tax.

Terminates the sales tax imposed by this Act if the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (authorizing an income tax) is not repealed within seven years after the enactment of this Act.

As you can see this is the briefest of overviews of what the bill actually calls for, but we’re going to take the bill one tasty morsel at a time, chew it, digest it and analyze it for ourselves. Along the way we’ll also take a look at the criticisms and claims of those on both sides of the issue, and hopefully we can bring you reasoned input from both sides.

No, the FairTax is not a perfect plan. No tax system ever will be. But, it is fair; it makes sense; and, it is transparent. It is the catalyst that will change the direction of our Country and enable us to regain the path to prosperity.

Have you been thinking it’s about time to trade in your old truck for a new one? Have you been thinking that being able to protect or defend your person, family or property might be a good thing? Well, there’s a car dealership in Missouri that agrees. Right now you can get a free AK-47 rifle with the purchase of a vehicle. Maybe it’s not the ideal solution to today’s problems, but it beats sitting on your ass and waiting for the Government to take care of things. Plus, you get a new truck!

So, I was sitting in the cafe´ enjoying a cup of old fashioned coffee and a piece of homemade apple pie. We still do that here in the heartland. The young couple sitting in the booth behind me was carrying on an animated conversation, in Spanish. They seemed to be having a great time; they certainly had a lot to say; and, it all sounded as if it were probably very interesting. Not for the first time, I found myself wishing I knew Spanish or conversely that they knew English. It wasn’t that I necessarily wanted to eavesdrop but they were two feet away and I couldn’t understand a word. For all I knew they were planning anything from a double date with friends to kidnapping the Taco Bell Chihuahua.

Patty, the waitress, came over to ask if they wanted anything else before delivering their check, and suddenly the young man in the booth was speaking clear and quite understandable English.

Huh, I thought, maybe they were speaking Spanish because the girl doesn’t speak English. But then, I heard her say something to Patty in plain and clear English. They conversed momentarily and after Patty left the two slipped easily back into Spanish.

I couldn’t help being impressed. These two were very young, and as our town is not at the height of cosmopolitan style it was impressive that they should be fluent in two languages at this age. My curiosity got the better of me and I turned and struck up a conversation.

They were polite and respectful, even to the point of calling me sir which seldom happens these days. They became obviously uneasy when I asked where they were from so I didn’t push it. We chatted for a bit, and I complimented them on their English and asked where they had learned to speak the langauge so well. The young man, Joe was his name, shrugged and told me they had learned here, in the school.

It turns out that our public school offers English language classes to those students for whom English is not their native tongue. I also learned that our community offers, free of charge, a similar class for non-English speaking adults. Rosa, the young lady, told me her mother attends the class at the local library. I thought this very interesting; I wished them a nice day and went back to my pie and coffee.

As I was leaving the cafe´ I was thinking about these classes and wondering why I hadn’t heard about them before. I was headed for my truck when the question popped into my head like a single kernel of popcorn.

I cut across the square and climbed the steps to the library. As I approached the counter the pimply faced kid imitating a librarian looked up from his computer screen.

“Hi,” I said, “I’d like to sign up for the next Spanish class.”

“Excuse me,” he said, looking more than a little confused.

“Yeah, I just heard ya’ll have free language classes over here and I’d like to learn Spanish. So, sign me up.”

“We don’t.. have a Spanish class,” he said.

“Huh. Well, that’s okay. What other languages do you have? As long as it’s free I might as well learn one. I’ll just take whatever you got.”

“We don’t… I don’t know… Umm…”

“Well, what language classes do you have?”

“The only language class we have is the English one,” he managed to stammer while looking around for somewhere else he had to be.

“Huh,” I said on my way out the door.

On the drive back to work I pondered this for a while and finally just had to chuckle at the irony of it. People come to this Country unable to speak the language and in order for them to better assimilate into society our tax dollars are used to provide classes for them. The net result is that they become bilingual while we remain mono-ignorant. Is this a great Country or what?

Here’s my idea. Let’s use our tax dollars to provide classes to Americans so that we may learn the languages of the immigrants. Because we will be better able to communicate and explain the ways of American society they will more easily assimilate through direct and daily interaction. And, if they do not wish to assimilate we will be better able to understand that when they’re sitting behind us in a booth talking in a language they think we don’t understand.

The ‘Special Order’ non-legislative debate on the FairTax plan hosted by Iowan Congressman Steve King marked a milestone moment in the FairTax movement. The bill (HR 25, S 296) now has fifty-one co-sponsors from both sides of the political aisle in Washington, more co-sponsors than ever before. This is a grass-roots movement with legs that will eventually become law. The only question that still exists is how much damage will the politicians do before the people insist on the passage of this bill.

The full video of the ‘Special Order’ debate is below. The first few minutes will give you a good idea of what the FairTax is about. Give it a listen. It’s good stuff.

Word has just gone out that the ‘Special Order’ non-legislative debate on the FairTax to be held today in Congress and televised on C-Span will be earlier than 6:00 PM, possibly as early as 4:00 or 4:15 EST this afternoon.
The debate will be recorded and posted on YouTube for those who are unable to watch it live. Below is our original announcement with the times changed:

On Tuesday, March 17, 2009, beginning around 4:00 PM EST, Iowa Congressman Steve King will host a ‘Special Order‘ hour of non-legislative debate on the FairTax bill (HR 25, S 296). This event will be televised on C-Span.

If you are not yet familiar with the FairTax plan this will be an excellent opportunity to find out what’s the big deal. Tune in to this televised event to find out not only what the FairTax is about, but also to get an idea of the ignorant, self-serving, and political arguments against it. Should be fun for everyone.

To learn more about the FairTax bill visit www.FairTax.org

To get involved in supporting the FairTax visit FairTaxNation and/or ZapTheIRS.

The money you earn and pay in taxes determines the extent to which the government controls your life. Isn’t it time you had a say in how much that is? Become informed. Get involved. Be a citizen.

Regards,

Tim Couch