FairTax hearing details! Sign Petition to the Committee

If you haven’t signed the petition to the committee to fairly consider the FairTax, please do it now at www.fairtax.org/hearing.

The FairTax bill, HR 25, has been in committee since it was introduced - as all legislation begins. For a bill to be signed into law by the President, it first has to pass out of committee on a majority vote then receive a majority vote in both branch of Congress.  This purpose of this July 26 hearing is to educate committee members about the FairTax. It is one of a series of hearings on fundamental tax reform. But for the first time Ways and Means is so interested in learning about the FairTax we have a dedicated panel at a hearing! Focus of the hearing - The Committee on Ways and Means announced on July 19, 2011, “The hearing will consider separately two different consumption tax models.  One panel will examine the advantages and disadvantages of a VAT, whether as a supplement to or full replacement for existing taxes.  Another panel will discuss the policy arguments for and against adopting the FairTax as a replacement for existing federal taxes.” While they are not voting on the FairTax, this is a sign of major progress for our campaign.
The hearing details as they currently stand - The FairTax panel will be at 10:00 am and last about two hours. The FairTax side has three speakers: former Presidential Candidate and Governor Mike Huckabee as well as economic experts, Larry Kotlikoff, Ph.D and David G. Tuerck. Bruce Bartlett, who is featured several times in our rebuttal section, will be speaking in opposition. Each speaker will be allotted 5 minutes for introductory remarks, and committee members follow with questions. In addition, numerous economic advisors for Americans for Fair Taxation will be submitting written testimony for the record.
Watching the July 26 hearing - If you are in the DC area or are taking part in the Storm the Hill events and want to attend the hearing, we understand from the Ways and Means Commitee that it will be open to the public. Committee rooms designate seats for the public on a first come first serve basis and for high profile hearings they fill up quickly.