Hello, Bettye:

I hope you were able to catch my testimony on behalf of Leo Linbeck and the FairTax plan. If you missed it, you can watch it here:  http://64.105.60.195/video/taxpanel.wmv .  You can download the PowerPoint presentation here: http://www.fairtax.org/ppt/TaxPanelFairTax.ppt and its appendix at: http://www.fairtax.org/pdfs/Appendix_Proposals_compared.pdf .  You can download Leo's written submission at:  http://www.fairtax.org/pdfs/Statement_to_Tax_Panel.pdf .  These combine well to be the absolute state-of-the-FairTax presentation. Please use them as a tutorial for yourself. Please feel free to use them in your presentations to others.
 
The following is clear:
The panel knows who we are -- thanks to the commentaries you have submitted and our grassroots appearances at every hearing. They know what we stand for.  Their questions reflect a good understanding of the legislation.
 
I believe we have failed to convince all of the panel regarding the three following aspects of the legislation:

1.  Our revenue - neutral rate.  Karen Walby (our chief economist) is pulling together the definitive document summarizing all scoring of the FairTax, which we will submit to the panel. 
Clearly, no other plan can come even close to having the depth of data we have.

2.  The ease of compliance.  Dave Burton (FairTax co-author) is pulling together data on this for the panel.

3.  The political will to get such blank-slate legislation passed.  This is the usual, "Yes, we need it, but it will never pass."
 
Your job is #3.  Genie has put together a target list of 100 congressmen to have on the FairTax as co-sponsors.  The most likely.  The most obvious.  The easiest. Yes, you have heard this from me before -- and you will hear it again. 
Most of our work in the grassroots is the standard blocking and tackling. 
 
Many congressmen are stalling, waiting for the Presidential panel's report. That report is due July 31st.  But, frankly, this is just a stall, so they don't have to learn enough about the legislation to make their own decision. Teach them.  Please do it now!  Teach their tax aides.  Please do it now!
 
If the report recommends the FairTax, great.  We'll rejoice and go back to getting co-sponsors. If the report does not recommend the FairTax, so what?  We'll redouble our efforts at education, because we failed somewhere along the line.
 
Between now and July 31st, there are two in-district periods: May 30th - June 3rd and July 4th - 8th. Your job is to continue your congressman's education between now and then. When they are in the district, attend their fund raisers, speeches, town meetings. 
Get others to do the same.  Organize.  Organize.  Organize.  Please don't do this all by yourself. But please DO it!
 
After the report comes out, they will be home in August. Regardless of the panel's recommendations, you know your job. Deliver an educated congressman to FairTax co-sponsorship.
 
Establish or continue your relationship with their D.C. tax aide. Get the congressman's schedule while in the district. Be everywhere he or she is. Impinge, politely of course!
 
Very best regards,
Tom
 
 
Thomas A. Wright
Executive Director
FairTax.org
tom@fairtax.org