Area417

Audit? We Don't Need No Stinking Audit!

At least, that was the opinion of the Springfield News-Leader back on June 12th, when the editorial took police and firefighters to task for pushing for an audit (because the city has screwed them by underfunding their pension plan.)

News-Leader then:

Step one should be to reach out to firefighters and police officers and forge an agreement that they will stop with their plans to force an audit of city finances by State Auditor Claire McCaskill.Such an audit is likely to cost more than $100,000, and by state law, the city will have to come up with that money somewhere. Find a way to stop the audit and spend that amount of money — even if it comes from reserves — on raises.

Do you suppose they regret having written that, since we now find that over $1 MILLION DOLLARS seems to be "missing" from Springfield's Municipal Court funds?

From today's (July 27th) News-Leader:

Funds missing from Springfield’s Municipal Court are now estimated at $1 million or more.

The new figure — more than double previous estimates — was announced this afternoon in a report released by the city manager’s office.

The report summarizes the city’s monthlong administrative investigation of the suspected embezzlement, which was discovered in mid-June.

Six years, SIX YEARS AGO, our city "leaders" were told that the city's accounting procedures needed to be revamped. Perhaps the problem is that they couldn't find an outside consultant to tell them how to proceed, since they need one to tell them what to do with major issues like what to do with storage containers.

TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE, SPRINGFIELD. Voters can get rid of our Mayor, Tom Carlson, along with four council members next year. Terms expire in 2007 for Sheila Wright, Ralph Manley, Conrad Griggs, and Bob Jones.

Fair Tax Blogburst For July 25, 2006

We'll let the man himself, Neal Boortz, write the burst this week. Well, not really. From Neal's Nuze of 24-Jul-06 at his web site:

FAIRTAX STATUS REPORT

The FairTax movement is going strong my friends, stronger than you might imagine. I can assure you that the FairTax is attracting an ever-increasing degree of attention in Washington. I wish I could share the details, but the wonderful world of politics is such that it is much better to let the people involved spill the beans than to jump the gun by disclosing their interest or involvement ahead of time.

There have been three events in recent months that have really peaked interest among the political class.  First was the debut of The FairTax Book on the New York Times Bestseller's list for paperbacks.  We're still there ranking very high in the business category.  Second was the FairTax rally in Atlanta a few months ago. When we packed a room full of 4,500 people, and then turned another 4,000 away, the shockwaves were felt inside the Beltway the very next day. On the morning after the rally Congressman Linder, who had returned to Washington overnight, was buttonholed by a number of colleagues to explain "just what it was you did there in Atlanta last night."

Last week's Georgia primaries in Georgia also opened some eyes. The FairTax was on the Republican primary ballot in three metropolitan Atlanta counties, and in each county the idea of replacing the income tax with the FairTax was approved by over 85% of the voters. When a reform idea as huge as the FairTax receives that type of an approval rating people, especially politicians, take note.

Another thing happened last week that impressed a number of high-ranking DC political-types. I received about 15 emails from people who told me that they originally had no intention of participating in the primary ... UNTIL, that is, they heard me say that the FairTax was on the ballot. Those emails are now in the hands of some of the most powerful people in Washington.

Simply put --- when you have an issue that (1) sends people to the polls who would otherwise not vote, and (2) gets the support of over 85% of the voters, you have an issue that can drive an election. Politicians know it.

Now ... what's next?

ORLANDO! THAT'S WHAT!

This coming Saturday on the steps of the Orlando City Hall we're going to have a rally in support of the FairTax! Our Orlando affiliate, News Talk 580 WDBO has done a spectacular job of setting this rally up, and Jesse The FairTax Babe has added a pancake breakfast to hungry rally participants!

Come on, folks. We can do this! We can bring about this massive transfer of power from the government to the people, but only if you'll get off your keesters and help us out!

Yesterday afternoon I was talking to a friend in Naples. I told him we were trying to get at least 10,000 people in front of the Orlando City Hall, and asked him if he was going to come to the rally. He told me that if there were going to be that many people there, then it wouldn't make much difference if he showed up or not!

That, my friends, is the type of thinking that can lead to a small turnout; and a small turnout takes a lot of steam out of the FairTax movement.

I can promise you that if we put 10,000 into downtown Orlando for this rally it will be the talk of Washington the next Monday. What happens on Saturday will have a lot to do with whether or not we make any progress toward making the FairTax a prime issue in this Fall's election.

WE NEED YOU!

Yes. It's a sacrifice. Reform like this doesn't happen without sacrifice. You can be a part of a revolution here. It can't be done with you sitting on your hands.

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Terry of The Right Track Blog and Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous. If you would like to host the weekly postings on your blog, please e-mail Terry or Jonathan . You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

Fair Tax Blogburst For July 19, 2006

Do you want to know why I support the FairTax? Check the various issues below and see how the Income Tax, a Flat Tax, and the FairTax would affect each situation.

16th Amendment FairTax - Proposes repeal. Federal Income Tax - No change. Flat Tax - No change.

Complexity FairTax - Individuals do not file. Businesses need only to deal with sales tax returns. Federal Income Tax - Very complex; 20,000 pages of regulations; I.R.S. incorrect over half of the time. Flat Tax - Withholding continues. Individuals and businesses must still track income and file income tax forms.

Home Business FairTax - Record all business expenses and is subject to IRS audit? No. Federal Income Tax - Record all business expenses and is subject to IRS audit? Yes. Flat Tax - Record all business expenses and is subject to IRS audit? Yes.

Congressional Action FairTax - 23% Linder/Peterson FairTax Act of 2001 (H.R. 25). Employees receive 100% of pay. Social Security and Medicare funded from consumption tax revenue, not your paycheck. (H.J.Res45) - Will repeal the 16th Amendment. Federal Income Tax - Used by lobbyists and the wealthy for tax-breaks and loopholes. Used by bureaucrats for social engineering. Flat Tax - Rep. Armey’s H.R. 1040 has some problems, but is far superior to current law.

Cost of Filing FairTax - No personal forms are filed. Significant cost savings. Federal Income Tax - $225 billion in annual compliance costs. Flat Tax - Significant simplification ­ costs are somewhat reduced.

Economy FairTax - Un-taxes wages, savings, and investment. Increases productivity. Produces significant economic growth. Federal Income Tax - Taxes savings, labor, investment, and productivity multiple times. Flat Tax - Imposes a tax burden some of which is still hidden in the price of goods and services.

Equality FairTax - Taxpayers pay the same rate and control their liability. Tax paid depends on lifestyle. All taxes are rebated on spending up to the poverty level. Federal Income Tax - The current tax code violates the principle of equality. Special rates for special circumstances violate the original Constitution and are unfair. Flat Tax - The flat tax is an improvement over the current income tax, but it is still open to manipulation by special interests.

Foreign Companies FairTax - Foreign companies are forced to compete on even terms with U.S. companies for the first time in over 80 years. Federal Income Tax - Current tax code places unfair tax burden on U.S. exports and fails to neutralize tax advantages for imports. Flat Tax - A flat tax taxes exported goods and does not tax foreign imports to the U.S., creating unfair competition for U.S. manufacturers and businesses.

Government Intrusion FairTax - As the Founding Fathers intended, the FairTax does not directly tax individuals. Federal Income Tax - Current tax code requires massive files, dossiers, audits, and collection activities. Flat Tax - A flat tax still requires personal files, dossiers, audits, and collection activities.

History FairTax - 45 states now use a retail sales tax. Federal Income Tax - The 1913 income tax has evolved into an antiquated, unenforceable morass, with annual tax returns long enough to circle Earth 28 times. Flat Tax - A flat tax just won’t stay flat. Starting out nearly flat in 1913, the income tax grew out of control with top rates over 90% until the Kennedy administration.

Interest Rates FairTax - Reduces rates by an estimated 25-35 percent. Savings and investment increase. Federal Income Tax - Pushes rates up. Biased against savings and investment. Flat Tax - Reduces rates 25-35 percent. Neutral toward savings and investment.

Investment FairTax - Increases investment by U.S. citizens, attracts foreign investment. Federal Income Tax - Biased against savings and investment. Flat Tax - Neutral toward savings and investment.

   

IRS FairTax - Abolished. Federal Income Tax - Retained. Flat Tax - Retained with reduced role.

Jobs FairTax - Makes U.S. manufacturers more competitive against overseas companies.Escalates creation of jobs by attracting foreign investment and reducing tax bias against savings and investment. Federal Income Tax - Hurts U.S. companies and decreases available jobs. Payroll tax a direct tax on labor. Flat Tax - Positive impact on jobs. Does not repeal payroll tax on jobs.

Man-hours required for compliance FairTax - Zero hours for individuals. Greatly reduced hours for businesses. Federal Income Tax - Over 5.4 billion hours per year. Flat Tax - Reduced.

Non-filers FairTax - Reduced tax rates and fewer filers will increase compliance. Federal Income Tax - High tax rates, unfairness and high complexity harm compliance. Flat Tax - Reduced tax rates and improved simplicity will improve compliance.

Personal and Corporate Income Taxes FairTax - Both are abolished. Federal Income Tax - Retained. Flat Tax - Retained in a different form.

Productivity FairTax - Increases. Federal Income Tax - Inhibits productivity. Flat Tax - Increases.

Savings FairTax - Increases savings. Federal Income Tax - Decreases savings. Flat Tax - Increases savings.

Visibility FairTax - The FairTax is highly visible and easy to understand. No tax is withheld from paychecks. Federal Income Tax - The current tax code is hidden, embedded in prices, complex, and incomprehensible. Taxes are withheld from paychecks. Flat Tax - The business component of the flat tax and payroll taxes are hidden and would be embedded in prices. Taxes are withheld from paychecks.

Any questions?

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Terry of The Right Track Blog and Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous. If you would like to host the weekly postings on your blog, please e-mail Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.