A Major FairTax® Win In Florida!

“Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path.” – Winston Churchill

Noted business author Tom Peters says, “Celebrate what you want to see more of.” This week we celebrate a major FairTax® achievement in Florida, and this is definitely something for which we want to see a lot more.

After months and months of diligent education by a dedicated team of grassroots volunteer leaders from the Florida FairTax Educational Association (FFTEA), on May 9, 2014, the Florida legislature passed Senate Memorial 118 “urging the U.S. Congress to repeal all taxes on income and enact a national retail sales tax as specified in HR 25, the FairTax Act of 2013.”

Volunteer state director and FFTEA managing director Mark Gupton spent months educating 36 Representatives, 18 Senators and their staff on the merits of a consumption tax. AFFT grassroots steering committee chairman and FFTEA director Steve Hayes, and AFFT director of research and FFTEA director Dr. Karen Walby made five committee presentations, which resulted in the committees passing the legislation prior to debate on the floor of each chamber.

This outstanding FFTEA leadership team, supported by an equally outstanding group of FFTEA grassroots volunteers, was rewarded when this historic piece of legislation received unanimous approval and minimal opposition during the floor vote in both chambers of the Florida legislature. After the Memorial was passed Ken Detzner, Florida Secretary of State, further codified the legislation by forwarding it to President Obama.  The Secretary also encouraged the President and Congress to enact HR 25.!

You may view the Secretary’s letter to the President and a copy of the Memorial here.

Florida State Senator Alan Hayes led the effort in the Florida Senate and Representative Charles E. Van Zant led the effort in the Florida House. As Mark Gupton noted in his announcement, “without their leadership and guidance, we would not have achieved success.” Please join us in sending a note of appreciation for their outstanding effort. You may send your notes to:

Senator Alan Hays
871 S. Central Avenue
Umatilla, FL  32784-9290
Hays.alan@flsenate.gov

Representative Charles E. Van Zant
3841 Reid Street, Ste 5
Palatka, FL  32177-2509
Charles.vanzant@myfloridahouse.gov

Co-Sponsor Meetings

Steve Hayes and I just returned from Washington, D.C., where we had back-to-back meetings to brief HR 25 co-sponsors Congressman Tom Price (GA-6), Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1) and Congressman Rob Woodall (GA-7) on the governance transfer of the FairTax campaign to grassroots leaders, and the direction of tax reform in the 113th Congress.

We also discussed the state of current tax reform initiatives with the executive editor of a prominent Washington newspaper and the senior fellow for economic policy at a major Washington research institution.

The bottom line feedback from everyone is the governance transfer is a very strong move for both AFFT and the FairTax campaign, and the anticipation is it will have a major impact on the energy, focus and future success of the campaign. Additionally, Rep. Woodall remains optimistic that the anticipated vote on HR 25 by the House Ways and Means Committee is still possible in the 113th Congress.

Houston Delegate Meeting

This week we are also celebrating the conclusion of Americans For Fair Taxation’s (AFFT) delegate elections.  This historic event, establishes the first ever, grassroots led board of directors for AFFT and the FairTax campaign. Congratulations to the men and women who were nominated and elected, and to those who participated in the nomination and election process. You may view a list of the 2014 delegates here.

Newly elected AFFT delegates are preparing for their national delegates meeting in Houston, TX from June 13-15, 2014. This meeting will complete the transfer of AFFT governance from the current board of directors to volunteer grassroots leaders.

Rep. Jim Bridenstine will keynote the welcome dinner on Friday evening at which time the current board of directors will be honored for their longstanding leadership and support of the FairTax campaign. Delegates will also hear by phone from Rep. Rob Woodall and Rep. Tom Price during their deliberations on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15. Rep. Kevin Brady will be joining by phone or in person if his schedule permits.

Yes, it’s been a good week for the FairTax campaign and more good things are on the horizon. Thank you all for your continued support and dedication. Your letters to Congress, activism and financial gifts are making a difference! And, your personal notes to me are deeply appreciated.

---