Mark Tilghman Responds To Frank Kratovil Post

Dear Joe:

In answer to your rhetorical headline - we were not duped. Susan and I are strong supporters of Frank Kratovil, not because he is a Democrat, but because he is a good man who earnestly and capably represents our district. We previously supported Wayne Gilchrest for the same reasons. We were not paid to endorse Frank Kratovil, as you have falsely asserted, and our comments were not scripted. We were asked questions about Frank Kratovil and the “fair tax” proposal which Dr. Harris endorses on his website. The television ad accurately reflects Susan’s concerns regarding the “fair tax.” Our only regret is that the ad did not include the many good things we had to say about Frank Kratovil.

Susan and I do not know Dr. Harris, and we would not publicly criticize him. We do, however, strongly disagree with the “fair tax” which he supports as an alternative to the current tax system. Before Frank Kratovil’s ad, many people had never heard of the “fair tax,” and if they had, they certainly did not understand its potential impact. To the extent that the television ad has opened a dialogue on this subject, it will encourage people to educate themselves and to more clearly understand where Frank Kratovil and Dr. Harris differ on this important issue.

Your call for an apology from Frank Kratovil is unfounded. It is not possible to explain all of the nuances of a proposed federal tax in a 30 second commercial. The tax endorsed by Dr. Harris is, in fact, a 23% sales tax. Unlike other sales taxes, however, the “fair tax” applies to the purchase of almost all goods and services, including health care expenses. The “fair tax” is not fair. While the tax might be beneficial to those who are prosperous, healthy, and free to choose how they will spend their money, it will not benefit those who need costly medicines or expensive home healthcare. It also hurts parents who struggle to provide medical and dental care for their children.

I found the FactCheck.org article to which you referred. Interestingly, the article describes the “fair tax” as “highly controversial,” and points out that, in 2005, President Bush’s Advisory Panel On Federal Tax Reform was critical of the “fair tax” and “concluded that ‘middle-income Americans would pay a larger share of the federal tax burden’ under the proposal.” That same article referred its readers to an earlier article entitled “Unspinning the Fair Tax.” The earlier article, also by FactCheck.org (an organization which you describe as a “respected public watchdog group”) concluded that the “fair tax” "is not a 23% tax, but rather a 30% tax. And it is revenue-neutral only through an accounting trick. It will collect more money from those earning between $15,000 and $200,000 per year, and less from those earning more than $200,000 per year."

Susan and I were amused by your mistaken assumption that because we are lawyers, we would benefit by the passage of the “fair tax” and welcome Dr. Harris’ support of it. I would still like to believe that some people, especially our representatives, can look beyond self-interest. Yes, Joe, we understand the “fair tax.” We understand that Dr. Harris supports this proposed tax, and we understand that it would hurt most residents of our congressional district.

Mark Tilghman