DAVE ARMSTRONG SHOWS US HOW TO GET SPONSORS
It’s FAIRtax volunteers like Indiana’s Dave Armstrong that are going to get the FAIRtax over the finish line. Dave is setting an example for all other FAIRtax volunteers to follow regarding getting sponsorship for the FAIRtax bill.
For most of the twenty years since 2005, the FAIRtax has been a bill in both the House and the Senate. There was a two-year gap in the Senate from 2013 to 2014, but for the past six years, there has been no companion bill in the Senate to the House’s HR-25. So, one of our greatest needs is for FAIRtax volunteers to meet with their Senators or their legislative aides, to find someone willing to step up and sponsor the FAIRtax in the Senate.
Dave Armstrong of Indiana stepped up. Dave is the FAIRtax volunteer who creates the memes you see on our social media. They are very professional. Dave has known Senator Jim Banks for years. Dave met the Senator when he was still a member of the House of Representatives from the third Congressional District of Indiana in Indiana’s Northeast corner. They met at an event where Dave gave a talk on the FAIRtax. Banks was impressed and became a co-sponsor of the FAIRtax in the House.
Dave called Jim Bennett and told Jim that Senator Banks’ office was expecting a call. A short time later, FAIRtax Grassroots Director Jim Bennett and AFFT President Steve Hayes had a Zoom conference with Banks’ legislative director. The legislative director was unfamiliar with the FAIRtax, so we gave him a summary and asked him to speak to Senator Banks about becoming a sponsor of a companion bill. We hope that the Senator will say “yes.”
Dave’s activity in Indiana illustrates how our grassroots network should work. Although FAIRtax does not have a D.C. office, there are at least two FAIRtax volunteers, Jake Buscher in Waynesboro, Virginia, and Jim Bennett in New Jersey who are within driving distance of D.C.
Either or both would be happy to make the trip if someone can set up a meeting with their Senator. If the occasion calls for it, our President, Steve Hayes, will also fly up from Florida. While we’re primarily looking for a Senator who is willing to sponsor the FAIRtax in the Senate, the team is certainly willing to meet with House members who might be persuaded to support HR-25 in the House.
If you can arrange such a meeting with your Senator or Representative, Jake, Jim or Steve would be happy to provide feedback to you on what progress they were able to make.
At one time, Steve Hayes made monthly trips to D.C. to meet with Congress members. But without teamwork from grassroots volunteers around the country, Steve concluded the trips were ineffective and stopped. This time, it’s different.
Another change we made is to focus on meeting with legislative directors rather than meeting directly with a Senator or House member. We found that meeting with a Senator or House member in D.C. is iffy because they can be called away at a moment’s notice. The legislative director in D.C., or the member in the district, is more likely to give you their undivided attention.
I would love to hear from you if you could contact your Senator or House member locally.
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As a reminder, event insurance coverage is available, but you must let us know. Once the event is underway, it's too late. If you are planning an event, let me know the who, what, when, and where, and I will get you a certificate of insurance.
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TAKE BACK CONTROL!
🇺🇸 Call For Pictures & WriteUps - We need more of you to send in pictures and news. If you have something to share, please send your material to me, Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.org, (908) 578-4975, or fax (908) 598-2888. When others see your activity, they are inspired, and the process snowballs. When the process snowballs, Congress Members, Senators, and even the President start to listen.