Originally published on Forbes.com
The Republican Presidential candidates have been doing a good job for us tax bloggers coming up with their tax plans. I’m still waiting for Carly Fiorina’s three-page tax code, but all things come to those who wait. The Democrats have been a lot less forthcoming. Lincoln Chafee’s “The Code isn’t so bad. Just need to add a 45% bracket” is off the table with Chafee dropping out.
The Bernie Sanders campaign sent me something pretty detailed, but there is still no word on what he is thinking for rates. Hillary Clinton has floated a couple of proposals – more than two holding periods for capital assets and a tax credit to encourage profit sharing plans – that make it clear that a vote for Clinton will not be a vote for tax simplification. I haven’t noted anything yet from O’Malley and Webb dropped with nary a word on tax, although he probably convinced the other candidates that if they didn’t pick him for VP, they should strongly consider him for heading up their Secret Service detail.
If you watch the debates, you might think that I accounted for all the candidates already, but I did not. There was another one – Larry Lessig. The focus of his campaign was on reform of governmental structure to stop gerrymandering, automatic voter registration and public financing of campaigns, so I guess I can’t complain too much about the lack of a tax plan. Anyway, as of today he is out of the race, because the Democratic Party has shifted the rules on what would allow him to get into the next debate. He sent an e-mail to his supporters including me explaining the situation.
MANCHESTER, NH – SEPTEMBER 19: Democratic presidential candidate Lawrence Lessig speaks on stage at the New Hampshire Democratic Party State Convention on September 19, 2015 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Five Democratic presidential candidates are all expected to address the crowd inside the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Under the rules for the debate announced by the DNC in August — and upon which we relied when we launched our campaign — the standard was 3 polls “in the six weeks prior to the debate.” Depending on which polls counted, we either have qualified or could be just one poll away from qualifying for the debate.
But at the end of last week, I learned from my team that the DNC has now changed the rules. The standard is no longer the rule announced by the DNC Chair — 3 polls “in the six weeks prior to the debate.” The standard is now 3 polls “at least six weeks before the debate.” That means, for me to qualify, I had to have had 3 polls at 1% before October 10! You can read the @full and sad story as described by the leader of my campaign, Steve Jarding. The consequence of this change is that it is now impossible for me to get into the second debate.
There is still hope that Professor Lessig might get back in. He included a P.S. in the e-mail announcing his withdrawal.
P.S. Would I return to the race if invited to the debate? OF COURSE! So please feel free to raise some hell by tweeting, forwarding this email to a friend or watching and sharing this 45-second video from supporter Jordan Leigh. I can’t help but believe theDemocrats will do the right thing — eventually. Maybe you can make that happen.