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Presidential Council Chairman Confirms Barrow Quote from Council Fabricated

ATLANTA, Ga. – John Barrow’s re-election campaign imploded last night live on GPTV, as Republican candidate Max Burns released incontrovertible evidence that Barrow fabricated quotes from the Presidential Advisory Council on Federal Tax Reform[2] used in his “Max Tax” negative ad campaign.

In the ad, Barrow claims the Presidential Advisory Council on Federal Tax Reform said “Max Burns’ National Sales Tax would increase taxes on 75% of Americans.” However, Burns revealed during last night’s debate that the Chairman of the President’s Advisory Council, former U.S. Senator Connie Mack reviewed Barrow’s ad yesterday and found Barrow’s claim patently false.

“The President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform did not examine any proposal by Max Burns,” says Senator Mack. “Furthermore, the panel did not score H.R. 25.”

While Burns has never authored any national sales tax proposal, Barrow has continued his “Max Tax” campaign based solely on Burn’s support for U.S. Rep. John Linder’s (R-GA) proposal for a national sales tax, HR 25. Senator Mack’s findings therefore rule out even Barrow’s indirect deceptive claim against Burns.

“Mr. Barrow, take down this false ad,” demanded former 12th District Congressman Max Burns. Burns also demanded Barrow formally apologize to the voters of the district for airing false advertising. Senator Mack’s findings confirm reports last week from WSAV TV investigative reporter Paul Rea, who also found that the Council report[3] from November, 2005 in fact did not examine any proposal by Burns, or even any specific bill supported by Burns, and that the claim is “untrue.”

“Findings of false advertising by John Barrow from two independent, unrelated sources provides more than adequate justification that these ads be immediately pulled from the air by all broadcasters,” says Burns for Congress Campaign Manager Tim Baker. “We are formally requesting this action immediately, as every airing of this false advertising is financially damaging to Max Burns for Congress and personally damaging to Dr. Burns.”

[1] http://www.wsav.com/midatlantic/sav/search.apx.-content-articles-SAV-2006-10-23-0017.html

[2] http://www.taxreformpanel.gov

[3] http://www.taxreformpanel.gov/final-report/TaxReform_Ch9.pdf