Let’s Do More

Today a bipartisan coalition of Alabama legislators announced the introduction of the Alabama Taxpayer Protection and Assistance Act, which will provide for testing and licensing of commercial tax preparers in the state to help ensure they are competent and ethical. That is great news! What else can we do? How about an elder abuse act to protect our Seniors?

Let’s give arbitration back to businesses who are are equipped to handle them- not consumers who cannot even buy a car or put a loved one in a nursing home without having an arbitration agreement stuck in the paper work. How about a consumer protection bill that keeps unregulated lenders from charging exorbitant interest rates? Let’s reform our tax system so the poor are no so adversely affected. Maybe even a new constitution so our local governments can govern without having to go to Montgomery for everything.

Last week I reported on Impact Alabama’s undercover investigation regarding the improper preparation of tax returns by storefront tax preparers and urged consumers and lawyers to be on the lookout for improper tax returns and the trouble they cause. The announcement referenced University of Alabama students working with the University of Alabama’s Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility who conducted research and helped draft the needed reforms. It also discussed the college students from more than ten campuses statewide who worked through Impact Alabama to raise awareness and gain support from the Legislature and Governor.

We need to congratulate those young people and the legislators for moving this to an arena where the people of Alabama will be able to confidently hire tax preparers

Now let’s do more. It can be done. All it takes is effort- like what Impact Alabama did.