Rent-to-own News - "Fair Tax" Linder agrees to co-sponsor

The seeds of APRO's Legislative Conference continue to bear fruit with another U.S. Congressman agreeing to co-sponsor the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act.

Republican Rep. John Elmer Linder, who represents Georgia's 7th Congressional District, will sign on to H.R. 1767 when the House returns to session in September, according to an e-mail from senior staffer Jill Janovetz.

Georgia Rep. John Linder

The e-mail was forwarded from Bruce Kemp, an Aaron's Franchisee, who met with Janovetz during this year's APRO Legislative Conference along with fellow Aaron's franchisee John Raines and Aaron's Legal Counsel Beth Gibbs.

The conference was Kemp's second and he said, though more familiar this time around, the process of participatory government remains fascinating.

"The process is incredibly interesting and the highlight of my year," Kemp said. "I was very lucky last year and got a co-sponsor off the bat, this year it's taken a lot of e-mails, phone calls and follow up."

Rep. Linder, is well known for his role in the effort to enact fundamental tax reform with his Fair Tax Act. He co-authored a book on the subject, The Fair Tax Book, which was a New York Times bestseller.

Elected in 1993, Linder is a former dentist and businessman and was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives before entering the House.

He voted for rent-to-own industry supported legislation in 2002 and is a past co-sponsor.

Linder serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the Subcommittee on Oversight and the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

Once entered into the Congressional Record, Linder will become the fourth House member from Georgia to co-sponsor the bill and will raise total co-sponsorship of the legislation to 95.

mevans@rtohq.org