A flat-tax is an option, regardless of what the Economist says

In their plea to see America's tax code simplified to a flat-tax system, the Economist said that President Bush's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform "terms of reference are so narrow that it could not suggest a flat tax even if it wanted to."

I have spoken to the head of the panel, former Florida Senator Connie Mack, and he said the panel was weighing three options: a flat income tax, a national sales tax (or consumption tax), and a value-added tax.

Of course, Mack didn't say which planned he favored, but there is no doubt that the flat-tax is being bandied about.