Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-6-MD) has introduced legislation that would change the annual filing date for income tax returns from the current April 15 to the first Monday in November, the day before Election Day.

"I think it's just common sense that the price we pay for our government - which is taxes - should be a top priority when Americans go to the polls to select their members of Congress," said Rep. Bartlett in a news conference last Thursday. "I think that Americans might make different choices if they have the price of government in their minds when they cast their ballots."

Two not-for-profit tax organizations, Americans for Tax Reform and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) support the bill, H.R. 1725, claiming that tax statistics should be important aspects of a voter's decision-making process. The pro-flat tax NTU claims, "Congressman Bartlett's bill could help voters to hold Members of Congress more responsible at the polls for their aggressive spending and tax policies."

H.R. 1725 is co-sponsored by 20 members of Congress and is a duplicate of H.R. 1550 which was introduced by Congressman Bartlett in the 107th Congress. H.R. 1550 never reached a vote.