Licensing proponent way off base

Where does CPA Ed Hattenbach come up with his imaginary facts? ("Time to license tax preparers," Accounting Today, Sept. 1-20, 2009, page 8.)

CPAs who are licensed have caused the largest failures in corporate America, from Enron down to Bernie Madoff.

He refers to the "failure of many of these supposed professionals whose work product is sub-standard." How does he come up with that? Where is his proof?

"Many do not keep copies of client backup... ." How does he know that as a fact? What does "many" mean? Where does he get this from?

Let's license Tim Geithner and Rep. Charles Rangel first and then work our way down. And why give CPAs a free ride? Let them take a standardized tax preparation test also.

Maurice Trauring

New York City

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