The Panel's income tax reform plan would make some positive changes such as eliminating the double-taxation of dividends and treating U.S. businesses on a territorial basis with regard to their foreign profits. Both of these changes would increase U.S. business competitiveness and spur investment. However, on both the individual and business parts of this simplified income tax, the proposed top tax rates were still too high. For example, the proposed 32 percent corporate rate would still be higher than the 28 percent average corporate tax rate in Europe. Chris Edwards