Administration details framework for business tax reform
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the president’s framework for reforming the U.S. business tax system, which would enhance American competitiveness by simplifying the tax code and eliminating dozens of tax loopholes and subsidies, incentivizing job creation and investment here at home and lowering the business rate while broadening the tax base.
“In order to make us more competitive and create jobs here at home, we must reform our corporate tax code,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “The President’s framework would boost growth and provide American companies with incentives to invest in the U.S. while simplifying and cutting taxes for our small businesses.” Continue reading “Administration details framework for business tax reform” »
State Senate vote codifies adoption discrimination
The State Senate on Tuesday passed House Bill 189, which Virginia Democrats say will set the Commonwealth backwards by codifying and expanding the ability of state-funded child-placing agencies to discriminate against gay and lesbian Virginians seeking to adopt.
“We have been talking about conscience. But whose conscience are we talking about? My conscience is offended whenever the state sponsors discrimination. My conscience is offended when we discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation. My conscience is offended when we deny a child a loving home,” Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) said. Continue reading “State Senate vote codifies adoption discrimination” »
Radtke raises issue with IRS actions
U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Radtke has asked the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to launch a formal investigation into abusive actions by the Internal Revenue Service toward Tea Party and Patriot organizations.
On Friday, Radtke sent a letter to Congressman Darrell Issa describing IRS actions toward conservative organizations currently seeking IRS non-profit status as “an assault by the Internal Revenue Service on Tea Party and Patriot groups.” Continue reading “Radtke raises issue with IRS actions” »
McDonnell urges GOP lawmakers to back down on controversial ultrasound bill
Gov. Bob McDonnell is recommending a series of amendments to the controversial legislation that would require women seeking to abort a pregnancy to undergo an invasive ultrasound procedure beforehand.
“Having looked at the current proposal, I believe there is no need to direct by statute that further invasive ultrasound procedures be done,” McDonnell said in a statement on Wednesday. Continue reading “McDonnell urges GOP lawmakers to back down on controversial ultrasound bill” »
Senate passes private-school tax credit
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cast the tie-breaking vote in the State Senate today pushing a bill that will provide for up to $25 million in tax credits for businesses that donate money to private schools.
The state tax credit is designed to encourage individuals and corporations to contribute to non-profit organizations who provide education improvement scholarships to students in low and middle income families, and to students with a qualifying disability in order for them to attend non-public elementary or secondary schools. Continue reading “Senate passes private-school tax credit” »
Eminent domain constitutional amendment passes in Senate, House
A proposed constitutional amendment that would help protect private property rights cleared its next-to-last hurdle when it was passed by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. Now it awaits approval by Virginia voters in November.
The Senate version of the bill, SJ 3, passed 23-17, and HJ 3, the House version, was approved 80-18 late Monday.
“We can’t begin to say how pleased we are that this bill has passed the House and Senate for the second year in a row,” said Trey Davis, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation assistant director of governmental relations. “We are looking forward to putting this before the state’s voters in November.” Continue reading “Eminent domain constitutional amendment passes in Senate, House” »
Webb introduces bill to strengthen adult ed, workforce training
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) on Thursday introduced the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act of 2012, which will reform and increase investment in job training, adult education and other programs needed to build a 21st century workforce. Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are original co-sponsors of the legislation.
According to the National Commission on Adult Literacy, 80-90 million U.S. adults today—about half of the adult workforce—do not have the basic education and communications skills required to obtain jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage or to enter and succeed in college. However, federal funding for adult education has declined in real terms since 2002, and the nation’s primary federal resource for adult education, job training and employment services—the Workforce Investment Act—has not been reauthorized or updated for over ten years. Continue reading “Webb introduces bill to strengthen adult ed, workforce training” »
Warner: Voting against payroll-tax extension
U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today in a speech on the Senate floor that he will be voting against the payroll tax cut deal conference report.
Transcript
Mr. Warner: Mr. President, let me rise today to speak about the conference report that it appears we’ll be voting on tomorrow regarding the issues of the payroll tax, unemployment benefits and the so-called doc fix.
And let me first of all acknowledge, Mr. President, that I know that many of my colleagues have worked long hours on the payroll tax deal that was apparently reached late last night. I have been briefed on pieces of this deal, and I’ve also seen many of the press reports that have described this deal as a new sign of bipartisanship. As a new member of the Senate, I know, like the presiding officer, we believe that we do our best work here in Congress comes when we can have bipartisan solutions, when we can find ways to reach common ground. Continue reading “Warner: Voting against payroll-tax extension” »
Remarks by President Obama on American manufacturing
Event at Master Lock, Milwaukee, Wisc., Wednesday, Feb. 15
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Milwaukee! (Applause.) It is good to be back in the great state of Wisconsin. (Applause.) This is the closest I’ve been to home in a while. I was thinking about getting on the 90-94 and just driving down to my house. (Laughter.)
Thank you, DiAndre, for that outstanding introduction — (applause) — and for sharing your story. I can tell, though, DiAndre is a little shy. He doesn’t necessarily like to get out in front of people. (Laughter.) Continue reading “Remarks by President Obama on American manufacturing” »
PPP: Santorum polling better than Romney against Obama
New polling by Public Policy Polling has for the first time a GOP candidate other than Mitt Romney faring better in a hypothetical matchup with Barack Obama.
Rick Santorum, riding the wave of a string of victories in Republican presidential contests last week, has for now the mantle of “most electable” Republican candidate, according to numbers released by PPP on Tuesday. Continue reading “PPP: Santorum polling better than Romney against Obama” »
House Dems denounce passage of ultrasound bill
On the final day for House bills to be considered before crossing over to the Senate, Republicans capped their divisive social-issue agenda by passing the physically intrusive HB462. The measure, sponsored by Del. Kathy Byron (R-Bedford), mandates women have an ultrasound performed – which includes the transvaginal procedure that requires a device to be inserted into the vagina – before they can undergo an abortion or medically-induced miscarriage.
“House Republicans have decided to pry even further into the private lives of Virginia women by requiring doctors to offer to perform an invasive medical procedure before they can exercise their constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy,” said Del. Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria). “House Republicans can no longer call themselves the party of ‘small government’ with a straight face after the passage of HB462.” Continue reading “House Dems denounce passage of ultrasound bill” »
Virginia Tea Party: Beware tax breaks
“From beehives to spaceflight, from social engineering to coal mines, many special interest groups want a tax credit,” said Mark Daugherty, the chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation. “What they are looking for is a legal and financial advantage over fellow Virginians.”
Last November, a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study revealed that tax breaks favored select Virginia groups and individuals in 2008 in the amount of $12.5 billion, which is equal to 90 percent of the $14.3 billion in actual individual and sales taxes paid by Virginians. Continue reading “Virginia Tea Party: Beware tax breaks” »
