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BRIEF
Mar 10, 2010 — The Oregonian
Jenson and Smith drew the ire of some Republicans last year when they voted with Democrats in support of tax increases. Jenson provided the critical 36th vote on a proposal raising corporate and business taxes. -
East side apartments get chilly reception at City Hall
Mar 10, 2010 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
It is among two new apartment developments proposed for the neighborhood. To finance the $12.7 million project, Mercy would seek federal affordable housing tax credits. Nik Kovac, whose district includes the site, told committee members that Mercy needs to obtain a purchase option before the March 26 tax credits application deadline. That option would not amount to final approval on the land sale, nor would it involve zoning approval. -
EDITORIAL
Mar 10, 2010 — Richmond Times-Dispatch
Mar. 10, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- For years, America's official poverty measure has failed to account for the social welfare state. But it also is expected to find that poverty in America is actually higher than the old measurement that did not include those benefits. How can that be? The new formula also will include expenses not included in the old one, such as child care and health care. -
FBI informant's firm files civil suit over Dallas City Hall corruption case
Mar 10, 2010 — The Dallas Morning News
Brian Potashnik testified for the prosecution during the months-long trial. That income was mostly bribes from prominent developers Brian and Cheryl Potashnik. Cheryl Potashnik also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced. -
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, Mitchell Schnurman column
Mar 10, 2010 — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
When Boulder County started its program, more than 1,700 people and 130 contractors attended briefing sessions. TXU Energy and SolarCity recently unveiled a solar leasing plan with no upfront costs and a low monthly payment. That helps ensure that homeowners are making high-value investments. Most programs exclude homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage. -
Health-care reform's sickeningly sweet deals
Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
And the health-care "reform" bill is, consequently, more expensive by billions.Yes, gone (sort of) is the so-called Cornhusker kickback, extended to Nebraska Sen. All states now will get their own Cornhusker kickbacks. Which isn't exactly true, of course, but point taken.The effort to push any health-care bill through Congress is relentless, no matter how many Americans oppose it. -
Oklahoma House powers down electric car incentive
Mar 10, 2010 — The Daily Oklahoman
The state Supreme Court in December said the court lacked jurisdiction. Another suit was filed in Oklahoma County District Court. It's estimated the credits would cost the state about $40 million. Rep. House members voted to table it 41-38. -
Panel considers 10% pay cut for state lawmakers
Mar 10, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
Murray's bid to further cut elected officials' pay. "This isn't punitive," she said. "A lot of people think they aren't doing a good job, but I think a lot of them are doing a good job." The six-member commission angered many lawmakers when it voted last year to cut pay and per diem by 18%. A new 10% reduction would lower legislators' salaries to $85,762, still the highest in the nation. A fresh pay cut would also apply to other elected state officials, including the governor,... -
Realtors, builders optimistic heading into spring
Mar 10, 2010 — Richmond Times-Dispatch
The industry is coming off one of the worst years in recent history for new and previously owned home sales. The homebuilders' site, launched Monday, is RightHouseRightNow.com. It will feature about 200 new homes by week's end, McNulty said. The Realtors' site, REsourceHome.com, includes a home-sale search and community information on Richmond and 12 localities. -
Recovery emerging from U.S. factories
Mar 10, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
Rebuilding manufacturing on the scale that once undergirded U.S. prosperity is another. China, by contrast, invests heavily in R&D and subsidizes manufacturing. As the industry moved to Asia and clustered around electronics makers there, Fehsenfeld's 26-year-old firm has shifted to lower-volume, specialty production. -
4th casino files for bankruptcy protection
Mar 9, 2010 — The Indianapolis Star
A Chapter 11 filing is a likely outcome for such a process with healthy, operating businesses. So, we're pleased." In addition to Hoosier Park, Centaur owns the Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino in Central City, Colo. And it is working to develop a new Valley View Downs and Casino project in western Pennsylvania. -
Anthem becomes Obama's Exhibit A for health-care reform
Mar 9, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
The day after Anthem's filing, the bill passed the House on a cliff-hanging vote. About a third are covered by Anthem.California allows increases in the individual market so long as insurers spend at least 70 cents of every premium dollar on health care. Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of Health and Human Services, sent a letter to WellPoint, challenging the increases, and summoned industry executives to the White House to explain themselves. -
Business groups plan TV assault on Obama health-care plan
Mar 9, 2010 — Washington Post
...business groups, who are fiercely battling the president's proposals for health-care reform, financial regulations and cap-and-trade legislation. In a pair of fiery appearances this week, Obama ratcheted up his attacks on the insurance industry for opposing reform and called on House and Senate Democrats to take final votes on the proposals within the next 10 days.R. Bruce Josten, the Chamber's executive vice president for government affairs, said Obama was using insurers as a scapegoat... -
California legislator Roy Ashburn acknowledges he's gay, draws colleagues' support
Mar 9, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
Susan Ferriss Mar. 9, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- In the end, Sen. -
California legislators vote to extend tax relief for home short sales
Mar 9, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
One clause would eliminate state tax penalties for those who received loan modifications last year or did short sales. In short sales, they agree to sales prices below what they're owed to avoid foreclosing. The federal government has banned the IRS from taxing forgiven mortgage debt through the end of 2012. -
California tax law unsettled on home sellers' short sales
Mar 9, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
That clause establishes new tax penalties on firms that file unfounded claims for refunds. The federal government, meanwhile, has backed off on taxing forgiven mortgage debt through the end of 2012. The Bush administration, backed by the real estate industry, blocked the IRS from taxing forgiven debt in 2007. -
Close to home: Knoxville's housing market is picking up
Mar 9, 2010 — USA Today
In January, Knoxville County home sales were 12.2% higher than in January 2009. The home buyer tax credit seems to be sparking more sales. Even last year, when home sales were down, prices remained stable, Hensley says.Local economy. -
Dem leaders jockey on filibuster reform
Mar 9, 2010 — The Hill
Under such a scenario, the chamber’s presiding officer, presumably Senate President and Vice President Joe Biden, would recognize a motion to adopt new rules for the 112th Congress. After another two days elapsed, a third vote to cut off debate would require only 54 votes. Senior lawmakers have also chimed in.“I think it’s a dated rule from a past century,” said Sen. -
DFW home sales fell in February, but median price rose
Mar 9, 2010 — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
...sales to be stronger through midyear. In Tarrant, the strongest sales gains were in Trophy Club/Westlake, which saw a 71 percent increase from February 2009, and in Grapevine, where sales rose 50 percent. Strong sales were also recorded in southeast and southwest Arlington, far west Fort Worth, Benbrook and White Settlement. Areas of west-central and southwest Fort Worth, including Texas Christian University, for many months a hot area, saw sales drop 13 percent. ... -
Disconnect: Gibbs, Hoyer dispute vote
Mar 9, 2010 — The Hill
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and the White House on Tuesday engaged in a rare public dispute over when healthcare reform will be voted on.The clash comes as Democrats on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue begin to count votes for a health reform bill that will be extremely challenging to pass.Hoyer on Tuesday morning suggested the March 18 deadline recently set by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was not endorsed by congressional leaders.“None of us have... -
Do Americans oppose health-care reform? Why?
Mar 9, 2010 — Washington Post
Ezra KleinThat's the latest Gallup poll on health-care reform. Last night, Stephen Colbert asked me if "everybody" hates health-care reform. The country is closely divided on health-care reform, with a slight plurality in opposition. -
Ex-GOP lawmaker who helped write business tax cuts is hired to extend them
Mar 9, 2010 — The Hill
...tax rates. McCrery said that he had originally wanted to set taxes on dividends at zero.McCrery said a key aspect of the cuts under the Bush administration was to link capital gains and dividends policy. If Congress does not act and the tax rates revert to pre-2003 policy, the rates would be imposed at different levels.Opponents of the dividend tax increase argue that it would hurt the middle-class and companies that rely on investments to help them grow.“Just as a... -
Gop Sharpens Midterm Attack Line
Mar 9, 2010 — Politico
Arlen Specter signed Bennet’s letter last month. Charlie Melancon and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan are either distancing themselves from the legislation or attempting to remain silent.Melancon, who is challenging Sen. Carnahan, who is looking to pick up retiring Sen. -
Insurers open conference amid hostile atmosphere
Mar 9, 2010 — The Hill
...to insurance companies, the latest of which went out Monday, and pulled their executives into the White House for meetings. In a letter to Ignagni on Tuesday, Sebelius asked to speak at the AHIP conference Wednesday morning.Obama himself dropped by a sit-down between Sebelius and insurance representatives last week to read aloud from a letter written by a cancer survivor facing a 40 percent premium increase.The Obama administration has been going hard at the insurance industry for... -
Joe Biden still has one foot in the Senate; may be key to healthcare
Mar 9, 2010 — The Hill
J. Taylor RushingUnlike his predecessor, Vice President Joe Biden does not attend the weekly lunches in the Senate. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), Biden’s longtime chief of staff and interim replacement. “He’s just a Senate guy. Cheney would attend Senate GOP lunches every week, Republicans recall, although he would rarely speak.“I liked what Cheney did. -
Legislators OK exemptions to furloughs for state workers
Mar 9, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
...exempt are workers at the California State Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board -- the state's tax collectors. Forcing those workers to take unpaid holidays saves the state $65 million in salaries during the current budget year but prevents the collection of $465 million in unpaid taxes, Steinberg said. "Overall, there are fewer hours and resources to conduct the audits and other enforcement measures that bring money to the state," Steinberg said. The furloughs are... -
More conservative misinformation on health-care reform
Mar 9, 2010 — Washington Post
Because the exchanges, as you can see on Page 20 of this CBO analysis, are expected to serve 25 million people by 2019. And that 10 percent of the market will be primarily composed of the uninsured. Because of the subsidies (and, to a lesser extent, regulations) people are also buying better insurance policies. -
North Texas home sales drop again
Mar 9, 2010 — The Dallas Morning News
...of a federal tax credit. The federal incentive program was extended through April and broadened but hasn't caused a similar uptick in year-over-year home sales. Real estate agents sold 4,099 preowned single-family homes through the Multiple Listing Service last month, according to statistics from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University and North Texas Real Estate Information Systems Inc. Housing analysts say they still hope the federal tax credit, which Congress... -
Obama adviser pushes health-care reform
Mar 9, 2010 — The Columbus Dispatch
Now." Jarrett leads the White House Council on Women and Girls that Obama created a year ago.
California Retailers: Support Proposition 13 - Stop Property Tax Increases
Oppose Oregon Tax Measure
Support Stimulus Legislation To Bolster The Sale Of Home Furnishings And Building Products
