Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Tax Cuts Or Tax Hike - Which One Is It?

Last week, an "amused" President Obama opined on the Tea Party gatherings. He said, because of his tax cuts, "You would think they'd be saying 'thank you.'"

Now, President Obama is considering a Value Added Tax (VAT) - effectively raising taxes on all of us!

I am very concerned with our economy - as everyone is. We are facing tremendous debt, minimal job growth, and now more taxes (not to mention the taxes hidden in the health care bill). Raising taxes during an economic downturn is not the right thing to do. History proves this time and again.

President Obama cannot claim to be a tax cutter and then turn around and raise taxes. We are not amused!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Foxx Cosponsors Bill To Allow Firing Tax Dodging Federal Employees

The following is from an April 15th press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

TAX DAY NEWS: Foxx cosponsors bill to allow firing of tax dodging federal employees
Bill allows for firing of federal workers who refuse to pay tax
es

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) has cosponsored a bill that gives the federal government the ability to fire federal employees who refuse to pay their income taxes. Nearly 100,000 active federal employees owe $962 million in unpaid taxes, according to the IRS.

“The vast majority of federal workers are paying their taxes and abiding by the law,” Foxx said. “But this tax season there are some federal employees who enjoy taxpayer funded jobs and refuse to pay their fair share. This must stop.”

Under current law, only the federal agency that can fire employees who do not pay their taxes is the IRS. This legislation, H.R. 4735, allows other federal agencies to do the same.

H.R. 4735 allows federal agencies to fire employees who are seriously delinquent tax dodgers. The bill only applies to those federal workers who are serial offenders and refuse to pay their taxes. Federal employees who may be slightly behind on their taxes or are working with the IRS to pay their tax bills will not be affected.

“Prevention is the best medicine,” Foxx said. “This bill prevents future tax cheating by halting the practice of allowing tax-dodging federal employers to duck and cover. In the future, potential tax dodgers will know that federal employers will be held to high standards and expected to pay their fair share.”

Foxx Introduces Bill To Protect Land

The following is from a press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

Foxx introduces bill to protect American lands from federal power grabs
Legislation preserves private property rights, citizen input

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) introduced a bill this week that protects American lands from unnecessary or harmful seizure by the federal government. Her bill, the Preserve Land Freedom for Americans Act, requires congressional approval before any American land is designated as a national monument.

“Local citizens and governments should have a voice in the process of designating new national monuments in their backyards,” Foxx said. “My bill gives Congress the ability to sign off on new national monuments, instead of leaving the federal government to make unilateral land grabs.”

Currently, the President has the power to designate new national monuments without congressional approval under the 100-year-old Antiquities Act. This often takes place without the full input of states and localities, which can jeopardize private property rights, economic development and job creation.

“Our national monuments and parks are American treasures, rightly protected by the federal government,” Foxx said. “This legislation simply creates safeguards to protect local citizens and land owners and keep the federal government from overstepping its bounds.”

Foxx’s bill gives Congress the ability to weigh on the creation of new national monuments. This would allow Representatives from areas under consideration to voice the concerns of citizens in affected areas and ensure that the federal government does not unnecessarily harm local citizens.

The bill also contains provisions to ensure prospective locations for national monuments are studied for potential use, including energy development, prior to receiving a designation. Additionally, it creates a review period for citizen input and congressional approval before restrictions are placed on the land.

The bill, H.R. 4996, currently has 16 cosponsors.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

On Government

"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." Thomas Jefferson (November 29, 1802)