|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Invasive mussel confirmed in Utahs Electric Lake
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Microsoft lets Zune music subscribers keep tunes
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Astronauts end spacewalk to repair gummed-up joint
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Dubai parties at hotel gala despite economic gloom
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Warsaw marks borders of former ghetto
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Pakistan protests to US over deep missile strike
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Afghanistan markets its brand of pomegranates
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
China says 19,000 students died in May earthquake
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
HUGE TAX INCREASE LOOMS FOR TENNESSEE TAXPAYERS.
December 16, 2007 -
December 23, 2007
Some people say “there’s not a dimes worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats.” They are right, because for Tennessee taxpayers the difference is actually over $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS!
In 2004, thanks to the efforts of Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, taxpayers in Tennessee were put on equal footing with taxpayers in states that rely on a state income tax to fund their state’s operations. But the deductibility of state and local sales tax on federal income tax forms expires this year…unless the Democratic Party-controlled Congress does something immediately.
Nine states -- Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming -- have no broad-based state income tax. Residents were once allowed to deduct their state and local sales tax payments from federal income tax returns. In May 1985, then-President Ronald Reagan presented a sweeping proposal to reform the national tax system that was designed to promote fairness, growth, and simplicity by reducing tax rates and eliminating almost all of what had become a complex system of itemized deductions, including all deductions for state and local taxes—whether based on income, property, or sales.
The following year, Congress passed the President’s proposal in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. In the legislative process, however, President Reagan’s proposal to eliminate the deduction for all state and local taxes was watered down to affect only state and local sales taxes, leaving the deductions for income and property taxes untouched -- directly contravening the original goal of fairness. This grossly unfair system remained in place until 2004 when Republican leadership put taxpayers in all states back on a level playing field.
Last year, in the final days of the Republican-controlled House and Senate, the deductibility of state and local sales taxes was extended but it expires at the end of this year. Now the Democrats control the House and Senate, and under the leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid taxpayers in those nine states are about to be hit with a collective tax increase of over ten billion dollars. The average family in each those states – including Tennessee -- will send about $551 a year more to Washington thanks to the current Congressional leadership.
In Tennessee the loss of this deduction would be significant for about 600,000 families. In 2005 alone, over $1.23 billion dollars remained in the hands of Tennessee taxpayers rather than being sent off to the bureaucrats in Washington. If Congress does not extend the deduction before the end of this year then Tennessee taxpayers will be forced to pay an extra $1.5 billion of our hard-earned money in higher taxes while “blue state” taxpayers in New York, Massachusetts and California keep their deduction and their money.
The clock is ticking down as Congress completes a year of abysmal failure. Those who don’t see any difference between Republicans and Democrats should pay close attention to whether or not the Democrat-controlled Congress “sticks it” to Tennessee taxpayers as they finish up their work for 2007.
### |
 |
 |
THE O-ZONE BLANKETS THE NATION. -
December 8, 2007 -
December 15, 2007
Seeking to build upon his growing momentum in Iowa and beyond, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama played his trump card with perfect timing: Oprah Winfrey. A series of “Oprahpalooza” campaign events over the weekend drew huge crowds in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Obama now hopes to translate the buzz and enthusiasm over Oprah into votes for him in those critical early caucus and primary states.
The public response to the appearance of the daytime diva on the cam... |
 |
|
IS AL GORE WAITING IN THE WINGS? -
December 2, 2007 -
December 9, 2007
With roughly a month to go before the Iowa Caucuses the once seemingly unsinkable Hillary Clinton campaign for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination is showing signs of taking on water. A new Iowa poll puts Barack Obama in the lead in that state for the first time. In the coming weeks he is planning to campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina with star supporter Oprah Winfrey – perhaps the only celebrity who can go toe-to-toe with Bill Clinton when it comes to political clout... |
|
|
TIME FOR THE ANNUAL ASSAULT ON CHRISTMAS! -
November 27, 2007 -
December 3, 2007
It’s become an annual ritual. Each December the Anti-Christmas Crowd (ACC) emerges from hibernation to engage in political correctness run amok. This year we have already seen shopping centers in England tell Santa to exercise and lose weight or risk being sacked. Seems they believe that the epidemic of childhood obesity can actually be traced to kids having a desire to follow in the boot steps and belly roll of Old St. Nick. I guess xBox is off the hook.
Another mall in Australia instr... |
|
|
IS WAITING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON ABORTION REALLY PRO-LIFE? -
November 18, 2007 -
November 25, 2007
When the nation’s largest right to life organization endorsed Fred Thompson last week it sparked some criticism of his pro-life record by his disappointed opponents for the Republican nomination. Thompson produced a 100% pro-life voting record during his eight years in the U.S. Senate, yet some in the pro-life community were dismayed by the National Right to Life endorsement decision and see him as “squishy” on the issue. He believes Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overturned, but... |
|
|
THE SCHIP FUNDING FRAUD EXPOSED. -
November 4, 2007 -
November 7, 2007
Last week the SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) $35 billion expansion legislation passed again in both houses of Congress. President Bush has again vowed to veto the bill, and it received fewer votes than needed for an override of that veto in both the Senate and the House.
Despite claims that the bill had been “revised” in response to concerns expressed by opponents it still provides health insurance coverage for millions of adults under the guise of a “children’s” hea... |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Keep up with Steve, join our G-Mail List to receive Gill Show updates and Steve's weekly column... |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
