Free Republic

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the Senate promise to cut the deficit by almost two-thirds over the next five years, but their budget plan could threaten about 30 million people with tax increases averaging $3,700 in 2012 and after because of the alternative minimum tax. The alternative is tax increases elsewhere in the revenue code averaging up to $100 billion a year after 2011 to continue alternative minimum tax relief and also curb taxes on people inheriting large estates.

The workforce of bureaucrats in the NHS is growing six times as quickly as the number of nurses, according to official figures. While the number of health service managers went up 12 per cent in one year, the number of nurses increased by less than 2 per cent - and the number of health visitors plummeted. Since Labour came to power, the number of managers has almost doubled, partly as a result of the need to monitor stringent Whitehall targets on waiting times.

Sacramento, Calif. (AP) -- California's unemployment rate grew slightly to 12.5 percent in January, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. But the state also revised its December job numbers to show that about 300,000 additional jobs were lost that month. The state's unemployment rate in December was 12.3 percent. Officials had previously reported December's unemployment rate at 12.4 percent, but revised that figure Friday. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent. ... Despite the increase in unemployment in January, the state added 32,500 jobs. The construction industry saw the largest increase with an additional 16,200 jobs.

More Families Are Becoming Homeless Largest Increases in 2008 Came in Rural and Suburban Areas, Study Finds Alexi Mostrous Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, July 12, 2009 Louis Gill doesn't like to turn anyone away. The director of the Bakersfield Homeless Center in California has taken to laying out cots and mattresses between the shelter's 174 registered beds to cope with the rush of homeless families brought to his doors by the financial crisis. "Last year, we saw a 34 percent increase in homeless families and a 24 percent increase in homeless children," he said. "Why do we go beyond...

CHICAGO – The largest study of its kind finds that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer. The federal study of more than half a million men and women bolsters prior evidence of the health risks of diets laden with red meat like hamburger and processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts. Calling the increased risk modest, lead author Rashmi Sinha of the National Cancer Institute said the findings support the advice of several health groups to limit red and processed meat...

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's Treasury secretary is defending proposed tax increases on the wealthy, saying they are necessary to limit future budget deficits. Timothy Geithner responded on Wednesday to Republican criticism that the administration wants to increase taxes during a recession. Geithner noted that tax increases on couples making more than $250,000 per year would not take effect until 2011.

Politicians and governments seem to want more tax revenue almost at every turn. In response to rising deficits, the Media and the Democrats reflexively demand tax increases. In practice, politicians increase tax “rates,” i.e. income rates, sales tax rates and the like in pursuit of more tax revenue. Tax rate increases, however, yield less revenue over time than tax rate cuts. For instance, when the economy was bad in the early 1990’s, California raised tax rates and over a 3 year period, revenues actually dropped. By 1999, Bill Clinton’s tax rate increase resulted in the highest tax burden in our...

"a single vote by state Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, could determine if the Legislature saves California from going over a financial cliff." ... we urge you to call Cox' senate office (916-651-4001) immediately. Urge him to seek a reasonable resolution of the budget crisis, and not shy away from making the tough, but necessary, choices.

Just for openers, here are the tax cuts that Obama will let expire or will not extend. The net effect: An Obama tax increase. *** Bonus Depreciation - To encourage business investment; expired on 1-1-2005 *** Alternative Minimum Tax - Exemptions decreased by $6,500 per filer on 1-1-2006 *** Small Business Expensing - on 1-1-2008, the maximum business deduction decreased from $100,000 to $25,000 (not inflation indexed). Also the cap on qualifying property decreased from $400,000 to $200,000. *** Capital Gains - rates will rise 10 to 20 percent depending on income, on 1-1-2009. *** Child Credit - will decrease...

SEOUL (AFP) - Energy-starved North Korea has recently increased military manoeuvres, arousing suspicions it may have diverted fuel oil provided under a multinational aid-for-disarmament deal, a report said Sunday. "It is noteworthy that the North's armoured units have sharply increased exercises in the ongoing winter manoeuvring," an unnamed military source told South Korea's Yonhap news agency, adding Seoul and Washington were analysing the moves. The new drills involved fighter jets and armoured vehicles in contrast to previous years which had focused on artillery rather than such oil-consuming exercises, the source added. "We understand North Korea has been enhancing the number...

SACRAMENTO — Acting on the last batch of bills from what experts called a disappointing regular legislative year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday signed into law a controversial increase in motorists' fees that is intended to raise millions to develop alternative fuel and clean-air technology. Consumer advocates condemned the bill for putting the costs on the backs of motorists rather than oil companies. Schwarzenegger also signed what became known as the "toxic toys" bill, which makes California the first state to prohibit the use of chemical compounds called phthalates in products designed for children under 3 years old. Making his...

Tax wallop: State, county, city seeking hikes 'IT'S GOING TO BE PAINFUL' | From property tax to phone service, your pocketbook will take a hit October 10, 2007 BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter If Mayor Daley and his political cohorts keep this up, they could change Chicago from the "city of big shoulders" to the "city of empty pockets." "There's going to be a consumer and business revolt. This is a Boston Tea Party waiting to happen," said Jerry Roper, president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. RELATED STORIES • Daley to unveil taxing budget "It's after the election....

University of California leaders raised prices for professional schools Thursday, rejecting arguments that the increases close the door on poor students. The increases, under which some campuses will be charging more than lesser-known branches, were a departure from the tradition of having more-or-less uniform fees by discipline across the 10-campus system. Voting 13-5, the board approved fee hikes for the upcoming school year and endorsed increases for the following two years, although those hikes will require formal approval on a yearly basis. Several professional schools asked for increases of 7 percent, which is in line with previous years, but some...

$28 million rehab of Illinois Statehouse includes $950 urinals, $405 doorknobs. A $38,000 clock... Redecorated bathrooms for state legislators and staff — more than $444,000. Those are among the hidden costs of a multimillion-dollar makeover of the Illinois House and Senate with opulent showpieces re-creating the look of the chambers in the late 1800s. With work finished, a Chicago Sun-Times review of construction documents unearthed expenditures one GOP lawmaker said would “appall” her constituents. “Certainly, the chamber has to be nice and to befit a state of our stature. It’s not like we’re Mississippi. We’re a rich state,” said Rep....

California's fiscal watchdog on Tuesday said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's revised spending plan for the coming year overstates California's reserves by 75 percent. Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill also warned that the governor's reliance on one-time money from selling state assets and raiding public transit and tobacco funds will leave California facing multibillion-dollar deficits for the remainder of the decade. "We do see overly optimistic assumptions in the budget," Hill said about the $103.8 billion general fund budget revision Schwarzenegger released on Monday. Schwarzenegger called the reserve "critical insurance" because the state's budget operates on a "razor's edge". The nonpartisan analyst said...

TUESDAY, Aug. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Adult obesity rates increased in 31 states during the past year, leaving an estimated two-thirds of Americans vulnerable to fatal diseases such as diabetes, stroke and cancer.This, despite federal and state government efforts to curb the overweight epidemic, according to a new report from the Trust for America's Health.The report, titled F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing America, 2006, was released Tuesday and is the third in a series of annual reports by the trust detailing state obesity rates as well as the effectiveness of government policies to fight the problem.According...

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (May 8, 2006) -- Another day on the sand-bitten streets of a small town in Iraq lapsed for the passersby, who carelessly walked to and from their normal routine tasks. A few insurgents entered the town, choosing it as their safe haven while preparing their next strike against the U.S. service members. Cruising just below its ceiling at approximately 15,000 feet, a small unmanned aerial vehicle hovered over the dusty community just beyond earshot, as it tracked the insurgents to their current location with real-time video and relayed the information to the people who could do something...

(GRD Photos) Base Camp Adder (Ali Base) Iraq – Al-Basrah’s offshore oil terminal in Umm Qasr has increased its loading capacity due to the recent completion of repairs to six damaged loading arms on Platform B, Berths 3 and 4. Extensive repairs included total refurbishment of the hydraulic systems, vacuums and power lines. The loading arm repairs provide safer, more efficient equipment and contribute greatly to restoring the terminal to full capacity. The repairs will also accommodate a larger number of vessels which means more oil and other goods can be exported from the terminal. This tasking was one of...

Two newly trained Iraqi border police pose with their British trainer in front of their newly constructed border fort. (USACE Photo) Base Camp Adder (Ali Base) Iraq – Protecting the border between rivaling countries of Iraq and Iran in rural Maysan Province is a daunting mission assignment. The US Army Corps of Engineers soon realized that endeavoring to build border forts to shelter and safe guard border police patrolling these remote borders presented extraordinary construction challenges as well.The challenge was met in Maysan Province. Maysan is now more fortified than ever before, thanks to 22 new border forts constructed...

Sri Lanka has recently witnessed an increase in attacks and threats against the Christian community there. The increase has led to fears that a new wave of anti-Christian violence is about to begin, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). According to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) "there is a visible increase in the number of attacks on Christian places of worship and acts of intimidation during the past two months." A report from NCEASL claimed that the pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in Galle was subject to a host of virulent threats on 6th February. He...