Legislative Update for October 12, 2010 Meeting

H.R. 4646 - Debt Free America Act

This bill is a terrible act. It is worse than the European style "value added" tax (VAT) that taxes every stage of production of goods.

This act imposes a 1% federal tax on every financial transaction.

From OpenCongress.org:

"States as purposes of this Act the raising of sufficient revenue from a fee on transactions to eliminate the national debt within seven years and the phasing out of the individual income tax. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 1% fee, offset by a corresponding nonrefundable income tax credit, on transactions that use a payment instrument, including any check, cash, credit card, transfer of stock, bonds, or other financial instrument. Defines "transaction" to include retail and wholesale sales, purchases of intermediate goods, and financial and intangible transactions. Establishes in the legislative branch the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action to review the fiscal imbalance of the federal government and make recommendations to improve such imbalance. Provides for expedited consideration by Congress of Task Force recommendations. Repeals after 2017 the individual income tax, refundable and nonrefundable personal tax credits, and the alternative minimum tax (AMT) on individuals.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to:

(1) prioritize the repayment of the national debt to protect the fiscal stability of the United States; and

(2) study and report to Congress on the implementation of this Act."

Even though the bill offers the repeals of the income tax after (just how long after?) 2017, the compounded taxes of every financial transaction would amount to multiple times the total wealth that is already confiscated under the income tax.

The bill is currently under consideration by four committees: House Ways and Means, House Budget, House Rules, and House Appropriations.


H.R. 6144 - Better Use of Light Bulbs Act

To repeal certain amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act that were scheduled to phase-out of incandescent bulbs set to starting in 2011.

See the following article for more information and to contact key House committee member.


DREAM Act Illegal Alien Amnesty, continued

In late September Senate Democrats hoped to attach the pro-amnesty DREAM Act to the Defense bill that was under consideration. Fortunately, the cloture vote on the Defense bill failed, with prevented the intended means for attaching the DREAM Act.


H.R. 6145 and S. 3791 (introduced by Tom Coburn)

From the Sept. 22 Reality Report:

"To require Members of Congress to disclose delinquent tax liability, require an ethics inquiry, and garnish the wages of a Member with Federal tax liability."

Section three details that within 30 days after filing, the member must "arrange with the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, and the Internal Revenue Service to have their salary REDUCED by an amount appropriate to pay the taxes owed to the United States within a reasonable time period."

Support H.R. 6145 and S. 3791. They are small but pivotal steps to stop corruption in the government."

S. 3790 (introduced by Tom Coburn)

From the Sept. 22 Reality Report:

"A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that persons having seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineligible for Federal employment."

According to Section 7381 part b, the ineligibility for federal employment applies to future and current employees, which means it can KEEP the bums out, and KICK some of them out too! These include the Secretary of Treasury, Timothy Geithner, Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, and 39 other Presidential Executive Office employees. All together they owe over $830,000."

Disclose Act, continued

On Sept. 23 the U.S. Senate failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to invoke cloture to consider the DISCLOSE Act. The final vote was 59-39.

Downsize DC: "This makes it very unlikely that the bill will be passed before the election, and there's almost no chance it could be passed after the Republican gain seats in Congress. This means DISCLOSE is dead. It's a definite victory."


S. 3767 - Food Safety Accountability Act of 2010 (introduced Sept. 13 by Patrick Leahy)

From NaturalNews:

"Beware of Senate bill 3767, the so-called Food Safety Accountability Act. This dangerous legislation, if passed, would criminalize nutritional supplement manufacturers who tell the truth about their products or link to published scientific studies describing the biological benefits of their products. Based on language in the bill, health proponents who sell supplements could be criminalized and convicted to ten years in prison."

Continue reading.


30 Large Corporations Get Obamacare Waivers

Via Daily Paul and USA Today:

Nearly a million workers won't get a consumer protection in the U.S. health reform law meant to cap insurance costs because the government exempted their employers.

Thirty companies and organizations, including McDonald's (MCD) and Jack in the Box (JACK), won't be required to raise the minimum annual benefit included in low-cost health plans, which are often used to cover part-time or low-wage employees.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a list of exemptions, said it granted waivers in late September so workers with such plans wouldn't lose coverage from employers who might choose instead to drop health insurance altogether.