The Federal Government through the IRS is looking to require Registering and CEUs

By the way, if you received your paycheck today: You will see that the Federal Government is asking Employers to collect more tax from your paycheck.

Licensing at the State Level already occurs for various occupations: CPAs, real estate, insurance, appraisers, engineers, lawyers, doctors, etal.

Here comes the Federal Arm for Licensing ...

Under the plan, which would begin with the 2011 tax season, anyone who takes
money to help people with their taxes will have to register with the IRS, and
eventually pass competency tests and sign up for continuing education. So having
made tax filing so complicated that most Americans need help with their forms,
Washington now wants to raise the price of such counsel by regulating advisers
in a way that may reduce their supply. - Wall Street Journal

Today's article is from the Thursday, January 7, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal is titled, H&R Blockheads. For more on this issue, read: LIMITS: Increasing Income Tax Complexity Takes up More and More of our Time and Money.

So, what is the Role of the State and the Tenth Amendment? Remember, there was a time when a Federal Income Tax was not lawful. Is this another attack on the Tenth Amendment?

We noticed a comment from a social network friend that posted the following ...

"Tax code complexity violates right to due process, yet see WSJ.com - IRS to Boost Oversight of Paid Tax Preparers

http://bit.ly/5HvGqV"

The same link as above.

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The U.S. Federal Government needs to promote limited spending

"The large deficit and the grim longer-term fiscal outlook also will
continue to play a big role in the debate over domestic priorities, such as
health-care overhaul." - The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, U.S. deficit projection trimmed for 2009. For a historical example of the importance of following constitutional government, read Institute Brief: Governing by the Founder's Constitution: The Presidency of Warren G. Harding.

Attempts are being made to stimulate demand by channeling resources into areas
that government planners consider socially beneficial. For example, a bonus is
given to individuals who trade in their “clunkers” for sub-compact fuel
efficient cars. In the end, such programs will prove futile and result in a
misallocation of resources. - Fred Buzzeo

An Analysis of Production and Consumption Based Economic Stimulants - The Market Oracle
The answer is clear: The government should return money to its rightful owner, the taxpayer; eliminate excessive spending and budget deficits; and encourage ...

I believe in letting the free market correct itself and letting competition
rather than the government decide "winners" and "losers." I’m doing everything I
can to prevent the Washington, D.C., mindset of government growth and spending
sprees from infecting our state. - State Sen. Luann Ridgeway (Mo.)

Stopping excessive spending not easy - Sun Tribune
The 2010 budget amounts to a 3 percent increase in spending — yet our income (tax revenue) is down 4 percent. Your federal tax dollars came back to us via ...

Of course, the spending spree by the Federal Government can cause difficult challanges to state and local budgets. Federal stimulus money is only short-term.

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We need to slow down and not rush Health Care Reform

Some want to argue that we have been waiting since Truman for health care reform. But, clearly that is not correct. First, single payer health care is not the only remedy or option for health care reform in the USA. By the way, Medicare in the State of Iowa should be a good indication to voice 'No' for single payer health care ran by the Federal Government.

One size does not fit all when it comes to health care.

"The debate over health care reform is being shaped by an unlikely player -
Sen. Mike Enzi, the media-shy Republican from Wyoming. Although the Democrats control both houses, reporter Greg Hitt says Enzi's support could be a factor
down the road." - The Wall Street Journal

The Thursday, August 6, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Sen. Enzi Won't Rush Into Health-Bill Deal. For more on health-care reform, read the Public Interest Institute Brief: Let the Market Work, Government Won't.

Market driven health care example:

"To those who say that the free-market doesn’t work, I send you to the
cosmetic surgery clinics. Many baby boomers frequent these clinics. Their
insurance doesn’t pay. They choose to look younger. The number of people getting
treatments has increased by 5 or 6 times, while the costs have either gone down
or remained stable. This is also true for elective laser vision surgery. As
recently as 10 years ago, the cost was double what it is today. There is
virtually no wait time and outstanding results.8 The free-market works, if it
has the opportunity." - Deborah Thornton

The concerns with public controlled and driven health care are sustainability, equality, rationing, choice and quality. We encourage to visit the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center for more information on health care reform.

• Create Value
  Improve patient health outcomes and satisfaction with U.S. health care. Decrease medical errors, costs and waste. Read details.
• Coordinate Care
  To increase value, patient care services must be coordinated across people, functions, activities, locations and time. Patients must actively participate in this process. Read details.
• Reform the Payment System
  Change the way providers are paid in order to improve health and minimize waste. Read details.
• Provide Health Insurance for All
  Provide guaranteed, portable health insurance for all individuals, giving them choice, control and peace of mind. Read details.

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Cedar Rapids was hit by a flood, but other Cities line up for Stimulus wish list

Did you catch in today's edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Journal features a story, Stimulus brings out city wish list.

By the way, The Gazette reported our local wish list in an article dated: 01/09/09
Library, new bridge on C.R.'s federal wish listIn a normal year, City Hall asks Uncle Sam to find money for five or so local infrastructure projects. This year — with the city in the midst of flood recovery and with every expectation that Congress and the incoming Barack Obama... More >>

Our mayor and council member, Monica Vernon, are currently on a lobbying trip to Washington D.C. with the local Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more on information on a free-market based solution to the economic crisis please read Public Institute Policy Study: Governing by the Founder's Constitution: the Presidency of Warren G. Harding.

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Is a Big Government Bailout the right direction... how are things going locally?

Is the Government the right solution or is government the problem?

The Gazette reports Culver drops Iowa Lottery lease idea, which should be good news for the taxpayers of the State of Iowa.

The January 23, 2009 edition of The Des Moines Register online features an article titled Federal road money may save 'a lot of jobs' in Iowa. For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institute Brief: Spending Our Transportation Dollars Wisely.

The Gazette's article reports U.S. 30, I-80 make stimulus funding list this week. Further, another article reports Harkin: $800 million for Iowa in stimulus bill

How much of the Federal Government stimulus plan will include rebuilding infrastructure and housing impacted by the Floods of 2008 and other natural disasters in 2008? We did hear a little from the White House about Katrina and New Orleans on Inauguration Day.

Katrina
President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President
Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. He and Vice President Biden will
take steps to ensure that the federal government will never again allow such
catastrophic failures in emergency planning and response to occur.
President
Obama swiftly responded to Hurricane Katrina. Citing the Bush Administration's
"unconscionable ineptitude" in responding to Hurricane Katrina, then-Senator
Obama introduced legislation requiring disaster planners to take into account
the specific needs of low-income hurricane victims. Obama visited thousands of
Hurricane survivors in the Houston Convention Center and later took three more
trips to the region. He worked with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to
introduce legislation to address the immediate income, employment, business, and
housing needs of Gulf Coast communities.
President Barack Obama will partner
with the people of the Gulf Coast to rebuild now, stronger than ever.

What about the past year's disasters, Mr. President? What about the City of Cedar Rapids, the State of Iowa and elsewhere impacted by Flood or other natural disaster, Mr. President?

Will President Barack Obama be a partner with the people of Iowa to rebuild now, stronger than ever?

We have five members of Congress, two U.S. Senators and of course Governor Chet Culver... what are they doing to help encourage our President to partner with the people of Iowa to rebuild now?

Cedar Rapids historic buildings make 'most endangered' list, reports The Gazette and properties impacted by the Flood of 2008.

The Gazette's article had another article on State agency overseeing disaster rebuilding efforts: Rebuild Iowa Office to face lawmakers' scrutiny.

A 20 percent Gas Tax increase proposal for the State of Iowa? What? Key lawmakers see debate on gas tax hike an article this past week in The Gazette reported. An eight cent increase represents a 20 percent tax increase.

And, what about the City of Cedar Rapids and plans to increase taxes soon?

Ten percent residential property tax increase proposal for the City of Cedar Rapids, including 7 percent and 6-7 percent for industrial and commercial properties, respectively!

Further, our city's leaders and the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce are working right now to propose an one percent local option sales tax for flood recovery. Will a local city sales tax include property tax relief for property owners, as the recent school sales tax did? Local option tax bill may mean C.R. vote in March, reports The Gazette.

How will Linn County get involved?

Will the State of Iowa make any future city sales tax permanent, like the State Legislature did with the school tax that was recently approved by Linn County and Johnson County voters in 2008?

Due to the impact of the local, state and national recession we are in, is any tax increase at this time good for our communities?

Another article of interest by The Gazette: Who owns Cedar Rapids City Hall?

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US wants to pursue Somali pirates

bbcworld "The US wants to get UN authority to pursue Somali pirates on land, UN diplomats say." US gets tough on Somali pirates in Thursday, December 11, 2008 article by the BBC.

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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On the twitter wire by cidsports:

usnews Goldman Sachs: A Housing Fix... an article on the US News & World Report web site today.

One thought from http://twitter.com/cidsports would be for the Federal Government to stop taxing consumers when Credit Card companies and banks forgive consumers on accrued interest. Credit card interest is no longer deductible, so why tax consumers, if they negotiate accrued interest, due to financial reasons?

Another suggestion would be to index the Alternative Minimum Tax, so it doesn't catch up with those people that the AMT was never intended for.

food for thought

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While we are at it, the government should fix the following...

It's ironic that the United States Government is going to raise FDIC from $100,000.00 to $250,000.00. Which makes sense, since the limit has been at $100,000 for roughly 23 years and inflation has to be taken into account, with the cost of payrolls and doing business in 2008 dollars.

But, while you are at it, Mr. Senator and Ms. Representative, why don't you index the Alternative Minimum Tax, which has never been adjusted for inflation and is impacting people it was never intended to. AMT is hurting middle taxpayers today and should be adjusted for inflation, as well.

Finally, there are people in credit trouble who could benefit from elimination of one major flaw in our current Federal tax structure.

Previously, credit card interest was deductible, but it isn't anymore.

But, why is Uncle Sam going after consumers, when hard times it due to credit occurs from aggressive banks and credit card companies?

If a consumer negotiates a reduction of accrued credit card interest, why does Uncle Sam want to tax a piece of the unrealized savings, when zero of the interest expense was not eligible for a tax deduction in the first place?

If the Congress wants to help credit hurt consumers and taxpayers, eliminate all taxes on unrealized gains on accrued interest that are not deductible for tax purposes today. The aggressive banks and credit cards companies have hurt consumers enough, don't take from them when they are already down and struggling. This just appears to be common sense in today's tax structure.

Wake up Uncle Sam!

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We have a Finanacial Crisis, not an Economic Crisis for now

Where will the public go for leadership in 2008? We have an important presidential election in 2008, as well as important local, state and federal races.

The fundamentals of the economy are strong. But, we clearly have a financial crisis.

We are clearly in difficult times.

But, economically, we do have positive indicators in the economy...

• Worker productivity
• Trade balance is moving favorably the right direction
• Unemployment

However, if we don't resolve the financial crisis properly, we will impact negatively our economy.

The Subprime mortgage financial crisis is a serious problem. We are in difficult times and the government is making important moves to protect our financial system.

Business ethics is alarming.

Lobbying and ethics in government continue to be out of control.

Our tax system has created a burden and has moved the Fortune 500 companies is the wrong direction.

Increasing in the size of the Federal Government is the wrong direction for this country to take. But, are we going to move towards socialism in the near future? The upcoming presidential election certainly is in play for our country to do so.

We need to wake up America. Who we elect at all levels of government do directly impact our lives. Look locally, the concerns we are facing right now. The impact is due to our own votes and those we have representing us today.

We voted to change our Form of Government in Cedar Rapids. We voted to elect the leadership we have at the local and state level. We elect our representatives who go to Washington DC to represent us. We do it at all levels, from school boards to legislative bodies.

The future of our governance is in our hands every two, four and six years. If there is a time in our history, when it is vital for the public to get to the polls, it is 2008.

A Limited Government is vital to the success of our democracy. Get informed and vote...

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