Tax Cuts

McKee's tax cut plans given little chance in House ANNAPOLIS - Maryland Del. Robert A. McKee, R-Washington, thought he came up with some sensible ways to give older people and students in the state a modest tax break. One problem: His two proposed tax cuts would cost the state about $12.6 million next year. For that reason, McKee's proposals have no chance for passage. But he said they are good ideas, so he made his pitch before the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday.

Rockefeller to hold meeting in Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., will hold a town meeting Monday at the Berkeley Senior Center, 217 N. High St., Martinsburg. Rockefeller will discuss federal tax cuts and budget priorities, which he identified as major issues facing the nation, he announced in a press release. "Given our budget surplus, we have an unprecedented opportunity to secure Social Security and Medicare, pay down the national debt and provide meaningful tax cuts to all West Virginia families," he said.

They tell me that we're all going to get a tax cut for Christmas -- which is fine, I suppose.    If it goes the way of other tax cuts, we'll get an extra $6 per pay period — and then no one will be able to figure out why this didn't spur an economic recovery.   It's a fact that for all the talk about tax cuts, we never seem to notice when we get them. In his first two years, Obama cut taxes, but polls show that a full third of the nation believes that he actually raised them.

The U.S. Senate GOP Budget Resolution would make deficits worse. It leaves out large costs, hiding the real budget outlook. The resulting deficits will primarily be caused by drop in revenues, but the resolution still calls for more deficit-financed tax cuts, so debt will continue to soar under priorities and policies contained in the resolution. To the extent the proposed budget does fund continuing programs and new initiatives, it focuses on the wrong priorities. The Republican spin says that the deficit would be cut in half under this resolution, but this fantasy budget leaves out large parts of the real costs.

The 2012 general election campaign officially begins late next month with the opening of the Republican National Convention, followed a week later by the Democratic Convention. The parties' presumed presidential nominees, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, are already hard at work on the campaign trail, telling voters that this November's election is a pivotal choice between contrasting philosophies of government. So far, the American electorate has not pivoted toward either the Republicans or the Democrats: Polls show the contests for both the White House and control of Capitol Hill are wide open.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - U.S. Senate candidate Bob Casey sounded upbeat Monday when he told supporters that the contest between him and Republican incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum might be "the race that can point this country in a new direction. " Polls have consistently put Casey, Pennsylvania's treasurer and the Democratic nominee, ahead of Santorum, who is seeking a third six-year term. He criticized Santorum for what he called negative advertising, calling it "a desperate campaign from a candidate who is desperate.

Talk of swifter income tax cuts, a higher gas tax and more money for education will dominate the next session of the Maryland General Assembly, local lawmakers said Friday. Six members of the Washington County legislative delegation met with members of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce on Friday. Local lawmakers said they support efforts to speed up income tax cuts during the session, which begins Jan. 13. Two freshman legislators said they will oppose an increase to the 23.5-cent per gallon tax on gasoline.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Another challenger has come forward to try to unseat U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Phil Cline, general manager of the Pullman Plaza Hotel in Huntington, mailed his candidacy form to the Secretary of State's office on Saturday. The 74-year-old Cline says his campaign will focus on continuing the economic gains the nation has made under President Bush by making his tax cuts permanent. Cline is one of two Republicans who've filed for the Senate seat.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - With only $115 million of gambling revenue in coffers, property tax relief promised for 2007 remains in jeopardy. State law required that nearly $600 million of revenue be generated by new slots parlors before the money be distributed to Pennsylvania's property owners. Budget Secretary Michael J. Masch confirmed in an April 13 press release that the fund fell short of the necessary amount. Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell has been championing a proposal to increase the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, generating revenue to provide tax cuts this year.

Put blame for deficit where it belongs To the editor: If you are watching the kabuki dance going on in the Senate and House about the debt ceiling, you might think this is the first time Congress has been asked to raise the debt ceiling,   Congress voted 19 times to raise the debt ceiling during the presidency of George W. Bush without any quid-pro quo. With a Democratic president in the White House and elections on...