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- chieflbm, on 04/10/2009, -0/+12"$62 billion in tax savings after spending only $283 million for lobbyists" ... I wonder how much of that landed in politician's pockets ...
- inactive, on 04/10/2009, -1/+12Cosponsors of the act: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 6/9/2004
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] - 6/4/2004
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 6/14/2004
Rep Burr, Richard [NC-5] - 6/9/2004
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 6/4/2004
Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 6/14/2004
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 6/15/2004
Rep Collins, Mac [GA-8] - 6/4/2004
Rep Crane, Philip M. [IL-8] - 6/4/2004
Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] - 6/16/2004
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 6/14/2004
Rep Dunn, Jennifer [WA-8] - 6/4/2004
Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 6/4/2004
Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 6/9/2004
Rep Foley, Mark [FL-16] - 6/4/2004
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] - 6/16/2004
Rep Harris, Katherine [FL-13] - 6/9/2004
Rep Hayworth, J. D. [AZ-5] - 6/4/2004
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 6/4/2004
Rep Houghton, Amo [NY-29] - 6/4/2004
Rep Hulshof, Kenny C. [MO-9] - 6/4/2004
Rep Isakson, Johnny [GA-6] - 6/14/2004
Rep Jenkins, William L. [TN-1] - 6/14/2004
Rep Johnson, Nancy L. [CT-5] - 6/4/2004
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] - 6/4/2004
Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] - 6/14/2004
Rep Lewis, Ron [KY-2] - 6/4/2004
Rep McCrery, Jim [LA-4] - 6/4/2004
Rep McInnis, Scott [CO-3] - 6/4/2004
Rep Nethercutt, George R., Jr. [WA-5] - 6/15/2004
Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] - 6/14/2004
Rep Portman, Rob [OH-2] - 6/4/2004
Rep Ramstad, Jim [MN-3] - 6/4/2004
Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] - 6/14/2004
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 6/4/2004
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 6/9/2004
Rep Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [FL-22] - 6/4/2004
Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] - 6/14/2004
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 6/14/2004
Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] - 6/14/2004
Anyone want to name out how many republicans/democrats there are?
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/votes/?vo ...
I wish it were just a list, but just hover over the states and you can see that almost every republican voted yea for it, and every democrat nay. - inactive, on 04/10/2009, -2/+11You know if the government was reduced to the size it was in 1999 you could repeal the federal income tax for everyone and still pay off the national debt. Oh yeah, I forgot back in 1999 the government was so small and starved for cash we didn't have police or roads and there were riots throughout the country. /s
- iletumi, on 04/11/2009, -1/+9Mazza said the study doesn't suggest that the 2004 tax changes were illegal or wrong, although he did refer to studies indicating the companies receiving the break gave passed along the savings to shareholders instead of hiring more workers.
"The tax break created jobs," he said, "but it created them in the lobbying industry."
Exactly.. - Frozo, on 04/10/2009, -1/+8A pendulum will never swing back as much as it was pushed.
- happyMensch, on 04/10/2009, -1/+7As a haitian, Haiti is ***** -in some part- because of the total instability of foreign sweatshop corporations which pit sweatshops against each other and close shops at the drop of a hat, creating dramatic economic instability. It's also screwed because of crappy politicians, corruption, and gun violence. But unmonitored corporations are definitely a part of the problem.
- SkaRude, on 04/10/2009, -1/+7Is this a serious comment? So the republican party is responsible for lobbying? Really? Did you even read the story?
- Dumbledorito, on 04/10/2009, -2/+7But money is free speech! There's no quid pro quo! Reducing oversight will end political corruption! Ron Paul! RON PAUL!!!
Whoo. Sorry about that. That's the last time I purchase "Always Save" cold medication. - bugsy187, on 04/10/2009, -0/+4There are plenty of non-Jewish bankers jockeying for a slice of the pie... which tells you being Jewish has nothing to do with it.
- RetlawST, on 04/11/2009, -1/+5No, you didn't. I'm not saying you didn't work hard, I'm not saying you don't deserve your own personal fortune, I'm just saying you won the US lottery. The economy in which you prop your wealth upon (be it by selling goods, working for a company, etc) is available because of the country to which you belong. You don't owe them your lives, but without the taxes you supply the government cannot serve the well-being that you so happily relish.
Austrian Economics and the Free-Market myth may make you think that you are some monolith, a self-made man, but in reality you are supported by markets and demographics that are enabled by a treasury and reserve that understand economics to the best of their abilities because they've studied them scientifically.
In the end, it shouldn't be arguing for more or less taxes, it should be a search for the CORRECT amount of taxes.
(oh, and Ayn Rand sucks. I'm adding it here because it's 1) true and 2) I like monitoring the average crazy factor of digg) - Dumbledorito, on 04/10/2009, -2/+6Blind faith in any institution that is in any way run by people to do no wrong is naivete of the highest order.
- tgc1, on 04/11/2009, -1/+4"Stephen Mazza and two associates spent six months analyzing a provision in the American Jobs Creation Act, passed in October 2004, that allowed corporations to bring overseas earnings back to the U.S. at a 5.25 percent tax rate, instead of the usual 35 percent."
That is the reason domestic labor is evaporating and/or evaporated. You cannot compete with that kind of incentive. Whoever allowed that law to pass probably KNEW it would bankrupt American families. That is just sheer insanity. I'd argue that the people who pass a bill like that are enemies of American families, and potentially i'd go so far as saying enemies of the state. Taking away peoples livelihoods. So I ask again, who exactly are these politicians working for if not only the special interests? This is just completely despicable. And people wonder why unemployment is getting so high. - Ajaynow, on 04/10/2009, -2/+4...and the pendulum will swing wildly backwards in 5...4...3....2...
- happyMensch, on 04/10/2009, -1/+3Lobbyists are the reason that the rich get they want. They're the "clutch" part of the oligarchy we have here.
- Dumbledorito, on 04/10/2009, -3/+5Nobody is saying that for-profit business should give over to Marxist means of production, except perhaps in your mind.
So why do you think a private company gaming the system is a good thing? - FairDinkumMate, on 04/11/2009, -0/+2Comprehension not your strong point?
tgc1 is suggesting that leaving the tax rate as it was reduced the benefit to American companies of moving jobs overseas to take advantage of lower labor & other costs. The idea being that most American companies need to repatriate the money to the US eventually. - compulsive1, on 04/11/2009, -1/+3Every lawmaker-lobbyist meeting, email exchange, telephone call etc should be documented and available to anyone over the internet. Face to face meetings should be miked up and streamed in real time as well as archived.
How is this for a law?
If they are not doing anything wrong they have nothing to hide. After all they are on our pay roll. We deserve to know what influences them so that we know how to vote next election. - SkaRude, on 04/11/2009, -0/+2So why is doing whatever they can to pay fewer taxes 'gaming the system'? I mean every penny we tax companies is a penny you and I pay in increased cost of goods.
- eclectro, on 04/11/2009, -0/+2FTA: "The tax break created jobs," he said, "but it created them in the lobbying industry."
Or, as many of us know, the "trickle down" never really happened. - pyngthyngs, on 04/15/2009, -0/+1This is ridiculous.. unless you work for those corporations and still have a job. In which case you think it's the greatest thing ever.
- kd1s, on 04/11/2009, -0/+1I agree with you. The electorate of this country is astoundingly ignorant of what really goes on in government. But then consider where they get their news. If its a single outlet it more likely than not is Fox News. And we all know how slanted that outlet can be.
Then of course there are those who think they have no say in the political process. You sure as hell DO have say. Attend a hearing or two, but of course the politicians make it so hearings are held in the middle of a workday.
Alternatively write, call or email your elected representatives. Let them know you're out there and what your view is on the issues.
And whatever you do, don't take the word of a cleric to set your beliefs. - padraic2112, on 04/11/2009, -0/+1Dumbledorito, you're my hero for today.
- maz2331, on 04/11/2009, -0/+1$283M - staff expenses.
Reason: most lobbiests are politicians who are out of office. Or, maybe they find a way to slip some bills into a letter. - tgc1, on 04/11/2009, -0/+1No. Noone is forbidden from owning stocks in US Publicly Traded companies. Hence Public. As soon as their IPO hits the streets they are fair game. If you've got the money to invest, you can do what you want.
- maz2331, on 04/11/2009, -0/+1Because they are members of Al Qaeda?
- inactive, on 04/10/2009, -1/+2I'm guessing 263 million ended up in their pockets.
- TheOneKen, on 04/11/2009, -1/+2I support capitalism and freedom. Taxing businesses only serves to drive businesses overseas. Individuals should be taxed directly instead, that way everyone knows exactly what their total tax burden is.. instead of having it hidden by indirect taxation.
- BotchaMcCoola, on 04/10/2009, -2/+2Well when will that show up in higher stock values then? By the way, are some folks forbidden to own shares in companies in the USA?
- xueshigao2, on 04/11/2009, -0/+0Now lawmaker doesn't sound so great like in the AIG case
- jpeterson45, on 09/01/2009, -0/+0Someone please stop the bleeding!
- RomeyRome, on 04/11/2009, -1/+1At least Wall St./Bankers are honest and will tell you straight up that they're in it for the money, unlike our representatives.
There was a poll on USA Today asking who is more honest, Wall St. or Congress. The results were almost 50/50 down the middle. - anjalimunshi, on 04/14/2009, -0/+0good way to save tax?
- TheOneKen, on 04/11/2009, -2/+2What on earth are you talking about? You know that overseas earnings are already taxed in the countries in which it was earned, right? Do you also realize that just about every other country on the planet doesn't try to tax money earned outside of their borders? That's the lunacy, man. All you do by taxing foreign earnings of an American company is cause them to change their registration to some other country.
- Logrusmage, on 04/11/2009, -1/+1You've constructed and torn down a strawman. Good for you.
Want to end political corruption? Remove the power of the government to help those who wish to corrupt it.
In other words, remove it's ability to intervene in the markets of non-public goods. - ObamaYouth, on 04/10/2009, -2/+1ceteris paribus.
- iamacyborg, on 04/11/2009, -2/+1@TheOneKen,
True. Did you know if you move out of the USA, and even renounce your citizenship, the IRS still claims you must pay income taxes for ... 3 years I think it is? On the money you earned in another country. - TheOneKen, on 04/11/2009, -2/+1How very Stalin-esque of you.
- GaltShrugged, on 04/10/2009, -3/+3Buried because your name is world order... as in "New world order". You're a conspiracy nut.
Get a life. - Xugg, on 04/10/2009, -3/+0Money talks.
- zebraz, on 04/11/2009, -4/+1Yes...
It would be much better if there were no jobs at all. - timewarp424, on 04/11/2009, -5/+1False. That's such a misnomer. When you purchase a product, you are saying that you have provided a product that I desire, take the work that this dollar symbolizes, and give me the product you have produced. It's simply idiotic to think that people have to pay taxes based on where they live or where they bought the product. We owe nothing to "society" and "society" owes nothing to us.
- GaltShrugged, on 04/10/2009, -12/+7Good. Everyone should be lobbying the government for paying less taxes. ***** the government. My money is mine!
Before someone comes and says that I'm greedy and selfish... I AM! ***** the common good. I want my good, I sure as hell earned it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7upG01-XWbY&fea ... - SkaRude, on 04/10/2009, -11/+5And yet another class warfare story hits digg. I wonder how many of these it will take before we are willing to simply trash our evil capitaist ways.
- mcfriendly, on 04/10/2009, -13/+6I hate the Republican Party!
- zebraz, on 04/10/2009, -20/+10Dang evil corporations that give people jobs.
Making money is terrible.
It would be so much better if we were like Haiti.
There are no evil corporations there and the people live so much better. - 99CentFreedom, on 04/10/2009, -12/+0No doubt the Jewish banking cartels were first in line, always wanting a slice or three of the pie.
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