It doesn’t take much to realize that HB2313 is a huge mistake, especially in a time when the unemployment is at an all-time high and when the economy seems to be tanking due to Congress and the Obama administration being focused on spending (rather than addressing the crisis and cutting programs). HB2313 is supposed to raise money for transportation, but it will come at a cost to Virginia taxpayers.
The Jeffersoniad Blog Alliance (I’m a member of the coalition) sent a letter to members of the Virginia General Assembly rejecting the transportation tax hike. Here’s an excerpt from the letter:
If fully implemented, the bill would cost Virginia taxpayers over $1.3 billion in new taxes. With the economy on a knife’s edge, additional taxes would damage employment (by raising the cost of business), consumption (by raising overall prices), and the overall business environment.
It seems convenient that Congress has to vote on ways to avoid going over a fiscal cliff. After all, one would have thought that the so-called Supercommittee would have helped us to find a solution to our overspending woes. This didn’t work, and I was certain it was doomed (and a joke) from the beginning.
My husband and I were discussing after watching tonight’s evening news whether or not the fiscal cliff conversations were part of a manufactured crisis. I mean, we are in a new year, and the news cycle is slow over the holidays. Probably, the media and Congress supposedly struck a deal to create a crisis to make people fear the fact we are going over the cliff. Now, I am not saying the fiscal cliff isn’t real, but it seems odd how all of a sudden we need to avoid going over the edge, when in fact, we probably have been over the edge for quite some time.
However, we have learned who the real conservative leaders in the House and Senate are, and they decided not to vote for legislation that would raise taxes on Americans. Perhaps, they realize that spending cuts need to made to address the government debt.
Just a poll and leave a comment: Do you think the fiscal cliff situation is a manufactured crisis or was this just destined?
How many of you shopped online for Christmas or Hanukkah gifts? There is no doubt that there are some who relied on internet retailers for gifts, and I am pretty certain that you paid sales tax on the purchase through the retailer.
On Sunday, I was scanning through the Richmond Times-Dispatch and came across an article on the threat of more internet sales taxes being imposed on retailers. It was interesting, especially considering that more sales taxes will hurt many small businesses, who are online retailers in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The author of this editorial mentions that legislators in Congress are receiving pressure from big box retailers to limit the competition from the small businesses, who may offer lower prices. The plan is to force the small online retailers in the Commonwealth of Virginia to charge sales tax on those from other states. This move will no doubt place a burden on these retailers, especially on those who operate a small business from their homes, etc.
One of the reasons we believe that the bills being considered are anti-small business is because they propose new and unfair definitions of what a small business is. Various forms of the Internet sales tax legislation now before Congress limit the exemption to companies selling as little as $500,000 in goods online.
But the Small Business Administration, charged with fostering opportunities for small businesses, defines “small” in the online community as retailers with sales up to $30 million annually and it seems reasonable to us that the SBA should be given the flexibility to determine the level of this critical small business protection. Rather than sales numbers, the agency might tie new national sales tax obligations explicitly to companies with the personnel resources to comply. The Family and Medical Leave Act, for instance, applies only to companies with 50 or more employees.
If there is one thing, we need to keep small businesses and innovation thriving. Without small businesses, the economy is going to continue to head in a downward spiral.
Today’s Wall Street Journal featured the dissent of the Supreme Court justices on ObamaCare.
I feel that you should read this before I go into a rant against Chief Justice John Roberts and his other bench mates, who decided to keep the mandate as a tax. Personally, we experienced an attack on our constitutional liberties yesterday, and this decision will go down in history as one of the worst examples of judicial overreach our nation has ever seen. Basically, this sets the precedent for the power to tax over everything. Who knows? Obama may hate red headed females and decide to tax them because of their natural (or not-so-natural) tresses. If this happens, I’m doomed.
Congratulations to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker! Walker (and his fellow Republicans) won the recall election last night. This means he can continue to be a thorn in the side of the public sector unions and bring true fiscal accountability to the Badger State.
However, Walker’s victory was not well received by the union workers and the Democrats. Instead, they found ways to suck up another fifteen minutes of fame by whining about their defeat and even using violence (as you can see in the clip). I feel the need to highlight some of the pathetic displays by the liberals in Wisconsin last night.
Cue 1: A supporter of Tom Barrett got a little emotional over the defeat.
The exact quote from the emotional Barrett supporter:
I’m very emotional because we all had invested in this. This was it. If we didn’t win tonight, the end of the U.S. as we know it just happened. This is it. We just got outspent $34 million to $4 million. And we don’t have any more resource left but the people you see here behind me. And if the people you see here behind me can’t get it done tonight, it’s done. Democracy’s dead.
So, you had a lot invested in defeating Walker…big whoop-de-freaking-do! However, don’t go saying the end of the U.S. is over due to the loss. Heck no, it isn’t! Rather, Wisconsin is better off under Walker’s leadership, as he has nearly eliminated the deficit and has not raised taxes. In fact, property taxes actually went down in the state. (Source)
If you think the whining was not enough, you are right. Another Barrett supporter actually took things to the extreme by slapping Barrett in the face before he delivered his concession speech.
Cue 2: A nice slap in the face really gets your point across…NOT!
Wow…this is real classy! I thought liberals represented the party of peace. I guess not. Hasn’t anyone ever told her that violence is not the answer or the way to persuade people? I guess not.
Despite the outlandish (and humorous) behavior of Barrett supporters, I have to congratulate Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, and three of the four State Senators (who were also recalled and emerged victorious).
Check out Ron Paul’s recent appearance on Bloomberg regarding the economy. Ron Paul did a good job making everyone’s favorite Keynesian hack, Paul Krugman, look bad.
It’s tax day, and it’s time you fork over your earnings to the government. I know, I know…it’s hard work, considering that the Federal government is going to find some way to waste your money. After all, the GSA needs more of your money to fund their lavish partying.
Well, don’t you think there should be some sort of reform within agencies before they receive any of our money?
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is definitely not afraid of speaking his mind. There is no doubt I agree with his comments regarding Warren Buffett. Buffett has repeatedly called for higher taxes on those who are rich, and this is coming from a man who owes taxes going back to 2002.
Christie said:
Cut a check and shut up, that’s what I say, okay? I’m tired of hearing about it. He wants to pay more taxes, pay more.
Christie is right on the money with this comment. Perhaps, Buffett should do what’s right and pay more taxes. God knows he makes enough, and if he wants to pay more, then by all means, he should pay more.
Recently, there was an excellent op-ed on the Express Scripts/Medco Health Solutions merger by Steven Pearlstein in The Washington Post. I have been covering the potential hazards that this merger would have not only on local community pharmacies, but on the consumers. Pearlstein really outlines why this merger, and in particular, why the merger of two large entities can have a negative impact.
With the merger of Express Scripts/Medco Health Solutions, you would have one major pharmacy benefit management company, who would make the small community pharmacies face the pressures from big retailers and the PBMs. Pearlstein noted:
The independent pharmacists have good reason to be concerned — because of competition from the big retail chains and the PBMs, they’ve become an endangered species. Some of this is the result of competition that is thuggish and unfair and results in inferior and less-convenient service for customers. But some of it reflects the hard economic reality that mail order is a cheaper and more efficient way to fill prescriptions and scale is important when negotiating prices with patent-wielding monopolists in the pharmaceutical industry. Over time, we will miss them the way we miss the local ice cream parlor and dressmaker.
The other issue that arises from this merger is the fact that consumers will not receive the care and attention that the pharmacists at the local pharmacies provide. Many of these pharmacists know their customers and their medical backgrounds, especially in terms of which medication interferes with another.
Will the consumer be able to benefit from this merger without having to pay more? Pearlstein noted that it would all have to depend on the competition of other regional PBMs. With Express Scripts and Medco (two of the larger PBMs) merging, this will reduce the price competition, thus causing the prices to rise.
This merger is a bad idea, and one that could be detrimental to many who use local pharmacies and those who own them. Perhaps, it is time for the Federal Trade Commission to wake up and stop this merger.
