Virginians will celebrate their annual “sales tax holiday” this weekend—August 7 through August 9. On these three days, the state’s 5 percent sales tax will be exempted from school supplies, clothing, and footwear. Each eligible school supply item must be priced at $20 or less, and each eligible article of clothing and footwear must be priced at $100 or less. Many other states in addition to Virginia will also have sales tax holidays this year during the “back to school” shopping period. The idea is to lower the cost for …
Activists on both sides of the issue are raising concerns about whether the proposed government-run “public plan” and the private but government-approved plans in the proposed National Health Insurance Exchange will be required, permitted, or prohibited from covering abortions. This is a critical issue, but in the course of this debate comes a stunning admission from the left. The Associated Press reports(Boldface added): Abortion rights supporters say that would have the effect of denying coverage for abortion to millions of women who now have it through workplace insurance and are …
An overwhelming majority of Americans (72%) don’t believe President Barack Obama will keep his promise to overhaul the health care system without adding to the federal deficit, according to a study released yesterday by the Quinnipiac University. According to Gallup: “Americans are being asked to approve major new health care expenditures at a time when they are not yet convinced that the last massive outlay of government money — the stimulus — has made an impact.” Yet the White House and their allies are trying to convince the media that …
“But don’t expect anyone in Congress to admit that taxpayers are paying around $6,000 to provide a $4,500 rebate for a foreigner or illegal immigrant to buy a new car. “ That’s Lurita Doan. She argues: “First, DOT created and staffed an entirely new organization with three divisions to administer the clunkers program. Second, the funding was allocated to cover extensive Help Desk telephonic support, promotional materials, mailers, travel, Web site development and maintenance. Plus, extensive administrative and managerial staffing was also funded. There is staffing to manage the contracts, …
Member of the European Parliament Daniel Hannan came to Heritage today to remind Americans why and how to avoid Europe’s mistakes. On March 24, 2009, Daniel Hannan became an overnight internet sensation when a YouTube recording of his three-minute speech responding to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s remarks before the European Parliament went viral. As the most viewed video for two days running and with over 2.4 million views to date, Dan Hannan’s speech opposing higher public spending, tax increases and record borrowing in the current economic crisis sparked international …
Despite President Barack Obama’s deadline, both the House and Senate failed to pass Obama’s health care plan before they adjourned for the month of August. Now Senators and Representatives are returning home to participate in one of America’s greatest democratic traditions: the townhall. The events afford citizens the rare opportunity to share their opinions directly with their elected officials. “Share their opinions directly” is exactly what they’re doing. Remember: Townhall Downfall is on Twitter @ #TownhallDownfall [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM64ABmhXXs[/youtube]
Although folks like President Obama, U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon, and IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei have long dreamed of a nuclear-free world, it’s time to get real and admit that the road to zero they want to take is unlikely to get us there. Proponents of denuclearization may have the best of intentions, but their belief that others will quickly rid themselves of nukes only if the U.S. does it first is unrealistic. As Heritage Vice President Kim Holmes explains in today’s Washington Times, their claims don’t stand up to the …
The idea behind cap and trade is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by putting a price on the right to emit carbon and other greenhouse gases on businesses. Since 85 percent of America’s energy needs are met through carbon-emitting fossil fuels, cap and trade would be a massive tax on energy consumption if enacted. The debate will move to the Senate this fall. Here’s what to expect if the Senate passes their own version of Waxman-Markey and President Obama signs cap and trade into law. By 2035:
Great op-ed by Zach Krajacic in the Christian Science Monitor yesterday: Imagine how much automobile insurance would cost if it paid for all expenses associated with owning an automobile – oil changes, engine failures, worn-out tires, brakes, rust, and so on. The number of people who couldn’t afford car insurance would rise dramatically, and we would have a car insurance crisis in America. That is the situation with healthcare. As health plans increasingly pay for almost every service or procedure, ameliorate our every discomfort, and succumb to every cultural whim …
The US’s largest trade and business groups yesterday released a letter, calling on the Obama administration to “make the case” for free trade. From the letter: “We need to revitalize our export and international trade leadership by moving forward on multilateral, regional and bilateral market-opening opportunities.” The Financial Times goes on to report: The letter, which is signed by the presidents of the US Chamber of Commerce, the Emergency Committee for American Trade, the Business Roundtable, the National Foreign Trade Council, the National Association of Manufacturers and the United States …
