Goodlatte: "Massive Tax Increases Will Hit All Americans"

Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s Weekly Column: August 27, 2010

More than 7 million jobs have been lost in the last three years and over 3 million of those jobs have been lost since the President signed the so-called stimulus bill into law last year. Unfortunately, these are numbers that the American people are all too familiar with and yet the Congress continues to pursue an agenda that will further threaten American job creators. While Americans are asking “Where are the jobs?”, the Majority in Congress continues to demonstrate that they do not understand the priorities of our constituents or appreciate how private sector jobs are created.

It is clear: the policies of higher taxes, runaway spending, government takeovers and record debt which have become commonplace in Washington these days are having a chilling effect on the nation’s small businesses, the economic engine of our economy. From the so-called stimulus bill to the government takeover of our health care system and the threat of higher taxes and massive deficit spending, these policies have further hindered the creation of private sector jobs.

Unfortunately, just a little over four months from now, Democrats will impose further tax increases on American families and small businesses who are already struggling to make ends meet. According to the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation, unless the $3.8 trillion tax hike, which will take effect on January 1, 2011, is prevented every American income taxpayer will face higher rates. Specifically, 88 million taxpayers will pay an average of $503 in higher taxes due to the elimination of the ten percent bracket, 35 million married couples will pay an average of $595 in higher taxes due to a reinstatement of the marriage penalty, 31 million families will pay an average of $1,033 in higher taxes due to a reduction in the child tax credit, the death tax will soar to 55 percent, and 94 percent of small businesses will see their tax bills increase as well.

At the same time that millions of Americans are confronted with these oppressive tax hikes, they will also be faced with the first round of tax increases that are part of the new health care reform law. This monstrosity includes over 20 new taxes or tax increases which total $569 billion in additional taxes on individuals and employers.

As if all of this isn’t devastating enough, more than 25 million taxpayers will be ensnared by the Alternative Minimum Tax and higher taxes will be levied on investments starting January 1, 2011.

The last thing our economy needs is crushing tax increases. Instead Congress must focus on policies that allow individuals and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars, which would encourage investment and provide financial relief for America’s small businesses. Most importantly Congress must send a clear message to our nation’s job creators that they can hire new workers with the confidence that a higher tax bill is not on the way.

I remain committed to working to stop these massive tax increases on small businesses and working families that will have a devastating impact on job creation and our struggling economy. I will continue working to enact responsible legislation which puts money back into the hands of those who can really turn our economy around – the American people and small businesses.

VIRGINIA CAN REGULATE ABORTION CLINICS TO PROTECT WOMEN

Virginia's Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli issued an opinion that "the Commonwealth has the authority to promulgate regulations for facilities in which first trimester abortions are performed, as well as for providers of first trimester abortions, so long as the regulations adhere to constitutional limitations."

"This is a victory for women and children across Virginia," said Delegate Bob Marshall. It is my hope that the Governor will issue health regulations as soon as possible."

Delegate Marshall had asked for the Attorney General's opinion earlier this year. Virginia's Department of Health had regulated abortion clinics until Chuck Robb became Governor and ended the practice.

"We should do everything possible to ensure that every woman's life and health and their future pregnancies are protected by the Commonwealth of Virginia. To do otherwise is to shirk from government's first responsibility," Delegate Marshall explained.

Delegate Marshall added, "The National Library of Medicine has hundreds and hundreds of peer review medical articles documenting the immediate dangers of first trimester legal abortion to women and subsequent pregnancies."

Marshall concluded, "I have asked that Governor McDonnell issue regulations identical to those approved by the Fourth Federal Circuit Court in Richmond upholding South Carolina's medical and safety regulations for first trimester abortion providers as referenced by the Attorney General in his opinion."

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Letter from Delegate Bob Marshall to Governor Bob McDonnell

The Honorable Robert F. McDonnell
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building
1111 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
[Via E-mail]

Dear Governor McDonnell:

I would like to request that you implement the abortion clinic regulations available to the Commonwealth under the Attorney General’s opinion issued August 20, 2010 which I requested which states in part, “the Commonwealth has the authority to promulgate regulations for facilities in which first trimester abortions are performed, as well as for providers of first trimester abortions, so long as the regulations adhere to constitutional limitations.”

I urge you to craft clinic regulations to meet the limitations set out in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals 2002 decision in the Greenville Women's Clinic v. Commissioner, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control case (see attached).

Virginia previously regulated abortion clinics under our inherent health, safety and welfare powers. I hope that you will do what you can to ensure that the women of Virginia are protected from dangers such as out of state physicians whose licenses are suspended or revoked elsewhere or not having hospital admission privileges in Virginia and, sending women to hospitals in private vehicles and other unsafe conditions which compromise public health that occur at some abortion clinics in Virginia.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions please contact me on my cell phone at (703) 853-4213.

Sincerely,

Delegate Bob Marshall

Audio File of Delegate Marshall's Comments

Attorney General's Opinion

"We had a whole plan to sell the abortions..."

"We had a whole plan to sell the abortions - it was called sex education.... we would give them a low dose birth control bill that they would get pregnant on... our goal was 3-5 abortions from every girl between the age of 13 and 19"....

"There is a lot of money involved, we never would take personal checks... we always encouraged the ladies to bring cash. You don't have to report cash..." ~ quotes from the film

See the trailer.

Learn about the movie.

Homeland Security Working with VA to Take Away Concealed Carry Permits?

Went to the local VA clinic yesterday and found something very interesting I would like to pass along.

While going through triage before seeing the doctor, I was asked at the end of the exam, three questions:

1. Did I feel stressed?
2. Did I feel threatened?
3. Did I feel like doing harm to someone?

The nurse then informed me, if I had answered yes to any of the questions, I would have lost my concealed carry permit as it would have gone into my medical records and the VA would have reported it to Homeland Security.

I am a Vietnam vet and 15 year cc permit holder. Looks like they are going after us vets.. Be forewarned and be aware. The Obama administration has gone on record as considering veterans and gun owners as potential terrorists. If you are a veteran, you've been warned. If you know veterans, please pass this on to them.


MARTIN C. VARTANIAN, MSG, Ret, US Army

American Legion Post 337, Commander