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.

Thoughts on the State of the Union Address

President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address tonight in front of Congress and millions of Americans. His points delivered are outlined below, along with my thoughts and analysis of them -

• After his introduction and rather long winded talk about feeling American's pain through the letters he "reads every night", he jumped in to job creation. He began by mentioning that he has saved 2 million jobs over the last year, but then skipped right to his goal for this upcoming year - what he called a "Job Creations Bill". This bill would consist of tax incentives and cuts for small businesses, which is all fine and good (and got the right side of the room clapping), BUT it would also include taking $30 BILLION from big banks, and transferring it to community banks. Can we just say - Robin Hood?
  


• To the analysts great surprise, President Obama next talked about an issue that has seemed relatively dead for the past 6 months - climate change. This was lumped in with another surprise - offshore drilling! The President urged Congress to pass a "Comprehensive Energy and Climate Bill" - the title itself sounds a bit fishy. However, in the GOP Response, Bob McDonnell expressed his delight at bi-partisan solutions that this new energy bill will support.
  


• Third on the list of new bills to write up is the "National Export Initiative", which would ensure that U.S. exports double over the next 5 years. He expressed his concern at the fact that the United States is becoming "second place" in the world's trade markets and assured that he would not settle for second best.
  


• Education was next up and this was something that everyone was expecting him to hit hard on. He proposed, yes another bill - a bill that would "revitalize community colleges" and give $10,000 credits to American families for 4 years of college. He also said that debt accumulated while in college would be "forgiven" after 20 years, and 10 if you choose a career in public service. Can I just ask, where are we getting all these handouts?
  


• What used to be President Obama's hottest topic, was not mentioned until nearly his 5th bullet point - Health Insurance (yes he changed the name) Reform. His plea to Congress was simple: "Don't walk away. We are so close." After spending a few minutes bragging on the Congressional Budget Office's predictions of this reform saving us $1 trillion (over the next 20 years [that's a long time]) he moved on.
  


• Next up was a bashing session, although the proper title should be Deficit, which explains the bashing. Again it was all blamed on the past administration - "we took office amid a depression" he said. His plan to save us? A government freeze, effective in 2011, that would last for 3 years. He called on Congress to create a "Fiscal Commission", saying that he "refuses to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans." He also mentioned that he was here to "do our government openly... that's what I came to Washington to do." Um, what happened to those health care talks being broadcast on C-SPAN again?
  


• Here in the middle he merely commented on numerous issues including Lobbyists, Earmark Reform, and Partisanship (where he instructed the Democrats not to "run to the hills" because, you know what?, we have the largest majority we've had in decades, so let's take advantage of that! And to the Republicans, Leadership does not mean blocking every bill that tries to get through. Thanks.)
  


• The last portion of his speech focused on foreign relations. In respect to National Security, he emphasised that he will do whatever it takes to defend our nation. Then went on to say that all the troops will be out of Iraq by August. "This war is ending," he said, "and our troops are coming home." Really? Terrorism has been defeated?
  


• Nuclear Weapons. He likened himself to Ronald Reagan here, saying that they both wanted a world free of them. Hate to tell him, but that is unrealistic considering the world we live in. The President then made a promise - now mark this - PROMISE: IRAN WILL FACE GROWING CONSEQUENCES. Let's hold him to his word.
  


• He touched on human rights, and then announced that he was actively working to repeal the law that prohibits gays and lesbians to serve in the military. Gag.

Few side notes:

- He was interrupted 86 times at first count.

- I think it was completely inappropriate for him to have bashed the Supreme Court's ruling overturning McCain/Feingold - inducing the standing applause of the entire left side while all the judges could do was sit there and stare. This was an intimidation of another branch of government that was absolutely improper.

- The tone of the whole speech was very strained.

- See the full transcript HERE.

UPDATE: Obama used the words I, I'll, or I'm 152 times during the speech.

UPDATE 2: "Gaff" of the night? Supreme Court Judge Samuel Alito mouthed the words "Simply not true" during the President's bashing of the Supreme Court ruling discussed above. I'm glad they were as disgusted as I was.

Ben Loyola For Congress

One of the candidates for the Republican nomination for congress in the 2nd district is Ben Loyola. While he does not yet have a website, he has a facebook group which lays out his personal stiry and why he is running. While I am not making an endorsement in this race yet, I think Ben Loyola's story as a man who escaped Communist Cuba and started a prosperous company is quite an inspiring story. We need to find more conservatives with these kind of personal stories to run for public office.

“Not too long ago, two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story one of my friends turned to the other and said, ‘How lucky you are? I had someplace to escape to.’ And in that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.” –President Ronald Reagan A 25-year resident of Virginia Beach, Navy veteran, successful businessman, Conservative Republican, and Patriot, Ben Loyola is a living reminder of the American Dream. --Humble Beginnings-- An officer in the Cuban navy before Fidel Castro seized power, Ben’s father, Ben Loyola Sr., saw the Communist takeover’s true intentions and mutinied against it. For his efforts, he was sentenced to death but managed to escape to that “shining city on a hill”, the United States of America. Soon after, two-year old Ben Loyola Jr. and his mother fled the Communist dictatorship and joined his father in the United States; bringing with them nothing but a single piece of luggage and the hope that America would lead to a better life. Ben’s humble beginnings provided him with the drive and work ethic needed to become the self-made man he is today. --Military Service-- Ben’s parents instilled within him an intense love of country. Always grateful for the opportunities America had afforded him, Ben decided to serve his country in the Navy, attending the Naval Academy and eventually achieving the rank of Captain. --Entrepreneur-- In 1991, Ben founded Loyola Enterprises, an engineering service contracting firm, starting operations out of a spare room in his house. Today, Loyola Enterprises has 50 employees working in offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Richmond. --Community Involvement-- Ben is very active in the local community, having volunteered for the Special Olympics Committee, tutoring students for the Virginia Beach Public Schools in math and science, as well as volunteering and financially supporting the following organizations: the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad, Boy Scouts of America, Make A Wish Foundation, the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Ballet, and the Fraternal Order of Police. --A True Conservative, Grassroots Republican-- Placing the original intent of the Constitution in highest regard, Ben is a Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro-2nd Amendment, Fiscal Conservative. He’s a member of the Republican Professionals Network of Hampton Roads and is a life member of the National Rifle Association. He serves as a Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach and has worked the polls for various Republican candidates over the years. --Faith and Family-- Ben is married to Gretchen Loyola. Gretchen is an accomplished musician who played violin in the Virginia Symphony and is currently a Physician’s Assistant with Cardiovascular Specialists at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. For Ben and Gretchen, Saturday nights are “God and Country” nights. They attend service at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia Beach and afterward go shooting at the local gun range.

Obama Update

The past two days have seen some interesting developments from President Obama.

Probably the biggest piece of news is that Obama declared June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. In the proclamation he rattles off all the supposed benefits the LGBT community brought to America. Including working hard in the federal government, leading in the art and business communities, and mobilizing the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

He concludes the proclamation by baking a call for giving the LGBT community equal justice under the law.

As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

When you remember how Obama refused to sign the traditional Day of Prayer proclamation last month, this proclamation makes it very clear what the president values.

Obama also reversed one more of his campaign promises by agreeing to tax health benefits. This was an issue he was hitting McCain pretty hard on during the general election. This latest reversal makes people echo Brian Kirwin and ask, "Do campaigns matter anymore?" This is why previous stances and votes on issues are more important than campaign rhetoric.

The third and possibly the scariest Obama information actually comes from Russia. A Soviet-era newspaper still published in Russia carried an opinion piece entitled "American Capitalism Gone with a Whimper." The article described how America has has descended into Marxism. It refers to the government takeover of GM, changes in education, and election of President Obama as proof of this descent.

One very interesting quote describes the decay of American churches. He seems to understand the importance of churches in preserving liberty better than most Americans.

"Their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different ‘branches and denominations’ were for the most part little more than Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega-churches were more than happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the ‘winning’ side of one pseudo-Marxist politician or another."

Whether or not we are a full fledged marxist nation is debatable, but it is true we are close to crossing that point. We need to unite and turn this country back to freedom.

Another New York Special Election?

The end of March New York had a special election to fill seat vacated when Hillary Clinton's senate seat. It appears that within the next month we will have another congressional special election in New York. This will be in New York's 23rd congressional district. Obama selected Rep. John McHugh the ranking member on the armed services committee to serves as the new Secretary of the Army. This is a very rural district that has a Republican congressman, but voted 52% for Obama. It will be a critical election as Republicans need to hold onto all their seats. At this point the early favorite to be the Republican nominee is McHugh's chief of staff, Robert Taub. Hopefully the NRCC does not ruin our chances of winning this time by running very negative adds.

The Obama Administration: If you can't ban guns, why not ban ammunition

It looks like the Obama administration might be bypassing the legislature in an attempt to unilaterally ban your second amendment rights.

State Department Floating Ammo Import Ban

It looks like those who said the Obama Administration would strike while the iron is hot may have been correct, and the Administration may be doing it in a way that does not require them to even get a vote in Congress. In this morning's edition of the Shooting Wire, Jim Shepherd writes that Canadian officials have it on "good authority" our State Department may be on the verge of cutting off all imports of certain calibers of ammunition.

Ammos listed for this rumored ban include the .50BMG, 7.62x39mm Soviet, 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington. Additionally, we're hearing that an expansion of this proposed ban might be broadened to include the 6.8mm SPC, 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP- among others.

In other words, State Department officials may be floating a trial balloon to see if there are howls of protest, or whimpers of compliance. Canadian elected officials who have directed this information to me say the move seems to be motivated by "emboldened" anti-gun officials who think they have a kindred spirit in President Obama.

Shepherd continues that there may also be a plan to ban exports on certain firearms to Canada from the US, resulting in the State Department hammering gun manufacturers, distributors and exporters in the United States while simultaneously making firearms -and ammunition - ownership and acquisition more difficult for Canadians.

Many in the pro-rights community have said since the election that Obama could circumvent Congress by using regulations in his various cabinet departments to attack gun owners. It appears that it may have already begun.

Not My Money

I was getting ready to head off to bed and wake up and eat turkey the next morning when I ran across a scary article. According to the Washington Times Treasury Secretary Paulson announced yesterday that the bailout package would increase by $800 billion. No debate, just an announcement.

The federal government expanded its financial-rescue effort by another $800 billion Tuesday to encourage more lending to home buyers and consumers, bringing the national bailout tab to $1.5 trillion and counting.

The program introduced Tuesday by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. would commit $600 billion to assist the mortgage markets, and a second program would provide $200 billion of increased lending to consumers. Both would be operated by the Federal Reserve and do not need congressional approval.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/26/bailout-increases-by-800-billion/

When the $780 billion bailout package was being pushed a month ago it was touted as "the solution" to our economic crisis. Almost immediately after it was passed people started referring to it as "the first step." Now we are going to have another $800 billion added to the cost of the bailout, and Obama still wants another bailout bill passed shortly after getting into office.

You have to wonder where the politicians think this money is coming from. The more money you print off, the more you devalue the currency, reduce the buying power of the dollar, and indirectly tax every American. This trillion dollar package will further ruin this nation's already bleak financial future.

Beyond this, it is destructive to the Republican Party for President Bush to advocate yet again an insane spending package. If this party learned anything as a result of the general election hopefully it was that we need to be willing to draw the line in the sand and hold fast to our conservative principles. Wasn't their some Joe the Plumber guy who didn't like Obama because he wanted to "spread the wealth?" Now George Bush is trying to do it again. I hope when the Republican leaders wake up in the morning from their turkey induced slumber, hopefully they find their backbone and see this proposal die in the dustbin of failed socialist proposals.

All that said the scariest thing is that Paulson can allocate that much money to a purely socialist policy proposal without any kind of congressional authorization. When the first bailout bill was passed it took two house votes, presidential pressconferences, and a suspended presidential campaign to give Secretary Paulson $780 billion to save the economy. If Secretary Paulson can simply allocate himself $800 billion to continue saving the economy, he is either stretching his authority, or going beyond it. Either way he has way to much power, and the congress needs to stop him from going forward with this proposal.