How much is that candle holder? The Senate next week is scheduled to vote on legislation that will affect most household budgets. It will allow states to collect sales taxes on products sold by online merchants to their residents. Currently, online merchants are only required to charge sales taxes for residents of states where they have physical stores or...
How much is that candle holder?
The Senate next week is scheduled to vote on legislation that will affect most household budgets. It will allow states to collect sales taxes on products sold by online merchants to their residents. Currently, online merchants are only required to charge sales taxes for residents of states where they have physical stores or affiliates.
Supporters of the Marketplace Fairness Act said the current system is a disadvantage for brick-and-motor merchants who have to charge sales taxes. It makes no sense, backers of the Sales Tax Fairness bill say, because brick-and-mortar stores hire local residents and contribute to government services through sale tax collections.
Why supporters say would you want to put such merchants at a disadvantage?
Opponents argue that the proposal represents a tax hike for all Americans who buy products online. The first vote is Monday - requiring 60 votes to begin debate.
New Orleans musician Terence Blanchard discusses the music business at a
New Orleans musician Terence Blanchard discusses the music business at Small Business Commitee roundtable discussion Thursday.
If I knew he was playing, I'd go to that hearing
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., might have come up with an innovative way to increase attendance at meetings by her Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee: Get Terence Blanchard, a five-time Grammy award winning jazz trumpeter and composer from New Orleans, to perform.
Blanchard spoke at a roundtable led by Landrieu on the problems faced by songwriters and musicians as they try to make a living in an increasing digital music business world, where royalties are often small,.
At the end of the session, Blanchard picked up his trumpet, and played a soulful rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching in." Landrieu said she and the others at the roundtable "loved" the performance. Landrieu's staff said the joyful sounds drew the curiosity and appreciation of staffers at nearby Senate offices.
At the roundtable, musicians complained that it is becoming harder for musicians to make a living. For instance, some noted that until recently, songwriters were allowed to deduct expenses incurred in creating a song or purchasing a song catalog. Last year, Landrieu, joined senators from both parties in proposing the Songwriters Tax Simplification Act, which would make that deduction a permanent part of the tax code. Another effort to pass the legislation is expected during the current Congress.
Who paid for that painting? You did
Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, has come out against oil paintings - at least those paid for by taxpayers. His bill would bar taxpayer dollars from being used for commemorative oil portraits of federal administration officials and Members of Congress.
"Can you believe that taxpayers paid $40,000 for a commemorative portrait of (former) EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and over $20,000 for a 3-by-4 portrait of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack?" Cassidy said. "At a time of trillion-dollar deficits, these portraits are a ridiculous and unnecessary luxury."
Where's the darn report?
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., wants a copy of a report from the inspector general for the Securities and Exchange Commission on the handling of the Ponzi scheme by Allan Stanford, now serving a 110-year prison sentence for defaulting investors. Vitter says that the appointed received didn't order enough restitution for victims of the Stanford fraud.
"The Stanford Ponzi scheme devastated many Louisiana families who invested their hard-earned retirement savings in good faith that it would be there for them when they retire," said Vitter, who says the IG investigation was completed in March, 2012. "Over a year has passed, and the report still has not been released. Given the demonstrated incompetence of the court appointed receiver, it makes you wonder how bad this report gets. The Stanford victims deserve to see these findings."