Thursday, January 3, 2013
Not addressing sequestration puts business growth, NOVA economy in limbo, Fairfax County leaders say.
Fairfax County officials are disappointed Tuesday’s last-minute “fiscal cliff” bill does not address a solution for sequestration cuts that could endanger Northern Virginia’s economic well being. Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said she was grateful Congress took action and passed the bill, which keeps the Bush-era tax cuts for individuals making less than $400,000 and couples making less that $450,000. It also makes permanent the fixes for the Alternative Minimum Tax and delays government spending cuts for two months. “Even though it’s not a comprehensive resolution to everything at least people are talking and at least things have gotten started,” she said. “But we’re disappointed that we still have waiting to do.” Bulova …
Friday, December 28, 2012
If lawmakers fail to reach compromise, sequestration would hit Northern Virginia especially hard.
While the potential loss of thousands of jobs and a devastating economic blow loom over the region thanks to sequestration, Virginia's senators can only wait and hope a workable compromise is reached before the new year. If such a compromise is not reached by Tuesday, a series of tax increases and spending reductions kick in automatically — taking the country over the so-called fiscal cliff. Some economists and politicians are concerned the combined effect will send the United States back into a recession. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, told CBS News this week that at this point any deal that could be made would be relatively small. “I think there’s unfortunately only going to be a small deal,” Warner said. “… We have to …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Forty House members sign letter backing proposed program added to any end-of-the-year fiscal cliff deal.
A letter co-written by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th), and signed by 40 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urges Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to support an immediate $200 million gun buyback program in any end-of-the-year fiscal cliff deal. Connolly, whose district includes the national headquarters for the NRA, and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida authored the letter to the House leaders. “Gun buybacks have proven successful in communities across the nation,” Connolly and Deutch said in a “Dear Colleague” to House members. “Adding $200 million to the final compromise on the fiscal cliff could remove as many as one million guns from our streets.” Including the gun buyback program…
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
More than 20 carolers turned out to sing about the fiscal cliff at Tysons Corner Center on Monday.
Forget about chesnuts roasting, one-horse open sleighs and Baby Jesus. A group of carolers assembled near Santa's Village in Tysons Corner Center at lunchtime Monday to sing about none other than the impending fiscal cliff. "Vote for income tax equality/Fala lalala, la la la la/Cuts for milionaires are folly/Fala lalala, la la la la..." Mall management threw the group out after a song and a half. The carolers proceeded to march over to Sen. Mark Warner's (D-VA) office at Towers Crescent in Tysons Corner, where they met with Warner's Deputy State Director Ann Rust. "My son's life depends on Medicaid," Julia Newton, 55, explained to Rust. Newton traveled from Norfolk to participate in the caroling event, organized by Virginia Organizing, …
W.E.G.
12:12 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Their theory is that only a small fraction would actually surrender the weapons. Plenty of budget for that. The rest would be deemed criminals, and carefully targeted for criminal prosecution, and property forfeiture. Seize a few half-million-dollar houses (think 50-year-old brick ramblers in Fairfax County), collect a few hundred-thousand-dollar fines, and you're cooking with heavy grease. more ›