| | |
| Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update for Washington State | Monday December 11, 2006 |
A Sales Tax Deduction Victory
Late Friday night, both the House and Senate passed a two-year extension of the state sales tax deduction, meaning that this critical tax cut for Washington’s middle class families is now headed to the White House for the president’s signature. This legislation extends the sales tax deduction for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, while also undoing drastic Medicare reimbursements rate cuts and continuing tax cuts that encourage research and development and help working Washingtonians, teachers, and families saving for college.
Extending this deduction is a big win for families in our state and an important step toward tax fairness. Thanks to this long-overdue extension of the sales tax deduction, hundreds of thousands of families in our state who itemize will save nearly $600 each, putting hard-earned cash back in their wallets. It also means a big boost for our state’s economy. According to the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, the deduction brings an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 jobs to Washington state, and each dollar retained in the state through this deduction amounts to an economic stimulus of about 50 cents. When Congress reconvenes in January, I’m going to focus on making this deduction permanent so we don’t have to wait for an extension year after year.
To take advantage of the deduction, tax filers should obtain IRS Publication 600, which will be made available on the IRS website within three days of the president’s signing of the bill. Hard copies of Publication 600 will go out in the mail after the holidays and will be available at local IRS offices, libraries, post offices, and other locations that provide tax forms. I will also post more information and a link to these forms on my website.
Demanding a Change of Course in Iraq
The release of the Iraq Study Group report last week marked an important step. I do support many of the report’s key recommendations, which demonstrate clearly that we need a change of course. We need more robust diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and the region—something I’ve called for repeatedly. I agree with the Iraq Study Group recommendation that the United States cannot have an open-ended commitment in Iraq. U.S. forces should move out of a combat role and into a support role for the Iraqi Army as soon as possible. We must also press for a political solution, and build international consensus to stabilize Iraq and the region. This includes direct talks with Iran and Syria. In addition, the United States must separately recommit itself to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with the required serious and sustained diplomacy. Perhaps the most important contribution of the Iraq Study Group is that it showed the need to move forward in a bipartisan manner to change course. This report and the confirmation of Robert Gates as the new secretary of defense must mark the beginning of a real change in the president’s policies.
Improving Pipeline Safety
Recent pipeline spills in Alaska, as well as the deadly 1999 pipeline explosion in Bellingham, show just how important a robust pipeline safety program is to our communities and our environment. We’ve made significant progress since the Bellingham tragedy that killed two children and one adult, and legislation passed by Congress last week will help improve and strengthen pipeline safety even further to prevent future loss of life and environmental damage. This legislation, called the PIPES Act, will deliver more resources to pipeline safety efforts, reduce the accidents caused by construction and excavation, and increase the ranks of federal pipeline inspectors by 50 percent. At present, there are only 90 inspectors—just one inspector for every 18,000 miles of pipeline. The PIPES Act sets forth new pipeline safety initiatives and regulations in response to recent pipeline oil spills in Prudhoe Bay, as well as recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board. It also authorizes grants for state pipeline damage prevention programs, and regulates currently unregulated low-stress pipelines. In developing this legislation, Congress consulted pipeline safety advocates, including Bellingham’s Pipeline Safety Trust.
Upgrading Our Tsunami Warning System
Nearly 300,000 Washingtonians live in the tsunami danger zone, which includes areas along the coast and Puget Sound. Residents in these areas could have less than 20 minutes to get to higher ground, making accurate tsunami detection and effective warning critical. The Tsunami Preparedness Act, passed by Congress on Friday and now headed to the president’s desk, authorizes a substantial increase in tsunami preparedness funds. It will greatly improve the existing Pacific tsunami detection and warning system, as well as expand it to any area in the Atlantic and Caribbean identified as at-risk for a tsunami. In addition, the bill supports tsunami research in the Northwest, requires the identification and repair of malfunctioning tsunami detection buoys, and will help complete a study of the risk posed by tsunamis to inland bodies of water like the Puget Sound. Better, more-reliable alarm systems are critical for those who live and work along our coasts and this legislation will help our coastal communities be prepared and remain safe.
Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment
If you are newly eligible for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, or are seeking to change your current drug plan, now is a good time to examine your needs and make an enrollment decision before the December 31 deadline. If you have questions about signing up for a plan, call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to http://www.medicare.gov. For further assistance, I also encourage you to call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) HelpLine at 1-800-562-6900, or visit them online at http://www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/SHIBA_HelpLine/dirdefault.asp.
No comments:
Post a Comment