Bill to remove sales taxes from food fails again

Where is the press when you need them? Thanks for putting the issue in perspective. (4.00 / 2)

Enough to make a preacher cuss!

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by: BlueSeeingRed @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 21:29:02 PM CDT

You've taught me something (4.00 / 2)

You are way to the right of me on a number of issues, but we find a great deal of common ground on "good government" issues, I think.  Tax fairness can be one of those issues, especially when some of the well heeled are obviously getting favorable treatment through loopholes like this one.  Loopholes that they will fight to the death to keep open.

You say the Republicans voted against the bill again.  Have you heard what happened with the Democrats who DID NOT VOTE on the issue last week?  As I understand it, YES votes from those three Democrats would have been enought to get the bill through last week, even without Republican support. 

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 22:05:54 PM CDT

Why are multi-state farm operations good for America? (4.00 / 3)

Why are multi-state bank operations good for America?

We are seeing the danger of institutions that are "too big to fail", every day.

Why are giant banks and giant farms and giant corporations good for America? That is, America as an entire country, not America as a tiny elite that is capturing most of the national revenue?

Speaking just for myself, I don't think there are enough lamp-posts on Wall Street or on every street in America to string up all them that want stringin' up.

Just sayin.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 22:42:18 PM CDT

Source (0.00 / 0)

What is your source for the John Knight amendment and the Republicans voting it down?

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by: Jason @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 08:31:20 AM CDT

Right here..... (4.00 / 2)

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20090402/NEWS02/904020327

Under the compromise of­fered by Knight, in the first year a single taxpayer making less than $400,000 a year would not lose the federal income tax de­duction and married taxpayers making less than $1.2 million would still be able to deduct fed­eral income taxes paid. After be­ing fully phased in, a single tax­payer making less than $75,000 and married taxpayers making less than $125,000 would still be able to deduct the federal taxes.

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 09:01:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

ALFA (4.00 / 2)

Sorry to be dense, but what is ALFA?

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by: melmel @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 09:14:40 AM CDT

Alabama Farmers Federation (4.00 / 2)

Somewhere between a farm advocacy organization and an insurance company, with lobbying thrown in for good measure.  Generally, if I hear ALFA is supporting something, I get suspicious.

Link here. 

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 09:37:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

thanks. (4.00 / 3)

It doesn't look like they are looking out for the small family farmer, despite the folksy appearance of their website.  I wonder if all their members understand that the corporate big boy farmers are advocating against them.

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by: melmel @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 10:26:43 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

They are doing one good thing this term. (4.00 / 2)

And opposing deregulation of local phone service.  This is being pushed by AT&T.  The Senate has debated it for the last two days.

It would allow phone companies to charge "based on the number of subscribers in an area."  Well, I live in an area without a lot of people - as do most rural people, farmers, etc - so I know what that means for our budget.  And in isolated or mountainous areas, the cell phone access is spotty at best.  We have to drive 5 miles from the house to use the cell.

Alfa's opposing the bill along with Alabama Arise (strange bedfellows indeed!). The AARP is against it too.

Are they enough to thwart the power of AT&T's deep pockets?  We'll know soon.

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 10:44:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Wednesday Grocery Tax vote (4.00 / 2)

Here is the roll call of the Wed. vote on the Grocery Tax.

These were the NO votes:

Allen, G. (Cottondale); Baker, A. (Brewton); Ball, M. (Madison); Barton, J. (Mobile); Beck, W. (Geneva); Bentley, R. (Tuscaloosa); Bridges, D. (Valley); Canfield, G. (Vestavia Hills); Clouse, S. (Ozark); Collier, S. (Bayou La Batre); DeMarco, P. (Homewood); Drake, O. (Leeds); Faust, J. (Fairhope); Fincher, C. (Semmes); Galliher, B. (Rainbow City); Gaston, V. (Mobile); Gipson, M. (Prattville); Greeson, T. (Ider); Grimes, D. (Montgomery); Hammon, M. (Decatur); Hill, M. (Columbiana); Hubbard, M. (Auburn); Ison, J. (Mobile); Johnson, R. (Sylacauga); Lewis, B. (Dothan); Love, J. (Montgomery); Mask, B. (Wetumpka); McClendon, J. (Springville); McClurkin, M.S. (Pelham); McCutcheon, M. (Capshaw); McMillan, S. (Gulf Shores); Moore, P. (Pleasant Grove); Oden, J. (Vinemont); Payne, A. (Trussville); Sanderford, H. (Huntsville); Shiver, H. (Bay Minette); Thomas, E. (Oneonta); Treadway, A. (Morris); Ward, C. (Alabaster); Williams, J. (Vestavia Hills); Wood, R. (Anniston); Wren, G. (Montgomery).

I would just point out that Rep. Laura Hall who DID NOT VOTE last week, voted YES this time around. 

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:49:41 PM CDT

Good for her! n/t (4.00 / 1)

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 15:23:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

From what I hear (3.00 / 1)

Hall voted yes twice - and violated Rule 32, which was in effect, in the process.

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by: Brian @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 22:17:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]