Democrat Senator Blocking Tax Fairness Bill
(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin calls on Senate Democrat leaders to allow a vote on a pro-gay amendment to the Fair Minimum Wage Act. GOP Senator Gordon Smith’s amendment would ease the tax burden for domestic partner benefits. The Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act would correct an unfair provision in the tax code that blocks self-employed people from deducting their domestic partner’s health insurance premium costs.
“I am for cutting taxes and this amendment does just that,” said Senator Smith (R-OR). “Nontraditional families are part of the fabric of our society and deserve fair treatment. The tax code weighs heavily on small business owners as it is, we shouldn’t increase the burden by leaving this inequity on the books.”
Senator Smith was prevented from offering his amendment during a recent Finance Committee hearing because Democrat Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) threatened to rule it out of order. Now Smith has introduced his amendment to the entire Senate, but Baucus is still threatening to use arcane Senate rules to stop the amendment.
“Democrat leaders should allow a vote on this important amendment. LGBT Democrats gave a lot of money and support to their Party last November,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon. “Now Senate Democrats better not block the first piece of pro-gay legislation in the 110th Congress. Majority Leader Harry Reid should stop Senator Baucus from obstructing this amendment and allow a vote by the full Senate.”
Current law allows small business owners, independent contractors, and consultants to deduct the total cost of their health insurance premiums. They also can deduct the premiums for their spouse and children, but not domestic partners. Smith’s bill would correct that inequity. “This common sense legislation will provide basic fairness for hard working gay and lesbian families,” said Sammon. “We applaud Senator Smith for leading the fight to provide tax fairness for all Americans.”
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Governor Schwarzenegger will speak at the California GOP State Convention on Friday February 9, 2007 at 7:30. It will follow a VIP reception with the governor at 6:30. If you haven’t made your reservations, please do so as soon as possible.
Ann Coulter recently said, ”Democrats want to cut and run as fast as possible from Iraq, betraying the Iraqis who supported us and rewarding our enemies — exactly as they did to the South Vietnamese.”
Should we send in 21,500 more troops? I am not wise enough to make that decision. But what I believe is lacking from the debate is tolerance and respect for other cultures and beliefs.
Sometimes I feel as if we are in 651 A.D. Back then the Shia Muslins followed the family tree of Mohammad and Sunnis (and eventually many Kurds) followed the caliphate (or for us christians, please I mean no disrespect) church. Think of it like after Jesus’s death, what if some followed the church that was formed while some followed myth of a bloodline like the DaVinci Code. That is what we are sort of up against. It is something that has not been thought out. That is their civil war. Do they follow the institution or the blood.
From what I see on the news we as a nation offer nothing in regard to tolerance and acceptance, If the three cannot like side by side then there will be civil war and 21,500 troops or 215,000 troops will not make a difference.
How do we resolve this? How does the world? Commuism was simple. And Ann Coulter’s analogy is not on point because we are apparently trying to resolve an issue concerning religious belieifs from approximately 651 A.D.
We need troops but we also need to teach the people we are there to protect relieigous tolerance and I have bad feelings about this issue.
I, like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, believe that we should give our troops everything and when I mean everything I mean spirirutal wisdom and conviction.
I do not have the answers. I just have concerns.
[Blogger’s Note: This is a copy of the Hopi prayer read by Maria Shriver at the January 5, 2007 inaugural ceremony.]
A HOPI ELDER SPEAKS:“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is THE HOUR. And there are things to be considered… Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader. Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, “This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and
will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time
in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation
–Kevin
As the New Year advances and Congress convenes, I personally wish all of us - our members and our readers - a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. We have many challenges ahead of us, but if we attempt to face those situations which may seem unsettling with head-on determination and by working together in a peaceful and harmonious manner, we can all most likely get things done in a much more expedient manner. It is very important for all of us to realize that we must come together as a nation for the good of all United States citizens so that we may strengthen ourselves as a nation… and as individuals. (more…)
