Tax Cuts

Alicia Robinson Federal tax revenues in the first fiscal quarter of 2004 increased by 3%, showing President Bush's tax cuts are achieving their goal, Rep. Chris Cox said in a statement. The U.S. Treasury last week released first-quarter data that reflect a 0.5% increase in individual income taxes, a 30% increase in corporate income taxes and a 3% increase in total tax revenues compared to the same quarter of 2003. In the statement, Cox, who chairs the House Policy Committee, said the economy's growth -- more than 8% in the last quarter -- is evidence that the tax cuts are working.

In response to Jamshed H. Dastur’s column about the loss of the middle class (Sounding Off: “America weaker with loss of the middle class,” May 5): Though Dastur claims American companies take jobs overseas, the American economy remained at full employment right up to the housing meltdown. So no matter how many jobs were outsourced, there were still plenty of jobs for anyone who wanted to work. Dastur says American corporations “pay little or no taxes.

Alicia Robinson The news Sen. Dianne Feinstein brought from Washington, D.C., to Orange County on Thursday was grim: Between the nation's nearly half-trillion-dollar deficit and the filibuster-ending "nuclear option," something is bound to explode. "Eliminating the filibuster is really the final blow to minority rights in the Senate and the final step in the consolidation of executive power," Feinstein (D-Calif.) told an audience of about 400 people at an Orange County Forum lunch at the Sutton Place Hotel.

President Bush and congressional Democrats appear to be crafting dueling measures to stimulate a weakening economy. Both sides favor some sort of tax cuts, but they differ on who should get them. What do you think Congress and the president should do to help the sluggish economy recover?   In my opinion, we should avoid having government “do something” just to show we are “doing something” if that “something” does not help.

It’s normal in a political year for candidates to talk about an “equitable” tax system. If you are on the far left of the Democratic Party and in control of both houses of Congress it is now time for you put your more “equitable” tax plan into place. The people who put Democrats in office, the left, have been complaining the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. The truth is all boats have risen since the post-9/11 tax cuts of 2001.

Rep. John Campbell is calling out Sen. Hillary Clinton and other Democrats to help launch the aptly named “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,” bill. Meant more as a political hand grenade lobbed across the aisle rather than an olive branch, Campbell’s bill would allow people to make voluntary donations to the federal government above and beyond their normal tax liability. Campbell said he wrote the bill in response to arguments from the New York presidential hopeful that Americans should pay more taxes.

What is the most pressing issue in the state? In Newport-Mesa? I would say it's the economy. How will you be able to address the concerns of Newport-Mesa in Washington? With every opportunity that I have, I will work closely with the other candidates to make sure we can find a way that we can create an environment that's friendly to California and that we can create jobs. I believe that we need to be concentrating on training and retraining people who have lost their jobs and need to hone their skills and learn new skills in the new economy.

In response to Jamshed H. Dastur’s column about the loss of the middle class (Sounding Off: “America weaker with loss of the middle class,” May 5): Though Dastur claims American companies take jobs overseas, the American economy remained at full employment right up to the housing meltdown. So no matter how many jobs were outsourced, there were still plenty of jobs for anyone who wanted to work. Dastur says American corporations “pay little or no taxes.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore drew the attention of Sen. Barbara Boxer with his latest satirical video using rocker Don Henley’s music. DeVore drew Henley’s ire earlier this month when he produced a video poking fun at President Obama, sang to the tune of Henley’s “Boys of Summer.” Henley demanded YouTube take down the video, and now DeVore is contesting the cease-and-desist order. In the meantime, he wrote some new lyrics taking aim at his potential rival in the Senate election next year using another Henley song, “All She Wants to do is Dance.

Congress is considering another stimulus plan to jump-start the ailing economy. Many congressional leaders agree it’s important to get more money into the hands of everyday Americans, but they can’t agree on how to do that. Some plans include infrastructure projects like road and school construction to generate new jobs, or tax breaks to help businesses hire more people, or just tax cuts. Do you think an economic stimulus package is necessary and, if so, what should it include?

It’s normal in a political year for candidates to talk about an “equitable” tax system. If you are on the far left of the Democratic Party and in control of both houses of Congress it is now time for you put your more “equitable” tax plan into place. The people who put Democrats in office, the left, have been complaining the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. The truth is all boats have risen since the post-9/11 tax cuts of 2001.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's "Winter Newsletter" arrived last week. I'm glad to be on his mailing list and look forward to his newsletters because they always provide some good chuckles and creative writing. His skill -- or that of whoever writes his newsletter -- is especially adroit in converting political lemons into lemonade. The one that just arrived held up this tradition admirably. Example: "Earlier this year we had some good news. The level of deficit spending by the federal government was decreasing due to an increase in government revenues most likely a result from the 2001 tax cuts."

Alicia Robinson The news Sen. Dianne Feinstein brought from Washington, D.C., to Orange County on Thursday was grim: Between the nation's nearly half-trillion-dollar deficit and the filibuster-ending "nuclear option," something is bound to explode. "Eliminating the filibuster is really the final blow to minority rights in the Senate and the final step in the consolidation of executive power," Feinstein (D-Calif.) told an audience of about 400 people at an Orange County Forum lunch at the Sutton Place Hotel.

Lolita Harper In the Republican stronghold of Newport-Mesa, news of President Ronald Reagan's death Saturday sent a ripple of grief and remembrance through those who revered his leadership style. Reagan, the 40th president of the United States and former governor of California, died at 1 p.m. in his Bel Air home of pneumonia, a complication of his long battle with Alzheimer's disease, according to news reports and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library officials.