Ask most Americans whether they're in favor of spending taxpayer dollars to help delinquent mortgage borrowers and you're likely to get an emphatic "No!" But the government didn't ask its citizens before it committed hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to guarantee loans through various foreclosure prevention initiatives such as FHASecure and Hope for Homeowners, which let troubled borrowers
The performance of the US markets over the seven days has been somewhat perplexing. But I feel that when they open up fully for business come Monday (after the extended holiday) it will indeed feel like the Pilgrims did upon landing at Plymouth: thankful that they have arrived but worried about the winter ahead.
Today’s Market [...]
DON'T want to serve your six-year bond after graduating? Then don't.A netizen wrote in response: 'After you graduate, you're supposed to work in Singapore for six years, meaning you can't work in another country.'But actually you can leave on the sly. That's what a friend of mine did. He didn't like Singapore, so he left after graduating.I know it's stereotype to generalise every Chinese but....I
GE placed their bets on the Democrats and won. Now for the payback in the form of $139 billion in debt guarantees from the US taxpayer, courtesy of the Democrat controlled Congress. Whenever you wonder why MSNBC were/are completely in the tank for Obama, now you know. FOLLOW THE MONEY.
I want the record to show that should the Democrat Congress agree to guarantee $139 billion dollars of my curre
The portrait Brian Higgins is trying to paint of himself is becoming laughable. He wants us to believe he is Mr. Goodguy in Washington, saving the taxpayers of WNY tons of money.
Now, he has the federal government investigating gasoline prices in WNY. Gasoline is not a Constitutional Right guaranteed for each American. It is a [...]
WASHINGTON – Raoul Weil, a senior executive of a large Swiss bank with offices worldwide, including the United States, has been charged with conspiring with other executives, managers, private bankers and clients of the banking firm to defraud the United States, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.According to the criminal indictment, between 2002 and 2007,
Banco Santander and the UK’s taxpayers £18 billion
We were told by the government and the media that the deposits of
Bradford and Bingley along with their branches had been sold to Banco
Santander for a positive sum. This was never very likely, as deposits
are liabilities. You have to pay someone to take them away.
Indeed, [...]
Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) — Bloomberg News asked a U.S. court today to force the Federal Reserve to disclose securities the central bank is accepting on behalf of American taxpayers as collateral for $1.5 trillion of loans to banks.
The lawsuit is based on the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, which requires federal agencies to make government [...]
Distressed homeowners in 11 states, including Illinois, may avoid foreclosure due to a settlement reached between Bank of America, which recently acquired Countrywide Financial Corp., and the attorneys general of those states, including Lisa Madigan of Illinois.
Taxpayers, specifically those from the US, will be those who will be very much affected in this $700 billion bailout. Inflation will be the ultimate effect; the prices of the basic items like food...
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1)Create a crises
2)Force a solution using threats (of expansion of the crises)
3)Consolidate power through with the “solution” (of the crises)
This formula was executed in 1906, with the banking seize up that
originated in London when UK banks refused Letters of credit issued by US
banks. This crises brought with it a deep seated desperation within the US
population [...]
Its Official folks! The House finally agreed upon a realistic, workable Emergency Bailout Deal.The meat of the deal appears to be controlled by the House Democrats who refused to just write a Blank Check to Wall Street without ANY accountability.President Bush's idea of spending Billions in Taxpayer money to buy Mortgage-backed Securities, is STILL up in the air, as neither House Republicans NOR t
The following is the latest press release from John Oxendine, the current Georgia Insurance Commissioner and Republican Candidate for Governor in 2010:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
September 26, 2008
Imagine the surprise of over a million Florida residents who received their proposed 2008 real estate tax assessments expecting to see a tax decrease (based on the passage of the Amendment I) and finding out their taxable value has actually may have gone up by 3 percent. How is this possible you say, especially considering [...]
For a while now, many can spectulate the trouble started at the tail end of 2006 with the mortgage industry busy, the American economy has been struggling, facing uncertain times. Many understand the historic significance of last week but the implications of a federal bailout has yet to hit home. With the annoucement that the Federal [...]
In my previous post I wrote about the long term fall out and adverse impacts from all these government bailouts. Tony Parker, a regular contributor to this site and an experienced investor, offers a different view as to why the bailouts could end up being a success and even realize a decent profit for the American taxpayer.In light of the recent bailout of the finance services firms, the mainstrea
The Taxpayers Alliance have created a website allowing you to try "Gordon Brown's calculator", which has buttons in the wrong order and gets sums wrong. It's a clever idea.If you keep the sound on, you can hear Gordon Brown swear or groan, and there is also a Gordon Brown graphic.
Manchester United, the richest club in the world, currently have a £56m sponsorship with American Insurance Group (AIG). With the near collapse of the insurance giant, many were speculating what could happen to that massive sponsorship with United. Amidst the speculators, a spokesman for the Glazer family said “business will continue as usual”.
Because the Federal [...]
Wouldn’t it be nice if the US Government were there to bail out each and every one of us whenever we’ve made poor financial decisions or mismanged our businesses?
While the average American family may be carrying $10K in credit card debt due to staggering interest rates offered by credit card companies, there is no relief [...]
On 13 July 2008, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson promulgated his proposal for increased government power to quell market angst over the solvency, liquidity, and credit of the mortgage securitization giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It was the shot heard ’round the world–a self-inflicted shot to the head, that is. Paulson’s plan allowed expanded lending [...]
Obama knows alot about housing problems. One of his biggest
fundraisers helped Obama buy his million dollar mansion. From
Obama, Rezko got political favors, 14 million from taxpayers. Now,
Rezko is a FELON.
Obama's relationship with convicted felon Tony Rezko, is just
another connection he has with the wrong people. Just proof that
Obama has no conscience when it comes to his beliefs, his
associ
Gary Glitter has now arrived back in Britain and will be met by at least 35 policemen. Glitter, real name Paul Francis Gadd had hoped to avoid entering Britain, but as no other country would allow him in he had no choice but to return home.
Police will escort Glitter from Heathrow and make him sign [...]
A report by pressure group The TaxPayers Alliance has kicked up a stink with members of the governments Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
RDAs were set up around the UK in 1999, funded by the government to develop economic growth regionally.
The report claims that growth has actually slowed in most regions since the RDAs were introduced and unemployment [...]
DENVER - The United States Attorney’s office, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Internal Revenue Service today released the following warning regarding Internet and email schemes involving the Economic Stimulus Payments.
Wide-spread email schemes, known as “phishing,” that claim to come from the IRS have become increasingly common. These emails
by Rep Ron Paul
Statement before the US House of Representatives on HR 3221 July 24, 2008
Madam Speaker,
For several years, followers of the Austrian school of economics have warned that unless Congress moved to end the implicit government guarantee of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and took other steps to disengage the US Government from the [...]
This is a great article that shows exactly why you should not rush development. Shove it down the peoples throats tell them its good for them, make some shady deals. Use tax money to furnish it and tell them its going to be an economic explosion for the area. Then when it all goes wrong make them pay for it again, and when they demand to trim the fat cut services everyone needs. Or tell them we ne
The Department of Justice issued a press release on Monday advising that it has filed court papers to allow the IRS access to request information from UBS AG about US taxpayers who may be using Swiss bank accounts to evade federal income taxes.
The Times had previously reported that UBS might reveal up to 20,000 [...]
So let's get this straight: Obama decides to forgo public funding for his presidential bid, saving taxpayers over $80,000,000. Somehow this is covered by the mainstream media as a bad thing.Then John McCain once again breaks federal election finance laws, technically making him a criminal, and this gets ZERO mainstream media coverage?What the hell is going on? Does the press have an agenda once ag
O GOD!Give us Strength & Capacity to pay:-INCOME TAX ..........(DOWNLOAD TAX E BOOK)VAT (KNOW DEALER DETAIL IN INDIA)CST..........................(DOWNLOAD CST ACT CST Rules)SERVICE TAX......... (KNOW YOUR SERVICE TAX CODE)EXCISE DUTYCUSTOMOCTROITDS/TCS..................(TDS IN BREIF/TDS CALCULATOR)ESIEPFMARKET FEEHOUSE TAXROAD TAXSTAMP DUTYPROF. TAXWATER TA
Here is a blast for all of our Republican Lesbiatopia readers out there. (That would be all two of you, if you don’t count my dad.)It is estimated that approximately 51,320 of California's same-sex couples are planning to marry now that the California state Supreme Court has ruled that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to civil marriage in that state. Another 68,000 out-of-state couples are l
There is a lot being said about the fuel price hike, so here are my views on it. If you are a tax paying citizen of India (a very few in this country which at the moment is less than 10% of the population) you are better off with the fuel increase. With the prices of crude going up around the world the cost of buying crude for the oil companies is going up. If the costs of the inputs go up the
U.S. military deserters are costing taxpayers a lot of money, according to military officials. The Army Public Affairs office reported that it costs an average of $50,000 to $64,000 to train a soldier from the recruiting station to first unit station. Between 2002 and 2007, there were at least 2,400 soldiers each year who deserted duty sometime after training. About 60 percent of deserters
A poorly run Pentagon program for providing workman's compensation for civilian employees in Iraq and Afghanistan has allowed defense contractors and insurance companies to gouge American taxpayers, a House committee said Thursday. According to the committee, the Pentagon allows its contractors to negotiate their own insurance contracts. By contrast, the State Department, U.S. Agency for In
I received 5 copies of the IRS guide in the mail today. If anyone would like one you can Contact me and I will be happy to send one. You may also order the CD from the IRS by calling...
The IRS has reported that as of May 3, 2008, more tax returns had been processed than at the same time last year. How many more? About 15 million more to nearly 142 million, an increase of about 11%.
And despite what those hold times felt like, the number of phone calls answered by [...]
Taxpayer asks:
Just curious, are the foreign taxpayers who are not American citizens also going to get the stimulus rebate checks? I’ve heard people from all over the world have been filing tax forms for the stimulus payment. (And apparently, these are non-American citizens who have social security numbers).
Taxgirl says:
Permanent residents overseas who are American [...]
Last night on Channel 4 News there was a chap from the Leek Building Society talking to Jon Snow. Snow is like Paxman. He can spot waffle and weasle words. The chap in question (didn't get his name) said he thought this injection of taxpayers' money was a "start". Jon Snow, asked him how much money was required. "If you're going to drop cash in the ocean, how much is needed?" The answer seemed less than satisfactory, but he did say one thing that I thought, well, that sums it all up.This money is to rebuild confidence. Apparently, it's all down to us, the suckers who feel we can't trust the banks. It's all our fault! We should be thinking more positively. House prices aren't falling, it's all a bad dream. But when this money finally comes across from the sticky fingers of Mervyn King and h
WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) – The high rate of divorce and unwed parenthood is costing U.S. taxpayers a minimum of $112 billion annually, a study in these areas indicated Tuesday.”This study documents for the first time, that divorce and unwed childbearing … are also costing taxpayers a ton of money,” David Blankenhorn, president of the [...]
I’ve said it before and I’ll surely have to say it again - People go into government for one reason: to reward their friends and simultaneously punish their enemies. The latest example comes to us from Minneapolis-St. Paul, soon to be host to the Republican National Convention-
Bar and restaurant hours during the Republican National [...]
A lot of Floridians probably don't even know what the Board of Governors is, and they're not exactly following closely the university system governing board's tuition-setting fight with the Legislature. But taxpayers might want to take note, because the ongoing...
Sponsors of the new study, being released Tuesday, said it is the first to gauge the broad costs of "family fragmentation" resulting from divorce and unwed childbearing. Given that cost, proponents say the modest price tags associated with most marriage-strengthening initiatives programs even with very modest success rates will be cost-effective.
Flagrantly violating the constitutional ban on state promotion of religion, the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, or TIZA, herds children into bathrooms to perform ritual Islamic cleansing before leading them into the school gym to pray to Allah each day. In three visits to the K-8 school, the Minnesota Department of Education never noticed a problem, even though the tax-funded school is located at a mosque. And the ACLU didn't bother until a Minneapolis columnist exposed the madrassa earlier this week."It appears the school may be impermissibly blurring the line between providing a secular education and endorsing and promoting religion and religious activities," said Charles Samuelson, who heads the group's Minnesota office.Blurring the line? It has erased it...
This from Red State
###
Not content to have parlayed their public service into great wealth, the Clintons continue to cost the taxpayers money. It seems that, despite having written a book on it, former President Clinton feels more comfortable getting paid for charity than giving it:
The Clintons have made a $100-million fortune since leaving the White [...]
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) has been named as one of only a handful of lawmakers to win the 2007 “Taypayers’ Friend Award” from the National Taxpayers Union. “While many Members of Congress talked about reducing the size of government last year, Congressman Ron Paul backed up those words with votes,”read more | digg story
The working class people will stand to benefit by up to Rs 44,000 a year in income tax following the changes proposed by the finance minister in the Union Budget for 2008-09, which also provides for...
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The great thing about reading a study, or a report about a study, showing ... well, just for example, that EHRs don't save any money, or that drinking alcohol is good for you, is that, gosh darn it, there's always...
Special assistance offered for seniors and people with disabilitiesThe United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is sponsoring the largest free tax counseling and preparation program in the country, available through AARP.Who Can Use this Free Tax Help and Free Filing Service?Most people who work need to file a tax return. AARP Tax-Aide is a free tax help service for people who meet the following criteria:Low- or middle-income taxpayers who want tax help and free filing of their U.S. federal income tax returnsYou must have a simple tax return. People seeking tax help who have more complex returns will be advised to get professional tax assistance.You do not need to be a member of AARP or a senior to receive tax help from Tax-Aide, however special attention is paid to people age 60 and o
Government officials at all levels have become more saavy at trying to disguise taxes as something else. But, it seems Democrats are especially adept at the practice.However, voters/taxpayers are also getting better at recognizing the camouflage.Gavin Newsome, Democrat mayor of San Francisco, is trying out a tax with a double disguise: first, it's called a fee; and second, it's dressed up in the now-familiar costume of preventing a health problem.As an added touch, the tax is supposed to help alleviate a children's health problem....San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has set his sights on soda - working up a plan to charge a new city fee to big retailers of sugar drinks."The bottom line is that there is a direct nexus between high-fructose corn syrup drinks like colas and Big Gulps and obesity among schoolkids," Newsom said Friday.The idea of taxing soda to combat obesity - which is being touted as the first in the nation - has been roiling around in health circles for some time, inc
Feds Want $1.3 million Returned For Misspent FundsThe state will pay $800,000, according to the agreement brokered by Attorney General Tom Miller. The remainder of the bill will be paid by CIETC and the agency's member governments, including the city of Des Moines and the counties of Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story and Warren."Both sides had arguments," said Bob Brammer, a spokesman for Miller. "One argument was that CIETC had direct authority over the money. But CIETC also had an argument that the state had oversight."Neither side wanted to pay the $1.3 million, an amount federal officials say was misspent on lavish salaries for CIETC executives.Read Article...CIETC Iowa Government Scandal
Original content from Jamaicamax.com In order to conduct any sort of business in Jamaica you must first register to get a TRN or Taxpayers Registration Number. I knew we would need a TRN for things like opening up a bank account, buying a car and opening a business so I decided to get one while in Kingston. I was in pursuit of a bank account in Jamaica so I can move some money here and avoid the ridiculous fees charged to withdraw some cash here in Negril. Opening up a bank account turned out to be a little more difficult then expected but I found a way around things for us and maybe someone else can appreciate the information but first back to the TRN.
The TRN application is pretty simple and straight forward and forms can be downloaded from the Jamaica Tax Administration in advance so you’re prepared once you arrive. Any government office in Jamaica is going to be busy but the Tax Collectors Office must be the worst. I was actually very lucky on my first trip through and gettin
Tax preparer penalties are on the rise and you, as a taxpayer, may think this will either not affect you, or help you. The law was passed because they believed that it would promote more accurate tax returns. However, as usual, they didn't think this law out very well before they passed it.
What this law has actually done (or will do, as it is not yet effective), is make the disclosure
Many actors like Rani Mukherjee, Abhishek Bachchan have become household names thanks to the products they endorse. But there’s a price attached to this ‘benefit’ - tax. Shah Rukh tops the list of taxpayers among brand ambassadors this year.Shah Rukh KhanThe actor topped the list of taxpayers among brand ambassadors this year, beating even cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who paid a service tax of Rs. 1.93 crores.Brands SRK has endorsed:Pepsi, Lux, Hyundai Santro, Omega, Bagpiper, Tag Heuer, Sunfeast, Airtel, Masterstroke Deluxe Whiskey, Compaq, Belmonte…Shah Rukh Khan: Earnings per filmActor Shah Rukh Khan, according to sources, earns approx. 6-8 crores per film, and about 6 crores through endorsement.The actor, however, believes in paying tax, besides of being ‘generous’ to friends and colleagues. Shah Rukh is known to gift away cars and flats to his near and dear ones. Amitabh BachchanActor Amitabh Bachchan is the second highest taxpayer as brand ambassador, and paid Rs. 1.5
Dear American Taxpayers,
I know that you have all been hard at work, but I need some more tax money to pay for all the great government programs the new Congress is planning on initiating.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking: Isn’t the federal government big enough? Didn’t Congress grow the government by unprecedented levels over the past several years? But I am writing to
Not one damned inch towards ANY sort of "immigration reform" until our politicians have shown, for at least a few years, that they are serious about protecting our borders. I don't believe a single word ANY of them say that are in favor of amnesty. They can babble on about 10,000 different types of triggers, fines, fees and general border enforcement but I know it will all be forgotten the second pen hits paper. Every one of them from Bush to McCain to Kennedy will be at the borders, big smiles on their faces and big sombreros on their heads welcoming the illegals in and pointing them towards the Home Depot day labor centers and the local welfare offices. No to amnesty now. No to amnesty tomorrow. No to amnesty next year. And no to amnesty forever! Is that plain enough??? ~RJHHeritage Foundation article link Amnesty Will Cost U.S. Taxpayers at Least $2.6 Trillionby Robert E. RectorWebMemo #1490 The Senate is currently considering a massive immigration reform bill, the "
City of Buffalo taxpayers and private sector workers making, on average, much less money than City employees do not matter to Byron Brown. Brown, acting like a typical machine made politician, pledges to restore several missed pay increases that resulted from the wage freeze.
Mayor Byron Brown making an announcement late this afternoon, saying he will try and restore all missed step increases for city workers.
I would like to see the Mayor put this egregious plan to a referendum, making available all wage and benefit data for each position. Let the voters see exactly who is receiving their high taxes and compare those wages with private sector employment.
The whole point of the wage freeze was to bring spending under control. Restoring outrageous pay increases, combined with out of control benefits is a slap in the face of local taxpayers.
Groceries are going up all of the time. You have to cut back and make ends meet,” said Buffalo Fire Lieutenant Keith LoCice
Here is another unbelievable example of the government spending our, the taxpayers, money like drunken sailors.
Records show the Buffalo Police Department spent approximately $201,637.65 last year to pay officers for days off for giving blood.
Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson tries to justify the expenditure while being questioned.
Mychajliw: “Do you feel that’s justified to have officers off the streets, at an average of two cops per day, to donate blood?”
Gipson: “I think it is justified. Yes.”
Mychajliw: “In what capacity?”
Gipson: “How do you equate, how do you balance a life that received the blood, the life saving blood, compared to taking a day off. I don’t find it to be an equitable balance between the two.”
Donating blood is something people do on their own time without being reimbursed by the government with taxpayers’ money.
The mindset of Gipson is indefensible. Anyone who still be
Pull the plug on ratings-hungry CBClgunter@shaw.caEdmonton Journal06 Apr 2007If you like the CBC's crime reconstruction series 72 Hours: True Crime, you’re going to be disappointed. Mother Corp announced Wednesday the half-hour series, which “chronicles Canada’s most infamous crimes in an innovative ‘nouveau noir’ fashion” (whatever that is), will not be returning this fall.
Frankly, before I
Below is an excerpt from today’s Buffalo News describing the proposed contract for Buffalo Firefighters.
Buffalo firefighters would see their salaries increase by more than 30 percent over the next 5½ years under a proposed contract settlement that will be sent to the Common Council and control board for immediate consideration.
In return, negotiators said firefighters would agree to numerous cost-saving concessions, including insurance givebacks, changes in injured-on-duty policies and a rule that all firefighters hired in the future live in the city for their first 15 years on the job.
Mayor Byron W. Brown said the contract will save the city $7.5 million by 2011.
(Click the chart for a larger version.)
The entry level salary will increase about $6,326, or 18.61% on Feb 1, 2007. The top pay grade will increase about $6736, or 13.19% on Feb 1, 2007. All grades will then receive 5 annual 3.4% increase beginning this year on July 1. The final salaries w
January 1, 2007 — Gov. Spitzer has granted George Pataki24-hour-a-day State Police protection, a shockingly expensive security detail that’s never been offered to a former New York governor, The Post has learned.
Democrat Spitzer reluctantly agreed to Republican Pataki’s last-minute security request, despite misgivings that such an action could violate the same law that led former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi to plead guilty to a felony, a source close to the new governor said.
Hevesi had claimed security concerns justified his using state employees to drive his wife around and run personal errands.
Spitzer was also uncertain as to what, if any, threat Pataki might face, and has ordered an investigation to find out.
The special security for Pataki could cost taxpayers $20,000 or more a week if it is limited to four round-the-clock State Police officers, who can each earn $80,000 or more a year.
It could cost a whole lot more if Pataki receives the far larger securit
Jonathon Wilson Leads ChargeTo Further Bleed Iowa Taxpayers CIETC's bills to Wilson's firm now total $267,655!It appears CIETC has changed its name to the Regional Workforce Investment Alliance. What's the difference? Anyone can call poop by a different name, but it still looks like it, stinks like it, and still comes from the same place and for the same purpose! After a front page spread by the Des Moines Register on Iowa's most famous and controversial gay, we read that in May Wilson wrote a pro-CIETC letter for publication in The Des Moines Register. State officials say Wilson's law firm billed CIETC $1,193 for the time he spent writing and reviewing the letter.Then CIETC asked the state to reimburse the agency for the expense using job-training money. State officials say they refused that request. Wilson has argued that state officials should not make public his law firm's bills to CIETC.Read Article... Iowa Des Moines CIETC Scandal
