(First posted in March 2013) You Might Live In A Country Founded By Geniuses But Run By Idiots, If…
Fiscal Cliff
California’s Real Debt Is $1.3-Trillion (PragerU Update)
John and Ken speak to Marc Joffe of the CALIFORNIA POLICY CENTER in regard to these recent articles on the subject of California’s fiscal emergency:
➤ California’s Total State and Local Debt Totals $1.3 Trillion
➤ Can California’s Economy Withstand $1.3 Trillion of Government Debt?
One aspect Marc Joffe mentioned would be a way to overcome this “debt” is to increase California’s population… however, we see through some recent stories…
★ California Won’t Fall Into The Sea — It’s Moving To Texas Instead
★ The Exodus of People Moving Away From California Is Becoming an Avalanche
…this is not a viable option… nor will it be as long as Democrats are in charge:
✦ California Regression – Eco Craziness
✦ John & Ken Discuss CalPERS Ponzi Scheme
In other words, Californians are doomed if remaining on this course.
Who cares about public pension liability? Well, you should – after all, it’s the reason entire cities and even states are facing bankruptcy. Joshua Rauh, professor of finance at Stanford and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, paints a startling picture of just how broken the public pension system really is, and what will happen if we continue to ignore it.
13 Obama Tax Hikes that Took Effect in 2013 (Flashback: `Your Taxes Will Not Go Up One Dime` ~ Obama)
1. Payroll tax: increase in the Social Security portion of the payroll tax from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent for workers. This hits all Americans earning a paycheck—not just the “wealthy.” For example, The Wall Street Journal calculated that the “typical U.S. family earning $50,000 a year” will lose “an annual income boost of $1,000.”
2. Top marginal tax rate: increase from 35 percent to 39.6 percent for taxable incomes over $450,000 ($400,000 for single filers).
3. Phase out of personal exemptions for adjusted gross income (AGI) over $300,000 ($250,000 for single filers).
4. Phase down of itemized deductions for AGI over $300,000 ($250,000 for single filers).
5. Tax rates on investment: increase in the rate on dividends and capital gains from 15 percent to 20 percent for taxable incomes over $450,000 ($400,000 for single filers).
6. Death tax: increase in the rate (on estates larger than $5 million) from 35 percent to 40 percent.
7. Taxes on business investment: expiration of full expensing—the immediate deduction of capital purchases by businesses.
Obamacare tax increases that took effect:
8. Another investment tax increase: 3.8 percent surtax on investment income for taxpayers with taxable income exceeding $250,000 ($200,000 for singles).
9. Another payroll tax hike: 0.9 percent increase in the Hospital Insurance portion of the payroll tax for incomes over $250,000 ($200,000 for single filers).
10. Medical device tax: 2.3 percent excise tax paid by medical device manufacturers and importers on all their sales.
11. Reducing the income tax deduction for individuals’ medical expenses.
12. Elimination of the corporate income tax deduction for expenses related to theMedicare Part D subsidy.
13. Limitation of the corporate income tax deduction for compensation that health insurance companies pay to their executives.
(Heritage)
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland Taken to the Tool Shed by CNBC
Neil Cavuto and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) Battle it Out Over the `Fiscal Cliff`
(Via The Blaze) While discussing the looming “fiscal cliff” on Thursday, Fox News’ Neil Cavuto and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) had a rather unpleasant exchange of words: