Performance Rights Act and Radio Freedom Act

I heard about this today. From the http://www.noperformancetax.org/ website:

There are currently two bills pending in Congress that would levy a performance tax on local radio – H.R.848, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (MI-14) and S.379, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT). Your members of Congress need to hear that you strongly oppose these bills.

Additionally, anti-performance tax resolutions have been introduced in the House and Senate in support of local radio. In the Senate, Sens. Blanche Lincoln (AR) and John Barrasso (WY) introduced S. Con. Res. 14, and in the House, Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Mike Conaway (TX-11) introduced H. Con. Res. 49. Both are known as the Local Radio Freedom Act. Many members of Congress already support local radio and resolutions against the performance tax. Others still need to hear your voice.

Take action now!

Neither Texas senator supports S. Con. Res. 14, the Local Radio Freedom Act. Tell them how you feel.

• Sen. John Cornyn (R)
• Sen. Kay Hutchison (R)

The following Texas representatives support H. Con. Res. 49, the Local Radio Freedom Act:

• Brady, Kevin
• Burgess, Michael
• Conaway, Mike
• Carter, John
• Culberson, John
• Cuellar, Henry
• Edwards, Chet
• Granger, Kay
• Green, Al
• Green, Gene
• Hinojosa, Rubén
• Hall, Ralph
• Marchant, Kenny
• McCaul, Michael
• Neugebauer, Randy
• Olson, Pete
• Ortiz, Solomon
• Paul, Ron
• Poe, Ted
• Reyes, Silvestre
• Sessions, Pete
• Thornberry, Mac

Did you hear about “Cap and Trade”

In case you missed this one – I almost did – it sounds like the tree huggers tried to slip a fast one through congress: Senators Spend Recess Fine-Tuning Messages on Cap and Trade – NYTimes.com.

If ever there was a time to look at nuclear it is now. Actually, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved several “small” and “clean” reactor designs.

The industry has been working on something smaller, cheaper, standardized, and easy to build since construction on new plants ended nearly 20 years ago. The double digit interest rates of the 80′s combined with attitudes after Three Mile Island (TMI) crippled the nuclear industry. Clean, safe, and easy-to-build nuclear power is not only possible but essential for the future of U.S. energy need.

Time for campaigns to report earnings

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry’s blind trust had capital losses of $567,529 in 2008 but still managed to provide the governor and his wife, Anita, with $28,043 in income, according to tax returns released Tuesday.

Perry has routinely released his tax returns to the news media when requested since 1998.

His Republican primary opponent, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, has not yet released her returns, but her campaign has said she will do so.

via Governor’s ’08 tax return released after extension | Top stories | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

…

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s campaign for governor has promised to release her income tax returns later this week. We will update when they do.

via Kay Bailey Hutchison financial statements | Texas Politics | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

And now the other side of the cigarette tax story

Family income rule costs some Texans insurance coverage

Houston Chronicle
By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press
Aug. 24, 2007, 6:24PM
WASHINGTON – Cynthia Pacheco used to rely on a government-funded children’s health insurance program to keep her twin boys healthy. Now she relies on prayer.

Don’t look now but Dems want to raise cigarette taxes just before elections and probably say “Republicans don’t want to help children.” This is a load of BS on the highest level – don’t be fooled!

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, voted against the Senate bill, but voted for an alternative Republican bill that provides $10 billion over five years. The bill would have allowed Texas to keep $660 million in federal funds it hasn’t spent, Cornyn said.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, voted for the Senate bill, and for the alternative Republican bill that failed. All Texas House Democrats voted for the House bill, which included a cigarette tax increase to help pay for the program.

All but one of the state’s House Republicans voted against it. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, is recuperating from hip surgery and was not in the House for the vote.