February 05, 2007
Tough Tax Talk From USTA
Just in case you missed it, the Bush administration's 2008 budget request includes the repeal of the federal excise tax on communications services. The Internal Revenue Service stopped enforcing the toll portion of the tax in 2006 after several court defeats, the U.S. Telecom Association reported.
However, the remaining provisions still apply to customers who subscribe to standalone local phone service, the trade group said. The administration estimates that the cost for the repeal is $1.2 billion over the next decade, down sharply from the $4.5 billion estimated in 2006.
USTA President Walter McCormick called the tax "regressive and outdated" and said it should be abolished immediately. He said his group plans to work with Capitol Hill and the White House to make the proposed change a reality.
Posted by Andrew at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
The Benefits Of Health IT
The new budget requests continues to tout the benefits of health information technology. Here's a quote from the budget section titled "The Nation's Fiscal Outlook":
The administration continues to promote the use of health information technology to enhance the healthcare delivery system, including the availability of price and quality information to individuals. This would allow healthcare consumers to spend their healthcare dollars more wisely, and avoid unnecessary procedures and treatments.
Posted by Danny at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Budget Buzzwords
From the highlights of the fiscal 2008 request released by the White House today:
-- Reduce the deficit and balance the budget
-- Combat terrorism and protect the homeland
-- Low taxes
-- No Child Left Behind
-- Energy security
-- Affordable health care
Posted by Danny at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Bush's Budget Message
Here are two tech-related excerpts from the preface to the fiscal 2008 budget of President Bush:
As commander in chief, my highest priority is the security of our nation. My budget invests substantial resources to fight the global war on terror and ensure our homeland is protected from those who would do us harm. We will transform our military to meet the new threats of the 21st century and provide the brave men and women on the front lines with the resources they need to be successful in this decisive ideological struggle. ... And [the budget] will continue to provide the tools necessary to keep America safe by detecting, disrupting, and dismantling terrorist plots.
To bolster public confidence in the government’s ability to manage taxpayers’ money successfully, Congress should adopt earmark reform. The earmark process should be made more transparent, ending the practice of concealing earmarks in so-called report language never included in legislation. The number and cost of earmarks should be cut by at least half by the end of this session.
What makes those comments tech-related?
-- Technology is a key aspect of fighting the war on terror, and disclosures about the electronic surveillance conducted domestically since the 2001 terrorist attacks has been one of the hottest topics of the past year. In the overview to the budget, Bush called particular attention to "high-tech screening capabilities," among other things.
-- Since the late 1990s, an increasing number of earmarks have been going to tech projects in lawmakers' states and districts. Tech Daily did an entire series on that issue in 2004, capped off by a detailed look at "tech pork."
-- The effort to bring more transparency to earmarks will include technology. Last year, Bush signed into law a bill that requires the creation of a federal budget database that is freely accessible to the public via the Internet.
Posted by Danny at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Blogging The Federal Budget
The White House released the fiscal 2008 budget today, and I'll be giving Technology Daily subscribers (and interested non-subscribers) a glimpse into the tech-related aspects here in advance of our two PM Editions about the budget. To see the numbers in perspective, check Tech Daily later today.
Posted by Danny at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
