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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Here's what's tucked in the spending bill

    Here's what's tucked in the spending bill

    By Deirdre Walsh, CNN
    updated 2:05 PM EST, Wed December 10, 2014



    We have a deal (or do we?)

    STORY HIGHLIGHTS

    • Lawmakers tucked in dozens of items to the spending bill
    • Items affect everything from financial regulations to white potatoes
    • Congress must pass bill by Thursday to avert a shutdown



    Washington (CNN) -- The Congress that has done virtually nothing for two years is wrapping up 2014 with a bang.

    Dozens of policy provisions are tucked into a nearly 1,603-page bill that will keep the government open through next September. The provisions affect everything from campaign finance laws to financial regulations, marijuana possession and even the government's purchase of white potatoes.


    The bill, which was negotiated between Democrats and Republicans over several weeks, is expected to get a vote in the House on Thursday -- right as Washington faces a deadline to avert another government shutdown.


    The provisions are notable because House Republican leaders frequently tout a transparent process. But some of the items added at the last minute to this massive funding bill were never discussed in any committee hearing, or voted on as part of any of the nearly dozen spending bills that were rolled into one package to result in the 1,603-page legislation.


    House Speaker John Boehner defended including all these so-called "policy riders" in the spending bill on Wednesday.


    "Understand all these provisions in the bill were worked out in a bi-partisan, bi-cameral fashion or they wouldn't be in the bill," Boehner said.


    Here is a quick list of some of the changes
    :


    Blocking new marijuana legalization bill in Washington, D.C.: Voters in D.C. approved a measure to decriminalize recreational marijuana use last month. But Congress has authority over the city's finances, so the bill bars the District from using any of its own money or federal funds to regulate the use of pot.


    Wealthy donors allowed to give more to political parties: The bill increases the individual limits that donors can give to national parties to help fund conventions, building funds and legal proceedings, such as recounts. The change would effectively allow rich donors to give ten times more than they can today to support political parties.

    Republicans who pushed for the change say they are substituting more private money for the taxpayer money that was collected for national political campaign committees, but instead used to fund a pediatric cancer bill that passed earlier this year.


    More wheat bread for school lunches: Republicans wanted to block new nutritional requirements for school lunches under a program championed by First Lady Michelle Obama. But instead of wiping out the rule, Republicans and Democrats agreed to give local schools more flexibility on how they decided to include whole grain items on school menus.


    The sage grouse faces uncertain future: The Fish and Wildlife Service wanted to add the sage grouse - a type of bird found in some western states - to the endangered species list, but Republicans argued that would have a negative economic fallout for energy companies developing resources in those states.


    No more taxpayer money for expensive portraits: Committee chairs and other high ranking government officials in Washington often commission large, often very pricey portraits of themselves to hang in hearing rooms. Under the bill they would need to use private money to pay for any new portraits.


    Old fashioned light bulbs still allowed: The bill blocks new energy efficient standards that would have made incandescent light bulbs obsolete. Consumers had complained about the new requirements.


    White potatoes get top billing: A new provision was added requiring that the Women, Infants and Children program that provides food assistance to low income families include fresh vegetables, and includes an explicit requirement for white potatoes.


    Truckers won't be required to get more sleep: Safety advocates wanted to require truck drivers to get a full two night's sleep before beginning their new shift on the road, but the bill blocks that requirement.


    Farmers get a reprieve from some clean water rules: The deal prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing some of its clean water act rules in some agricultural regions.


    Gitmo prisoners can't come to the United States: The bill bars money for transferring any detainees held at the facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to any prisons in the U.S.


    Banks allowed to use taxpayer money to engage in potentially risky trades: The bill rolls back a provision that was part of financial reforms for Wall Street banks. It reverses a rule that was enacted in 2010 that barred banks from using taxpayer backed funds from trading in derivatives. Democrats argue these often risky trades helped contribute to the financial collapse in 2008.


    Blocks IRS from targeting certain groups: The bill prevents any federal money to be used by the Internal Revenue Service to target any advocacy group based on their ideological leanings. This practice is already not allowed, but Republicans wanted to underline it after internal documents showed that some IRS employees targeted some groups when investigating their tax-exempt status.


    New sexual harassment training for Hill staffers: The measure requires the Chief Administrative Officer, the office that oversees the thousands of aides working on Capitol Hill, to develop an online training program focused on sexual harassment. Earlier this year, Louisiana GOP Rep Vance McAllister was caught kissing a member of his own staff.


    What the bill doesn't do:

    The bill doesn't block the president's executive action on immigration. Conservatives wanted to use the spending bill to strip away money for any agencies tasked with implementing the president's new policy. But the legislation continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security through the end of February.

    The deal doesn't roll back any major portions of Obamacare - it allows for continued funding at the current levels. Last fall the GOP's effort to defund the health care law as part of the spending bill resulted in a government shutdown, a move leaders pledged they didn't want to repeat this year.

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/10/politi...spending-bill/

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  2. #2
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    $44B giveaway? Congress prepares to extend tax breaks for horse owners, film industry and more

    By Laura Prabucki, William La Jeunesse
    Published December 10, 2014 FoxNews.com




    NOW PLAYINGSenate to consider $45B 'tax extender' bill


    While you might lose money betting on the tracks, some race horse owners are making millions -- and with the help of the U.S. tax code, they can write off the cost of their thoroughbreds.

    That's just one of 55 tax "extenders," worth up to $44 billion, currently being debated by Congress.


    The term "tax extender" is Washington-speak for typically narrow-interest tax breaks that are only authorized for a year or two. While lawmakers stress popular things like the deduction for state and local taxes, there are numerous items they don't mention -- like the break for race horses. This particular subsidy, costing taxpayers approximately $97 million, allows horse owners to write off up to 50 percent of the cost of their three-year-old horse. That's the age of horses that run in the Kentucky Derby and other high-stakes races.


    From the horse track to the race track, NASCAR owners also get a break.

    While Uncle Sam doesn't care if you repave your driveway, motor sports owners who blacktop a race track can recover the cost in just seven years.

    The price tag for the budget: $15 million.


    Meanwhile, taxpayers don't just shell out money to go see movies. They also help underwrite the cost of making them. Along with tax breaks that states often hand out to Hollywood, certain film, TV and theatrical productions are slated to get federal benefits totaling $424 million.


    The tax perks were approved by the House and now sit in the hands of the Senate. It's up to Majority Leader Harry Reid as to when they will take up the measure.


    Supporters of the tax breaks argue that they supply a needed economic boost, not just to narrow interests but businesses and families. Earlier this year, Reid, D-Nev., warned Congress not to "pull the plug" on the nation's recovery by failing to extend the tax measures. Among the more mainstream breaks is one offering a tax credit for businesses' research and development.


    The bill before the Senate technically allows filers to claim tax breaks on their 2014 returns. Lawmakers are still negotiating over potentially making some of the breaks permanent.


    But others question the provisions.


    "When you just call it tax extenders, instead of more corporate welfare, you're actually aiding and abetting Washington's addiction to providing for pet projects and pet spending," said Steve Ellis, vice president of watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense.


    Environment-conscious bikers also stand to benefit. For those in the market for an electric motorcycle, they can get up to a $2,500 tax break thanks to the Senate Finance Committee chairman. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden supports that measure and, as it turns out, two electric motorcycle manufacturers are from his state of Oregon.


    While Congress has been forbidden from including earmarks in spending bills, critics say these tax extenders are a way for them to still include their pet projects.


    "Some of these are relics, and basically Congress doesn't even think about it," Ellis said. "They just extend them all the time. These are the true survivors of the Washington policy establishment. These are the cockroaches of Washington policy."


    Another alleged "relic" deals with coal. As the Obama administration and lawmakers call for moving away from using the energy source, there are tax credits for coal mined on American Indian land -- two dollars a ton, adding up to $49 million.


    "They should just not extend this package," Ellis claimed. "Nobody should be expecting to have these handouts, and then just maybe that will create pressure to have real comprehensive reform."

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...-owners-green/

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  3. #3
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    More campaign money, wheat bread, tired truckers





    What's tucked in the spending bill

    The 1,603-page bill that will keep the government open through next September contains provisions that affect everything from campaign finance laws to how long truckers can be on the road. FULL STORY



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  4. #4
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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  5. #5
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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