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Fiscal Cliff

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Do You Like the Fiscal Cliff Deal?

The agreement reached between the White House and Congress doesn't address spending cuts and leaves another potential debt limit showdown on the table. It also increases taxes on income over $400,000. Is this a deal that works for you?

After a marathon holiday negotiation session, after grumbling by liberal senators and after a near-revolt by conservative representatives, the fiscal cliff deal was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives late Tuesday night.  The bargain will increase taxes on income above $450,000 for families, increase capital gains taxes, permanently fix the alternative minimum tax, change the estate tax and provide some changes in deductions. It also will extend unemployment benefits, earned income tax credits and other tax breaks for the working class. The Washington Post has a cheat sheet with all of the details. Middle class taxpayers will still see a smaller paycheck in 2013; The payroll tax cut was not preserved as part of the fiscal cliff …

Molly

2:35 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013

Yes, Obama is giving away the store AFTER he ROBBED it!!! Not fair for a small percentage to have to pay for the mess that him and the whole country got into... You wouldn't mind if it was to fix the deficit but it won't. Just the beginning of the Communist country we are becoming. Anyone that is successful be ready in the years to come to hand over more than half your paycheck while you stand …   more ›

Friday, December 7, 2012

Governor Proposes Cuts to Deal with 'Fiscal Cliff', Arciero Urges Patience

Patrick announced the budget adjustments Tuesday.

In anticipation of the “fiscal cliff” combined with projected tax revenues that are more than half a billion dollars lower than previously expected, Gov. Deval Patrick released a revised budget designed to deal with the gap Tuesday.  “The uncertainty of the fiscal cliff and the resulting slow down in growth, is the direct cause of our budget challenges,” Patrick said. “Congress and the President must come to terms on a solution so the private sector will continue to make the kind of investments that create jobs, grow state and federal tax revenue collections and contribute to a lasting economic recovery." The state is now expecting to bring in roughly 21.5 billion in tax revenue, and Patrick's plan to bridge the gap between this amount and…

Friday, November 30, 2012

The Fiscal Cliff: What Deal Would You Cut?

Massachusetts Democrats in Congress want to avoid cuts in benefits as part of any deal, but proposals such as raising the eligibility age for Medicare are still on the table. What would you do?

As Congress negotiates a deal to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 1, Massachusetts' congressional representatives have voiced their opposition to any cuts in benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the Boston Globe reports. However, there are proposals still on the table that would change those benefit programs, including linking Social Security benefits to a more conservative inflation index that would slightly reduce annual increases, or raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. The Globe reported that while the Bay State's legislators were united against changes to Social Security, there's some wiggle room on Medicare. Rep. Ed Markey opposes raising the Medicare eligibility age; Rep. Michael …

Nick

7:20 pm on Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year, North Reading residents have their own fiscal cliff, take a look at your property tax bill. More tax increases and no plans to reduce the cost government. We have fortune 500 companies in town that pay the same tax rate as residents, it doesn't make any sense. How can the town continue to fund public employee's pension and retirement. Why are we funding their pension at a time …   more ›

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