Will the Federal Tax Rebate Make a Difference?

[Cherub]

Tax rebates are being debated in our federal "gubmint"

As to how much each person and or family gets is still not yet determined

Will the state of Michigan be helped by this?

Will business in Michigan be helped?

Will this rebate help at all?

What do you think?

[Aimee Lee]

I don't know the answer to most of your questions but in my gut I say no.
I think they are throwing a bone at a underexercised, hungry dog. That dog is the American people. I don't want the bone I want to be unleashed and given the opportunity to feed myself.

[Cherub]

Personally I believe the economy would be helped more by the feds keeping this money and paying down the debt of the government

[Harrison]

I don't believe it is going to help at all. Most people will be paying utility bills or filling their gas tank. There was such a rush on this and now it is already bogged down. We'll be lucky to all get $50 and then WE will be blamed for not boosting the economy.

[Mayday]

I think it can help those families who are struggling to make ends meet, for a very small time. Sometimes the bills are paid, but the kids may need shoes or the family needs to repair something. Do I think it will stimulate the economy...no.

[LPTaxpayer]

I think it will be a short, one-time quick spend. It's not going to help in the long run.

At the same time, Washington is talking about giving the stimulus to the oil companies and illegal aliens...while fighting whether to extend the unemployment insurance or increase food stamps.

People here legally should benefit from anything that our Federal Governemnt does. But, instead...look what they are going to try to do.

By the way...I keep thinking: If our entire country goes into a recession, what happens to Michigan (the Current One-State Recession)?

[Harrison]

Michigan gets pushed down the next rung of the ladder---depression.

[donnabird]

I dont really think it will boost the economy much but in these hard times it will certainly help me.

[Cherub]

Michigan gets pushed down the next rung of the ladder---depression.


I agree 100%

What is it people have been saying for a long time?

With the one state recession in Michigan!!!

It was said that it's only a matter of time before it spreads

"Like cancer"

[Cherub]

One of the politicians had a good point

It was mentioned how Michigan and it's industry helped this country win the wars it has

Then when Michigan needs help it looks as the rest of the country has forgotten Michigan

Interesting how things work isn't it

[Cherub]

Republicans block stimulus bill

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS and ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writers 2 hours, 6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans blocked a move by Democrats on Wednesday to add more than $40 billion in checks for the elderly, disabled veterans and the unemployed to a bill to stimulate the economy.
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The 58-41 vote fell just short of the 60 required to break a GOP filibuster and bring the Senate version of the stimulus bill closer to a final vote. The Senate measure was backed by Democrats and a handful of Republicans but was strongly opposed by GOP leaders and President Bush, who objected to the costly add-ons.
The vote left the $205 billion Senate stimulus bill in limbo and capped days of partisan infighting and procedural jockeying over the measure. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois flew to Washington for the vote. GOP front-runner John McCain of Arizona did not vote.
Supporters actually had 59 votes in favor of the Democratic proposal, but Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada switched his vote to 'no' at the last moment, a parliamentary move that allows him to bring the measure up for revote.
Republican leaders objected to add-ons such as a $14.5 billion unemployment extension for those whose benefits have run out, $1 billion in heating aid for the poor and tax breaks for renewable energy producers and coal companies.
The measure builds upon a less costly $161 billion House-passed bill providing $600-$1,200 checks to most taxpayers and tax breaks to businesses investing in new plants and equipment.
The Senate version would provide checks of $500-$1,000 to a broader group that includes 20 million older Americans, 250,000 disabled veterans and taxpayers making up to $150,000 for singles — or $300,000 for couples.
Reid denied Republicans an opportunity to offer changes to the measure, provoking the filibuster. The calculus was that enough Republicans would relent in the face of political pressure to vote for unemployment insurance and heating aid to join with Democrats to force the measure through.
"Our constituents will look at us as the folks that slowed it down, (and) added a bunch of spending to it," said Sen. Jon S. Kyl of Arizona, the Republican whip, who called the measure "a Christmas tree package."
GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he wants to amend the measure to add the provisions favoring disabled veterans and the elderly and making clear that illegal immigrants can't get rebate checks.
Reid rejected the offer — at least for the time being — but Republicans seemed confident he would eventually agree to comparable changes since the alternative would be to approve the House bill and leave retirees living on Social Security and disabled veterans without rebate checks.
The dramatic vote came after an intense lobbying effort by Democrats to convert wavering Republicans, including several facing tough re-election fights. Their efforts were getting a boost from outside groups leaning on senators to back the package, including home builders, manufacturers and the powerful seniors lobby.
GOP leaders, working to stem defections, were assuring Republicans that they would have another chance to support adding senior citizens and disabled veterans to the aid plan even if they opposed the Democrats' bill.
That wasn't enough for Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. who threw his support behind the measure during a brief floor debate.
"I made my decision on what was best for New Mexico and what's best for America," he said.
But other targets, such as Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., stuck with McConnell.
Asked Tuesday whether the administration would accept adding rebates for the elderly and disabled veterans to the stimulus measure, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson declined to say definitively, but he told the Finance Committee, "I'm sure we'll be able to work something out and get something quickly done that's broad-based."
The dispute has slowed down the stimulus measure, but there's no indication that it will delay rebate checks, which are expected to begin arriving in May. The rebates will be based on 2007 tax returns, which aren't due until April 15.

[Cherub]

Well, there goes my idea for taking all of our members out for a nice dinner:motocanaglia_uhhh:

Sorry, don't blame me, blame the Republicans:slappy::slider_usaflag1:

[astacia30]

Kudos on the question. As for my answer, no!!!!! Thanks so much for paying off one of my VISA's that I had to rack up to put gas in our cars. And after that is spent, well.......I have a couple other credit cards and a few utility bills they can work on. That being said, I looked at my bills, and as far as helping out Michigan or its businesses, it's doubtful seeing as my checks to pay off the VISA's are going out of state. Have a good night all!!!!

[beautiful_dragon]

I'd rather they kept the money and put it towards the huge national deficit or education.

[Harrison]

As long as the government keeps taking money from accounts that have it (such as Social Security) and pay for the war and other things, the deficit will never decrease. Gee, that sounds familiar on a lot of the local homefronts, too, doesn't it?

[Harrison]

Looks like the deal passed in the Senate on a 81-16 vote, includes rebate check amounts of $300 to $600 for people who have an income between $3,000 and $75,000, plus $300 per child. Couples earning up to $150,000 would get $1,200. But the plan also gives checks to more than 20 million Social Security beneficiaries and 250,000 handicapped veterans and their widows.

Bush will likely get it next week for signature. However, there is no telling, even if he signs it, when the checks will actually go out. I say this because I am reading online that the IRS is already bogged down with the last minute change in the AMT and delaying tax processing until Monday, February 11. Well, now I am reading that people are getting messages that their refunds are getting delayed even further. So, who knows....

[LPTaxpayer]

Michigan gets pushed down the next rung of the ladder---depression.

We don't really want to think about this...or we will begin to believe and move ourselves in this direction. (It's gonna get tougher and tougher in Mihcigan as the entire US...and perhals the world...begins to slip into a slowdown or recession.)