The Atlasian Almanac-Gazette (GM Update Thread)

[shua]

The Atlasian Almanac-Gazette is the official place for updates on what events and trends are happening in Atlasia.  Here, the Game Moderator will bring you stories, budget updates, figures, projections, and trends. The SoIA may also post relevant stories here per the Game Moderation Reform Act.

The Community Portal thread is the place for discussion of what you read here. This division enables new GM updates to more recognizable from the Atlas elections board.

Previous GM Update threads:
http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=17967.0
http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=28225.0
http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=39177.0
http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=97914.0
The Atlasia Dispatch-Herald (Purple State)
Red Flag (Al)
Office of the Game Moderator/Atlasian Mustelid Post Gazette (Badger)
Office of the Game Moderator/Voice of God (Yelnoc)
The Atlasia Guardian-Informer (Maroaki)

Budget Process Committee of 2010

[shua]

GM Relevant Legislation
Game Moderator Duty Clarification Act
The Game Moderator Reform Act
Amendment We Forgot to Introduce to the Game Moderator Reform Act

Major Budget Relevant Legislation

Comprehensive Social Security Reform Act
2011 Tax Code Act

Relevant RL Information Sources
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/
http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/

[shua]

Special Policy Report: The Safe Injection Site Trial Program - Hopes and Frustrations in the First Year.

Marjorie Jordan owns a grocery in a rough neighborhood in downtown Chicago.  She’s glad there aren’t as many addicts sharing needles outside the back door to her shop, and that there aren’t quite as many used needles laying in the gutter. She’s also glad to see the increased police presence in the past year around the neighborhood.  Some of here fellow business people weren’t so keen on the idea of nurses handing out free needles to “junkies.”  But it’s part of an approach that Atlasia has been testing out, in order to deal with the health effects of used needles that carry blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis C. It’s also hoped it will make these areas with high drug use a bit more livable for everyone else.

Last year, Safe Injection Sites (SIS), were set up in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, at a cost of $30 million.  These joined an already established SIS set up by the Senate in Nyman, and one set up by the Pacific in San Francisco. Those looking for a free needle and a sanitary place to shoot up have come to these facilities almost half a million times so far, and there’s no sign that demand is slowing.

Because of all the uncontrolled variables, the impact is hard to measure. How many lives saved? It depends on who you ask. 

In the past year, new cases of HIV infection decreased slightly in the vicinity surrounding the SIS sites.  Hepatitis C infection rates decreased slightly in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, but rose in Nyman and New York City in part due to a general increase in Hep C infection rates in the East Coast.   It’s not yet clear how much of the decrease in infection rates is attributable to the SIS program.  In contrast to life on the street, no fatal overdoses have occurred at the SIS sites. What happens once those users leave the sites is less certain.  Up to 85% of those who use the SIS sites also inject elsewhere under less safe conditions. 

Medics at the sites have responded to at least 23 life-threatening emergencies.  One benefit to the people in the communities is that the medics also treat non-drug related health problems, free of charge.

There has been no noticeable increase in drug related crime in the areas served by the SIS.  However, the neighborhoods where these SIS are located have been under increased police surveillance in order to discourage illegal drug dealing near the centers.

Maria Rogers is a nurse at the SIS in Crenshaw, Los Angeles. “Some times, it’s hard to watch all this. I know people who have died because they used these unsafe needles, or overdosed, so it’s important to me to do this work. I do feel like I’m saving lives. But what’s really needed is, when someone comes in here, says ‘I need help, I don’t want to live this life anymore’ what can I do?   We can give them the needles and care for their wounds, but if they want to get clean, there’s no space. They have nowhere to go.” 

[shua]

Economic News (Employment):   
Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 9.0%

Estimated Net Jobs Created since September
Northeast    30K
Mideast       38K
IDS            46K
Midwest      18K
Pacific         11K

National     143K

Regional Breakdown of Unemployment Figures

                  Jul     Aug    Sep        Nov 2011     
Northeast     7.5     7.1    7.0         7.0 %           
Mideast        7.8     7.5    7.4          7.3 %
IDS            10.4   10.6  10.4         10.3 %
Midwest       9.0     9.0    8.9          8.9 %
Pacific        10.9   10.7  10.7        10.8 %

National       9.3     9.1    9.0         9.0 %


Atlasia added a net estimated 143,000 jobs in the past two months, which seemed to be enough to keep the national unemployment at 9.0 %.  Private sector gains in the IDS, particularly in retail and construction, are ameliorating a rate kept high recently in part due to public sector losses. Hiring has slowed somewhat in the Pacific; industry cites the expiration and closure of tax credits in an already high tax environment.

[shua]

Financial Indicators

Consumer Price Index:
monthly (seasonally adjusted): +0.25%
annual: +3.4%

Currency Exchange: $1 Atlasian = $ 0.95357 World Index
($1 WI equivalent to $1 US Aug 2009)

GNP (Dec 2010-Nov 2011):  $14.67 T

Crude Oil:  $ 96.7 / barrel

Gold: $1742.50

[shua]

National and World News
Troops Return From Iraq;  Iraqis Take Over Own Security

The last of the Atlasian combat troops that had been in Iraq came home today. Hugs and tears of joy could be seen in Virginia Beach, San Diego, and across the nation.

"It's so good to be home, to see my baby girl for the first time" said Pfc Joaquin Ortega. "We were out on the other side of the world, fighting for her future. I can wonder if we did it right, did enough, but we did the best we could, and now for a I can focus on being a husband and a father."

The End to Imperialism Act, enacted in September, set an end to funding for combat troops in Iraq.  The end of dependence on Atlasian troops and Atlasian authority was appreciated by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in remarks he made last week. "Iraq is a strong nation. We have a challenge ahead of us, but it is nothing compared to what we have gone through. Today, we take full responsibility and control for our nation, our security and our progress."

One high-ranking official in the Iraqi Interior Ministry told the Almanac-Gazette "It will not be easy, for sure. Whenever there is a transition of power, there is an opportunity for chaos. It won't be as bad as when there was looting and bombing after Saddam fell. All Atlasian forces couldn't stop that. But we know our people, and when there is trouble, now Iraqis will know we're the only ones who can solve it - and so we will, God willing."

[shua]

National News
Post Office and Unions Begin Contract Renegotiations, Consider Dropping APS Health Insurance

There was widespread anxiety within the Post Office last week as the Senate passed the Atlasian Postal Reform Act (later vetoed by the President).  Postmaster General Vincent Adams admitted the Atlasian Postal Service had been caught off guard. “When the bill came to the floor, we were concerned, but we never thought it would actually pass in that version.  When we realized it would likely pass, we had to scramble to try to figure out what our actual plans would be to be in line with the law.”   

“It was a real rude wake up call, to be called on to reduce labor costs by half.” said Eric Jones, Vice-President in charge of Human Resources. “We had union leaders speak to us saying if this thing passes, they’d strike non-stop until it was repealed. They said full privatization would have been better than this. A lot of us in top management were inclined to agree.”

The United Atlasian Postal Workers and APS began talking in earnest about large scale contract negotiations.  APS wanted to make sure it still had enough workers to fill its mission, and UAPW was more than willing to work with them.

“This bill, as drastic as it looked, enabled us to talk and look at things we weren’t willing to before, because we all saw clearly what was at stake, that we had the same interest” said Adams.

The first thing they agreed on was that if the bill passed, they’d scrap the APS health insurance in favor of the Atlasian National Health Program.  “Postal employees value the APS health insurance, they’ve trusted in it for decades, so for so long this wasn’t something we could tackle” said Jones. “But when you talk about cutting billions of dollars in labor, health care is the big ticket item.  Right now if we didn’t have to worry about health care costs of employees and retirees, we wouldn’t be running a deficit. It’s not a full solution given our revenue projections, but it would get us a long way there.”

“When the bill got the veto, we were relieved, but we knew we still had a big problem to deal with” explains UAPW President Jerry Carlong. “So we said, ‘Let’s go renegotiate contracts, look at where we honestly need to cut, and see if we can get everyone behind a move to a public plan.’ But now, we see the Senate’s talking about cutting funding for the public plan, and so any deal on this is a harder sell. Who knows; it might just be back to the drawing board for us.  I hope we can manage to keep working from the same page.”

[shua]

Financial News:

After two hard weeks on Wall Street, the Atlasian National Stock Exchange (ANSE) closed today at the lowest point in the last two months, at 841.14.  ANSE was down over 20 points from the beginning of the week, and over 50 points since a sustained drop began at the end of last month.  The NASDAQ also had a hard week, closing at 7.6% below where it had been one week ago.

Daily closing figures:
ANSE:  841.14  (-15.61)
NASDAQ: 2015.19 (-24.76)

[shua]

Economic News (Employment)

Regional Breakdown of Unemployment Figures

                       Jul     Aug     Sep     Nov    Dec    2011     
Northeast     7.5      7.1     7.0        7.0      7.2 %           
Mideast        7.8      7.5      7.4        7.3     7.5%
IDS             10.4    10.6    10.4      10.3    10.1 %
Midwest       9.0      9.0      8.9        8.9      9.0 %
Pacific        10.9    10.7   10.7      10.8    10.9 %

National       9.3       9.1     9.0       9.0      9.2 %

The unemployment rate increased in the past month, with job losses mainly in the service industry.  However, many businesses are now looking to add employees and reduce work hours in response to the recently passed Productivity bill.

[shua]

Economic News:
Financial Indicators

Consumer Price Index:
monthly (seasonally adjusted): +0.47%
annual: +3.6%

Currency Exchange:$1 Atlasian = $0.90826 World Index (-0.04531/mo.)

GNP (Jan-Dec 2011):  $14.71 T

Crude Oil:  $ 92.1 / barrel

Gold: $1895.37

ANSE: 838.78  
NASDAQ:  1986.14

[shua]

Figures are posted for a reason, and may be revealing when compared to previous figures.

This thread is for stories and figures from the GM and SoIA. 
Please place comments in the community portal thread
http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=143805.0
 

[shua]

Budget Update: Part One - Revenue
(projected figures under current policy for Jan-Dec 2012, assuming steady economic conditions.)

Income Taxes:   $ 1,446.3 B
 by tax bracket
 9.5K-35K     13%          64.5 B
 35K-80K      24%        221.1 B
 80K-170K    28%        248.9 B
 170K-368K  35%        237.3 B
 368K-1M     40%        210.3 B
 1M-2.5M     50%        172.7 B
 2.5M+        60%        291.5 B

Corporate Taxes:  $ 376.2 B  
 rates
 0-50K          12%
 50-75K         23%    
 75K-100K     30%
 100K-335K    31%   
 335K-10M     33%
 10M-15M      34%
 15M+           35%    

Healthcare Taxes    $ 536.7 B
 Healthcare Payroll Tax  (CSSRA sec.4)              $ 525.2 B
     3% Jan-Mar, 4.5% Apr-Jun, 6% Jul-Aug, 6.5% Sep-Dec
 Health Insurance Tax   (ANHA sec.2c)                 $ 11.5 B

Excise Taxes   $ 46.4  B
 Gasoline Tax  (12 cents/gallon)       $ 19.1 B
 Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes      
    (39 cents/pack, plus 2% or 4% for various products)*      $ 6.4 B
 Alcohol Tax        (various rates per unit, plus 2% tax)*         $ 7.6B
 Marijuana Tax  (25% tax)           $ 13.3 B
 *(National Sin Tax Act, as amended)

Carbon Taxes  ($25/ton)    $ 140.9 B
 Domestic              $  123.6 B
 Carbon Import Tax  $  17.3 B    

Special Program Taxes  
 Plastic Bag Tax (Environmental Fund)      $ 4.9 B
 Chain Business Differential Tax (SBA Fund)  $ 32.7 B
 
Customs Duties   $ 57.6 B

Other Revenue (Sales, Earnings, Fees, Etc.)   $ 82.9 B


Total Revenue    $2,724.6 Billion

(note:  Does not include taxes for programs administered by the National Social Security Administration, which has its own budget. Tax credits are not included here and will be counted as expenditures.)

[shua]

Budget Update: Part 2A - Tax Credits

Dependent Child Tax Credit            119.2 B
Education Tax Credits             
   Higher Education                          75  B
   Elementary/Secondary                   3.4 B
Earned Income Tax Credit                50.7 B
Adoption and Foster Care Credit         1.1 B
Carbon Tax Residential Relief Credits
   Carbon Tax Electricity Credit          11.2 B
   Heating Fuel Consumption Credit     5.9 B
   Fuel Efficiency Reimbursement        3.8 B
Corporate Clean Energy Credit           2.6 B
Alternate Energy R&D Credits            3.4 B
Nuclear Waste Reprocessing Credit    2.9 B
Public Transportation Tax Credit         6.3 B
First-time Homebuyer Credit              2.8 B
Retirement Savings Credits               2.5 B
Individual Business Credits                2.2 B
Foreign Tax Credit                           17.1 B
  TOTAL                                    $ 310.2 Billion

 

[shua]

Budget Update- Part 2B Direct Spending

TOTAL Direct Spending = $ 2.840 Trillion

Military Spending ($427.3 billion)
$101.19 billion ... Military personnel
$143.52 billion ... Operation and maintenance
$72.43 billion .... Procurement
$71.73 billion .... Research, development, test and evaluation
$15.25 billion .... Military Construction, Family Housing and Other
$18.29 billion .... Atomic Energy Defense Activities
$2.89 billion ..... Defense Related activities

Afghanistan Operations ($45.25 billion)
$37.2 billion ..... Military Operations
$8.05 billion .... Reconstruction aid

Military Retirement ($123.13 billion)
$43.97 billion .... Military retirement
$38.54 billion .... Income security for veterans
$3.41 billion ...... Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation
$36.45 billion ..... Hospital and medical care for veterans and retired military
$0.76 billion ...... Housing and other veterans benefits and services

International affairs ($32.23 billion)
$13.64 billion ...... International development and humanitarian assistance
$9.47 billion ...... International military aid
$7.97 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs
$1.15 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities

General science, space, and technology ($23.97 billion)
$5.62 billion ...... National Science Foundation programs
$3.44 billion ...... Department of Energy general science programs
$14.91 billion ..... Space flight, research, and supporting activities

Non-Defense Energy Spending ($14.62 billion)
$0.73 billion ...... Energy supply
$1.03 billion ...... Energy conservation and preparedness
$0.36 billion ...... Energy information, preparedness, & regulation
$12.5 billion ...... Go Green Fund

Natural resources and environment ($36.06 billion)
$5.45 billion ..... Water resources
$9.07 billion ..... Conservation and land management
$3.12 billion ..... Recreational & Park resources
$8.42 billion ..... Pollution control and abatement
$4.9 billion ....... Environmental Fund from plastic bag tax  
$5.1 billion ....... Other natural resources

Agriculture ($18.02 billion)
$13.73 billion ..... Farm income stabilization & crop insurance
$4.29 billion ...... Agricultural research and services

Commerce and Housing Loan Programs ($6.82 billion)
$-4.28 billion ..... Federal Housing Loan Programs
$2.17 billion ...... Postal service
$-0.96 billion ..... Deposit insurance
$7.96 billion ...... Universal service fund
$1.93 billion ...... Other advancement of commerce

Transportation ($107.5 billion)
$33.13 billion ..... Highways and highway safety
$38 billion ......... High speed rail (Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act)
$8.51 billion ...... Other Mass transit
$2.81 billion ...... Railroads
$17.26 billion ..... Air Transportation
$7.37 billion ...... Water transportation
$0.42 billion ...... Other transportation

Community and regional development ($59.96 billion)
$6.25 billion ...... Community development
$8.36 billion ...... Area and regional development
$10.15 billion ...... Disaster relief and insurance
$2.5 billion ........ Homeless Shelter Emergency Housing
$32.7 billion ...... Small Business Association

Education ($103.52 billion)
$57.57 billion ..... Elementary, Secondary & Vocational education
$42.72 billion ..... Higher education
$3.23 billion ...... Research and general education

Training, labor and unemployment ($8.48 billion)
$6.88 billion ...... Training and employment
$1.6 billion ....... Labor law, statistics, and other administration

Atlasian National Healthcare ($1229.13 billion)
$299.27 billion ... IDS Community Health Partnership
$278.07 billion ... ME Community Health Partnership
$140.18 billion ... MW Community Health Partnership
$257.89 billion ... NE Community Health Partnership
$231.71 billion ... PA Community Health Partnership
$21.81 billion ..... Central Administration Costs

Non-ANH Health Spending ($37.07 billion)
$4.7 billion ....... Disease control, public health and bioterrorism
$29.36 billion ... Health research and training
$3.01 billion ..... Food safety and occupational health and safety

Civilian Retirement (Social Security excluded) ($72.02 billion)
$4.89 billion ...... Civilian retirement and disability insurance
$58.22 billion .... Federal employee retirement and disability
$8.91 billion ...... Federal employees' and retired employees' health benefits

Aid to Low-Income Families ($177.71 billion)
$63.45 billion ..... Housing assistance
$87.58 billion ..... Food stamps
$19.3 billion ...... Other nutrition programs (WIC, school lunches)
$4.8 billion ....... Child care funds
$2.58 billion ...... Other aid to low-income families

General Family Support ($25.62 billion)
$6.56 billion ...... Foster care and adoption assistance
$2.92 billion ...... Child support and family support programs
$16.14 billion ..... Social and family services

Administration of justice ($33.1 billion)
$7.25 billion ..... Federal law enforcement
$7.46 billion ..... Border security and immigration
$10.91 billion ..... Federal litigation and judicial activities
$3.26 billion ...... Federal prison system
$4.22 billion ...... Criminal justice assistance

General government administration ($17.76 billion)
$3.67 billion ...... Legislative functions
$1.14 billion ...... Executive office programs
$9.8 billion ....... IRS & other fiscal operations
$3.15 billion ...... Other general government

Interest on debt ($240.38 billion)
$240.38 billion .... Net Interest[/size]

***************************************

SUMMARY: Current Projected Figures for 2012

Direct Spending      $2,839.65 Billion
Tax Credits               $310.2  Billion
TOTAL Expenditures $3149.85 Billion

REVENUE               $2,724.6   Billion
EXPENDITURES     -$3,149.85 Billion
BALANCE                 -$ 425.25 Billion

Current Debt: $12.62 TRILLION
Projected Debt (Jan 2013): $13.05 TRILLION

(Note: Expenditure, Deficit and Debt figures do not include spending by the National Social Security administration, which has its own budget. Expenditures for some credits and programs, such as Atlasian National Healthcare, may change based on public participation.)

[shua]

Economic News: Major Drop In Unemployment Rate; Other Indicators Less Positive

January saw the unemployment rate drop from 9.2% to 8.8%, with nearly half a million jobs added. The greatest increase in jobs was in the IDS, but all regions experienced significant gains.   At the same time, the total number of hours worked in the economy decreased in response to a new law on work hours and compensation. Meanwhile, seasonally-adjusted consumer prices have increased more than one percent in the past two months.  Stock indicators increased slightly on average, but remained below November levels.  

Regional Breakdown of Unemployment Figures
                       Nov    Dec 2011   Jan 2012
Northeast           7.0      7.2      7.0%          
Mideast               7.3      7.5      7.3%    
IDS                    10.3    10.1      9.5%
Midwest              8.9      9.0      8.6%
Pacific               10.8    10.9    10.5%

National              9.0      9.2      8.8%


Consumer Price Index:
monthly (seasonally adjusted): +0.62%
annual: +4.0%

Currency Exchange: $1 Atlasian = $0.88174 World Index (-0.02652/mo.)

GNP (Feb 2011- Jan 2012):  $14.74 T

Crude Oil:  $ 93.2 / barrel

Gold: $2015.73

ANSE: 848.82  
NASDAQ:  1994.46

[shua]

National News:
Health Providers Seek Approval for Higher Costs for Non-ANHP Patients

The Atlasian Hospital Association, which represents many hospitals and other health care providers, is seeking approval from the Health Directorate for their members to raise prices for some services for patients who are not enrolled in the Atlasian National Healthcare Program.  The rationale provided is to make up for the program's reduced reimbursement for these services through the Health Spending Adjustment Act. 
Meanwhile, health insurance companies believe such a move would further lead to even more people dropping their private plans in favor of the public program, and are lobbying the Health Directorate against allowing this.

[shua]

Business/Technology News:
Solar Power Makes Important Steps

Solarna Industries announced impressive sales of its Hartzworth Cell since it's introduction two months ago.  The Hartzworth Cell is the first commercially available solar panel to reach module efficiencies of greater than 25%.

In related news, the 130 Megawatt Apollo Apache Thermal Solar Station is scheduled to open in three weeks. Located SW of Enid, Oklahoma, it will be Atlasia's largest solar plant outside the Pacific Region.

[shua]

Economic News: Employment and Financial Indicators

Regional Breakdown of Unemployment Figures
                       Nov    Dec 2011   Jan        Feb 2012
Northeast           7.0      7.2       7.0       6.9%          
Mideast               7.3      7.5       7.3       7.1%    
IDS                    10.3    10.1       9.5       9.3%
Midwest              8.9      9.0       8.6       8.5%
Pacific               10.8    10.9     10.5     10.3%

National              9.0      9.2       8.8       8.6 %


Consumer Price Index:
monthly (seasonally adjusted): +0.67%
annual: +4.4%

Currency Exchange: $1 Atlasian = $0.85742 World Index (-0.02432/mo.)

GNP (Mar 2011- Feb 2012):  $14.77 T

Crude Oil:  $ 102.68 / barrel

Gold: $2195.24

ANSE: 839.06  
NASDAQ:  1981.16

[shua]

*****************BREAKING NEWS: HOMELAND SECURITY - NUCLEAR PLOT INTERCEPTED***************




Atlasian internal security forces have arrested two suspects in connection with a plot to steal purified plutonium from a nuclear reprocessing site in eastern Nevada. While most details remain classified, the suspected plot is believed to have involved a clandestine operation to take the material as it was prepared for transport to a thermal reactor facility. Investigators are pursuing whether additional individuals or a larger terrorist organization were involved in this plot. 

It is believed at this point that the suspects were not successful in obtaining any of the plutonium.

[shua]

National News:
Nuclear Plot Suspects Identified

The two suspects apprehended in the plot to steal reprocessed plutonium have been identified as
Roman Camelton and Artur Gerganus.  Gerganus had studied Nuclear Engineering and was attempting to obtain employment at the reprocessing facility. It seems that his friend Camelton introduced Gerganus to the Atlasian Avatar Nationalist Front. 

Literature from the AANF promotes the belief that Atlasians with Avatars from outside the boundaries of Atlasia constitute a conspiratorial threat that will lead ultimately to a war between them and "true Atlasians."  Leaders from the AANF have spoken out in defense of Camelton and Gerganus' innocence, while downplaying their connections to the group.
Roger Berger, leader of AANF Nevada made a statement on his blog, saying

"These two men are upstanding individuals who have been framed by corrupt politicians. We don't have any agenda for them, they're just folks who understand what our nation is going through. And those who know us know we don't support criminality."

[shua]

May 2012 Budget Update: Part One - Revenue
(projected figures under current policy for May 2012-Apr 2013, assuming steady economic conditions.)

Income Taxes:   $ 1,466.3 B
 by tax bracket
 9.5K-35K     13%          65.8 B
 35K-80K      24%        224.2 B
 80K-170K    28%        250.1 B
 170K-368K  35%        239.8 B
 368K-1M     40%        214.7 B
 1M-2.5M     50%        175.2 B
 2.5M+        60%        296.5 B

Corporate Taxes:  $ 378.7 B  
 rates
 0-50K          12%
 50-75K         23%    
 75K-100K     30%
 100K-335K    31%   
 335K-10M     33%
 10M-15M      34%
 15M+           35%    

National Broadcaster Levy  $ 18.6 B
 Individual (0.25% > $50K)  $ 13.9 B
 Corporate (0.5% > $350K) $ 4.7 B

Healthcare Taxes    $ 697.7 B
 Healthcare Payroll Tax  (CSSRA sec.4)              $ 687.4 B
     4.5% Apr-Jun 2012, 6% Jul-Aug 2012, 6.5% Sep-Dec 2012, 2013
 Health Insurance Tax   (ANHA sec.2c)                 $ 10.3 B

Excise Taxes   $ 49.6  B
 Gasoline Tax  (12 cents/gallon)       $ 19.2 B
 Tobacco Taxes      
    ($1/pack, plus 2% or 4% for various products)*      $ 14.1 B
 Alcohol Tax        (various rates per unit, plus 2% tax)*         $ 7.6B
 Marijuana Tax  ($1/pack cigarettes plus 10% on all products)*          $ 8.7 B
 *(National Sin Tax Act, as amended, and Consolidated Marijuana Regulation Act),

Carbon Taxes  ($25-30/ton)    $ 152.7 B
 Domestic              $  133.6 B
 Carbon Import Tax  $  19.1 B    


Special Program Taxes  
 Plastic Bag Tax (Environmental Fund)      $ 4.9 B
 Chain Business Differential Tax (SBA Fund)  $ 33.1 B
Oil Spill Protection Tax (5% on profits > $1B) $7.2 B
Electrical Power Transmission Network Tax (0.65 c/kW-h) $23.6 B

Customs Duties   $ 58.2 B

Other Revenue (Sales, Earnings, Fees, Etc.)   $ 83.4 B


Total Revenue    $2,974 Billion

(note:  Does not include taxes for programs administered by the National Social Security Administration, which has its own budget. Tax credits are not included here and will be counted as expenditures.)

[shua]

Budget Update: Part 2A - Tax Credits

Dependent Child Tax Credit            120.8 B
Education Tax Credits             
   Higher Education                          75  B
   Elementary/Secondary                   3.5 B
Earned Income Tax Credit                51.3 B
Adoption and Foster Care Credit         1.1 B
Carbon Tax Residential Relief Credits
   Carbon Tax Electricity Credit          11.6 B
   Heating Fuel Consumption Credit     6.2 B
   Fuel Efficiency Reimbursement        4.1 B
Corporate Clean Energy Credit           2.7 B
Alternate Energy R&D Credits            3.4 B
Nuclear Waste Reprocessing Credit    2.9 B
Public Transportation Tax Credit         6.4 B
First-time Homebuyer Credit              2.8 B
Retirement Savings Credits               2.5 B
Individual Business Credits                2.2 B
Foreign Tax Credit                           17.1 B
  TOTAL                                    $ 313.6 Billion

[shua]

May 2012 Budget Update- Part 2B Direct Spending

TOTAL Direct Spending = $ 2.9037 Trillion

Military Spending ($437.11 billion)
$104.23 billion ... Military personnel
$149.98 billion ... Operation and maintenance
$73.46 billion .... Procurement
$72.77 billion .... Research, development, test and evaluation
$15.39 billion .... Military Construction, Family Housing and Other
$18.39 billion .... Atomic Energy Defense Activities
$2.89 billion ..... Defense Related activities

Military Retirement ($124.52 billion)
$44.57 billion .... Military retirement
$38.94 billion .... Income security for veterans
$3.49 billion ...... Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation
$36.75 billion ..... Hospital and medical care for veterans and retired military
$0.77 billion ...... Housing and other veterans benefits and services

International affairs ($35.34 billion)
$16.44 billion ...... International development and humanitarian assistance
$9.69 billion ...... International military aid
$8.05 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs
$1.16 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities

General science, space, and technology ($23.97 billion)
$5.62 billion ...... National Science Foundation programs
$3.44 billion ...... Department of Energy general science programs
$14.91 billion ..... Space flight, research, and supporting activities

Non-Defense Energy Spending ($52.12 billion)
$0.73 billion ...... Energy supply
$1.03 billion ...... Energy conservation and preparedness
$0.36 billion ...... Energy information, preparedness, & regulation
$12.5 billion ...... Go Green Fund
$10 billion ......... Coverage and Rate Protection (Electricity Fairness Act)
$25 billion ......... Smart Grid development
$2.5 billion ........ Nulcear power safety

Natural resources and environment ($43.26 billion)
$5.45 billion ..... Water resources
$9.07 billion ..... Conservation and land management
$3.12 billion ..... Recreational & Park resources
$8.42 billion ..... Pollution control and abatement
$4.9 billion ....... Environmental Fund from plastic bag tax  
$7.2 billion ....... Oil Spill Protection Fund
$5.1 billion ....... Other natural resources

Agriculture ($18.02 billion)
$13.73 billion ..... Farm income stabilization & crop insurance
$4.29 billion ...... Agricultural research and services

Commerce and Housing Loan Programs ($6.82 billion)
$-4.28 billion ..... Federal Housing Loan Programs
$2.17 billion ...... Postal service
$-0.96 billion ..... Deposit insurance
$7.96 billion ...... Universal service fund
$1.93 billion ...... Other advancement of commerce

Transportation ($90 billion)
$33.13 billion ..... Highways and highway safety
$20.5 billion ......... High speed rail (Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act)
$8.51 billion ...... Other Mass transit
$2.81 billion ...... Railroads
$17.26 billion ..... Air Transportation
$7.37 billion ...... Water transportation
$0.42 billion ...... Other transportation

Community and regional development ($59.96 billion)
$6.25 billion ...... Community development
$8.36 billion ...... Area and regional development
$10.15 billion ...... Disaster relief and insurance
$2.5 billion ........ Homeless Shelter Emergency Housing
$32.7 billion ...... Small Business Association

Education ($104.56 billion)
$57.57 billion ..... Elementary, Secondary & Vocational education
$43.76 billion ..... Higher education
$3.23 billion ...... Research and general education

Training, labor and unemployment ($8.48 billion)
$6.88 billion ...... Training and employment
$1.6 billion ........ Labor law, statistics, and other administration

Atlasian National Broadcaster ($11.49 billion)
$5.67 billion ...... Television
$1.68 billion ...... Radio
$4.14 billion ...... General administration and development

Atlasian National Healthcare ($1277.23 billion)
$311.28 billion ... IDS Community Health Partnership
$285.13 billion ... ME Community Health Partnership
$147.22 billion ... MW Community Health Partnership
$269.91 billion ... NE Community Health Partnership
$241.78 billion ... PA Community Health Partnership
$21.91 billion ..... Central Administration Costs

Non-ANH Health Spending ($38.85 billion)
$4.7 billion ....... Disease control, public health and bioterrorism
$29.36 billion ... Health research and training
$3.01 billion ..... Food safety and occupational health and safety
$1.78 billion ..... Drug abuse treatment (Consolidated Marijuana Regulation Act)

Civilian Retirement (Social Security excluded) ($73.05 billion)
$5.12 billion ...... Civilian retirement and disability insurance
$58.72 billion .... Federal employee retirement and disability
$9.21 billion ...... Federal employees' and retired employees' health benefits

Aid to Low-Income Families ($177.71 billion)
$63.45 billion ..... Housing assistance
$87.58 billion ..... Food stamps
$19.3 billion ...... Other nutrition programs (WIC, school lunches)
$4.8 billion ....... Child care funds
$2.58 billion ...... Other aid to low-income families

General Family Support ($25.62 billion)
$6.56 billion ...... Foster care and adoption assistance
$2.92 billion ...... Child support and family support programs
$16.14 billion ..... Social and family services

Administration of justice ($33.1 billion)
$7.25 billion ..... Federal law enforcement
$7.46 billion ..... Border security and immigration
$10.91 billion ..... Federal litigation and judicial activities
$3.26 billion ...... Federal prison system
$4.22 billion ...... Criminal justice assistance

General government administration ($17.76 billion)
$3.67 billion ...... Legislative functions
$1.14 billion ...... Executive office programs
$9.8 billion ....... IRS & other fiscal operations
$3.15 billion ...... Other general government

Interest on debt ($244.73 billion)
$244.73 billion .... Net Interest

***************************************

SUMMARY: Current Projected Figures for 2012

Direct Spending      $2,903.7 Billion
Tax Credits               $313.6  Billion
TOTAL Expenditures $3217.3 Billion

REVENUE               $2,974  Billion
EXPENDITURES     -$3,217.3 Billion
BALANCE                 -$ 243.3 Billion

Current Debt: $12.89 TRILLION
Projected Debt (May 2013): $13.13 TRILLION

(Note: Expenditure, Deficit and Debt figures do not include spending by the National Social Security administration, which has its own budget. Expenditures for some credits and programs, such as Atlasian National Healthcare, may change based on public participation.)

[shua]

National News:
More Taxes, More Spending, Smaller Deficit

The Gm has release its budget projections for the year May 2012-Apr 2013. Budget projections show a significant reduction in the deficit, at $243.3 billion, down from $425.25 at the beginning of the year.  While spending has increased so far in 2012, revenue has increased even more.

Part of the increase in revenues is due to growth in the economy. However, most of this increase is due to new taxes and the implementation of higher rates.  The largest factor was a scheduled increase in the healthcare payroll tax, which stood at 3% at the beginning of the year, is currently 4.5%, and will increase to 6.5% by the year's end. The carbon tax is also scheduled to increase from $25/ton to $30/ton in 2013. 

Other new taxes include the Atlasian National Broadcaster Levy received from mid-to-upper income taxpayers, an environmental protection tax upon oil companies, and a tax upon electrical companies dedicated to the establishment of a smart grid.  Tobacco and marijuana cigarette taxes were changed to both be $1/ pack.

Spending also increased due to greater participation in the national healthcare program, new expenditures, and inflation.  As the mission in Afghanistan winds down, the budgetary impact there is smaller and has been subsumed under general military and international spending.

Under current policy, it is projected that the budget deficit for 2013 would continue to decrease to about $175 billion, assuming continuous conditions.

[shua]

Economic News: Employment and Financial Indicators

Regional Breakdown of Unemployment Figures
                       Nov    Dec 2011   Jan      Feb     Mar     Apr   2012
Northeast           7.0      7.2       7.0       6.9      6.8      6.7%          
Mideast               7.3      7.5       7.3       7.1      7.0     6.9%
IDS                    10.3    10.1       9.5       9.3      9.1     8.8%
Midwest              8.9      9.0       8.6       8.5      8.4      8.3%
Pacific               10.8    10.9     10.5     10.3    10.1     9.9%

National              9.0      9.2       8.8       8.6       8.4      8.3%


Consumer Price Index:
monthly (seasonally adjusted): +0.49%
annual: +5.1%

Currency Exchange: $1 Atlasian = $0.89767 World Index (+0.01912/mo.)*

GNP (May 2011- Apr 2012):  $14.81 T

Crude Oil:  $ 104.12 / barrel

Gold: $2306.79

ANSE: 843.18  
NASDAQ:  2066.34

*edit