MA: Mideast Budget 2012 (Debating)

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

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Sponsor: ZuWo

[HappyWarrior]

I'd suggest to make up for some of the budget shortfalls maybe bringing the beer tax up to at least even with the wine tax, not to say it will help entirely but it seems like at least something that may help a bit without being too burdensome.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I'd suggest to make up for some of the budget shortfalls maybe bringing the beer tax up to at least even with the wine tax, not to say it will help entirely but it seems like at least something that may help a bit without being too burdensome.

This is understandable. I'd support such an amendment most likely.

As for the budget, Governor ZuWo sent it to me to look at before I was elected and I told him what we've got here is better than nothing and works for this point in time.

[California8429]

I'd suggest to make up for some of the budget shortfalls maybe bringing the beer tax up to at least even with the wine tax, not to say it will help entirely but it seems like at least something that may help a bit without being too burdensome.

This is understandable. I'd support such an amendment most likely.

As for the budget, Governor ZuWo sent it to me to look at before I was elected and I told him what we've got here is better than nothing and works for this point in time.

You write up a budget then -_-

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I did while in the Senate and it went down hard

[California8429]

Can we get in HW's amendment? That along with the buying liquor on Sunday will help and then we can see how much more we need to cut or increase in taxes.

[ZuWo]

I'm wary of raising taxes but can agree on a tax hike if it's necessary (I just fear the vengeance of the beer drinkers ).
However, we should also look into spending cuts in order to balance the budget. The education, for example, is by far the biggest part of the budget. Even if it's not a popular thing to do, we might have to consider spending cuts in this area as well.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

What about adding a tax on pensions and getting a toll road system going to offset the transportation budget (which is also pretty high)?

[Grumpier Than Thou]

What about adding a tax on pensions and getting a toll road system going to offset the transportation budget (which is also pretty high)?

Or maybe we could make cuts in the future?

[California8429]

I'm wary of raising taxes but can agree on a tax hike if it's necessary (I just fear the vengeance of the beer drinkers ).
However, we should also look into spending cuts in order to balance the budget. The education, for example, is by far the biggest part of the budget. Even if it's not a popular thing to do, we might have to consider spending cuts in this area as well.

It's not a tax hike when I made up arbitrary tax rates Badger calculated RL spending of all the states together and education is really the only one we hit on the mark. Then again, this is Atlasian life and we can only assume our teacher's are the best in the world already

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I'd suggest to make up for some of the budget shortfalls maybe bringing the beer tax up to at least even with the wine tax, not to say it will help entirely but it seems like at least something that may help a bit without being too burdensome.

This is understandable. I'd support such an amendment most likely.

As for the budget, Governor ZuWo sent it to me to look at before I was elected and I told him what we've got here is better than nothing and works for this point in time.

I would probably agree with both of you.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I like the sound of a lot of these proposals.  I would support a toll road system and possibly an increase in the beer tax, although I don't like tax increases.  Just as long as we're not raising taxes on businesses or business owners.

[California8429]

I like the sound of a lot of these proposals.  I would support a toll road system and possibly an increase in the beer tax, although I don't like tax increases.  Just as long as we're not raising taxes on businesses or business owners.

Again, we are setting a tax rate here, not actually raising existing tax rates so there's lots of potential here since there aren't any taxes that will really be cut or raised by the budget to effect the population in that area. Of course taxes will effect people, but it will not be a change in taxes.

[HappyWarrior]

My Amendment

Mideast Budget 2012

Revenue:

Revenue: Amount
Income Taxes: $35.3 B
Social Insurance Taxes: $24.4 B
"Ad Valorum" Taxes: $108.5 B
Fees: $43.3 B
Business and Other: $70.5 B
TOTAL: $282 B


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Total Budget: $314.01 billion
Spending ($232.71 billion)

*(No change) does NOT denote changing in spending levels from RL to this budget. It's really there for the next budget so we can copy this first budget, change the numbers, and then off to the side put the positive/negative change since the preceeding budget.

Energy ($5.75  billion)
$3 Billion ...... Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record, are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives, push for energy efficiency and/or have an approved plan to do so.
$1 Billion  ...... Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion  ...... Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$0.5 Billion  ...... Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$0.25 Billion  ...... Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy)

Natural resources and environment ($5.21 billion)
$2.61 billion ...... Water resources (No Change)
$0.57 billion ...... Conservation and land management (No Change)
$0.42 billion ...... Recreational & Park resources (No Change)
$1.11 billion ...... Pollution control and abatement (No Change)
$0.5 billion ....... Other natural resources (No Change)

Agriculture ($4.04 billion)
$2.95 billion ..... Farm income stabilization & crop insurance (No Change)
$1.09 billion ...... Agricultural research and services (No Change)

Commerce and Housing Loan Programs ($1.95 billion)
$0.34 billion ..... Housing Loan Programs (No Change)
$0.02 billion ..... Deposit insurance (No Change)
$1.36 billion ...... Universal service fund (No Change)
$0.23 billion ...... Other advancement of commerce (No Change)

Transportation ($23.25 billion)
$9.00 billion ..... Highways and highway safety (No Change)
$4.00 billion ...... Mass transit (No Change)
$0.25 billion ...... Railroads (No Change)
$2.05 billion ..... Air Transportation (No Change)
$1.05 billion ...... Water transportation (No Change)
$0.45 billion ...... Other transportation (No Change)
$6.45 billion ..... Non-Highway Roads (No Change)

Community and regional development ($4.39 billion)
$2.50 billion ...... Community development (No Change)
$0.96 billion ...... Area and regional development (No Change)
$0.93 billion ...... Disaster relief and insurance (No Change)

Education ($69.32 billion)
$41.32 billion ..... Elementary, Secondary & Vocational education (No Change)
$20.00 billion ..... Higher education (No Change)
$8.00 billion ...... Research and general education (No Change)

Training, labor and unemployment ($9.37 billion)
$4.34 billion ...... Training and employment (No Change)
$0.2 billion ....... Labor law, statistics, and other administration (No Change)
$4.83 billion ..... Unemployment compensation (No Change)

Health Spending ($14.08 billion)
$2.23 billion ...... Substance abuse and mental health services (No Change)
$0.70 billion ....... Disease control, public health and bioterrorism (No Change)
$8.45 billion ..... Health research and training (No Change)
$1.50 billion ...... Food safety and occupational health and safety (No Change)
$0.20 billion ..... Other health care services (No Change)
$1.00 billion ...... Health care fraud (No Change)

Civilian Retirement ($41.50 billion)
$1.0 billion ...... Civilian retirement and disability insurance (No Change)
$29.50 billion ..... Mideast employee retirement and disability (No Change)
$11.00 billion ...... Mideast employees' and retired employees' health benefits (No Change)

Aid to Low-Income Families ($25.00 billion)
$6.01 billion ..... Housing assistance (No Change)
$4.33 billion ..... Food stamps (No Change)
$2.3 billion ...... Other nutrition programs (WIC, school lunches) (No Change)
$3.33 billion ..... Family support payments (TANF) (No Change)
$7.01 billion ..... Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) (No Change)
$0.85 billion ..... Child tax credit (No Change)
$0.99 billion ....... Child care funds (No Change)
$0.18 billion ...... Other aid to low-income families (No Change)

General Family Support ($5.39 billion)
$1.32 billion ...... Foster care and adoption assistance (No Change)
$0.33 billion ...... Child support and family support programs (No Change)
$3.74 billion ..... Social and family services (No Change)

Administration of justice ($20.45 billion)
$11.35 billion ..... Regional law enforcement and security (No Change)
$5.21 billion ..... Regional litigation and judicial activities (No Change)
$2.89 billion ...... Regional prison system (No Change)
$1.00 billion ...... Criminal justice assistance (No Change)

General government administration ($3.01 billion)
$0.31 billion ...... Legislative functions (No Change)
$0.10 billion ...... Executive office programs (No Change)
$2.05 billion ....... Fiscal operations (No Change)
$0.55 billion ...... Other general government (No Change)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tax Expenditures and Tax Cuts ($81.3 billion)

Corporate Tax Breaks ($11.03 billion)
$7.00 billion ...... R&D Tax Breaks (No Change)
$1.01 billion ...... Energy, Mining and Timber Tax Breaks (No Change)
$2.03 billion ...... Tax Free Bonds (No Change)
$0.99 billion ..... Other Corporate Tax Breaks (No Change)

Personal Business & Investment Benefits ($4.69 billion)
$3.80 billion ..... Tax-Free Bonds (No Change)
$0.56 billion ...... Enterprise & Empowerment Zones and New Markets credit (No Change)
$0.33 billion ....... Other personal investment tax breaks (No Change)

Pension & Retirement Deductions ($26.08 billion)
$10.05 billion ..... Employer-paid Pensions (No Change)
$7.05 billion ..... 401Ks & Keogh plans (No Change)
$1.50 billion ...... IRAs (No Change)
$6.62 billion ..... Group and personal life insurance benefits (No Change)
$0.86 billion ...... Other retirement benefits (No Change)

Health Insurance Tax Benefits ($12.14 billion)
$5.30 billion .... Employer-paid Health Insurance (No Change)
$1.03 billion ...... Self-employed medical insurance premiums (No Change)
$4.70 billion ...... Medical Savings/Health Savings Accounts (No Change)
$1.11 billion ...... Deductibility of medical expenses (No Change)

Housing tax benefits ($12.93 billion)
$5.50 billion ..... Mortgage Interest (No Change)
$3.01 billion ..... Deductibility of property taxes on homes (No Change)
$3.51 billion ..... Exclusion of net imputed rental income on owner-occupied homes (No Change)
$0.91 billion ...... Housing bonds & low-income housing investments (No Change)

Other individual deductions and exemptions ($14.43 billion)
$3.62 billion ..... Charitable contributions (No Change)
$1.91 billion ..... Local taxes (w/o home property) (No Change)
$0.56 billion ...... Workmen's compensation (No Change)
$3.33 billion ..... Education deductions and credits (No Change)
$1.31 billion ..... Child credit (No Change)
$1.38 billion ...... Child care credits and deductions (No Change)
$0.46 billion ......... Deduction for the blind and elderly (No Change)
$0.41 billion ...... Employee parking and transit expenses (No Change)
$0.35 billion ...... Adoption and foster care tax credits (No Change)
$0.80 billion ...... Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)- revenue loss component (No Change)
$0.30 billion ...... Other fringe benefits (No Change)
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Income Tax Rate:
0%    $0 - $13,000
1%    $13,001 - $40,000
1.5%    $40,001 - $100,000
2.2%    $100,001 - $180,000
2.7%    $180,001 - $300,000
3.25%    $300,001 - $750,000
4%    $750,001 - $2,750,000
5%    $2,750,001- $9,999,999
6.5%   $10,000,000+

Corporate Tax Rate:
0%    $0 - $50,000
0.5%    $50,001 - $75,000
1%    $75,001 - $125,000
1.5%    $125,001 - $350,000
2%    $350,001 - $1,000,000
2.5%    $1,000,001 - $10,000,000
3.25%    $10,000,001 - $20,000,000
4%    $20,000,001-$70,000,000
5%   $70,000,001+

Sales Tax Rate: 5.7% (Groceries, prescription drugs exempt)

Excise Taxes:

Gas: 7 cents/gallon (10 cents/gallon for diesel).

Cigarettes: $1.60 per pack.
Other Tobacco Products: 55% Manufactures Price
Distilled Spirits: $2.70 per gallon
Wine: $0.30 per gallon
Beer: $0.20$0.30 per gallon
Marijuana: 25% sales tax

Projected Deficit: $32.01 B

[California8429]

Also is there any data we can get from the GM that shows the optimal marijuana tax where we will make the most revenue without users moving back to a black market and pay no taxes?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I propose the following amendment:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

As for the pension tax, that will be in a non-budget bill.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Also is there any data we can get from the GM that shows the optimal marijuana tax where we will make the most revenue without users moving back to a black market and pay no taxes?

I don't know any reliable way to figure that that, but my guess is that if you add the 25% tax in this budget to the 10% national tax, you are coming pretty close to it.

[ZuWo]

I suppot the beer tax amendment, if only to make sure wine and beer are treated equally.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I suppot the beer tax amendment, if only to make sure wine and beer are treated equally.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I support the beer tax amendment too, and I agree with Governor ZuWo that they should be equally taxed because I can't see much difference that would merit a different race for beer and wine.

[HappyWarrior]

I propose the following amendment:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

As for the pension tax, that will be in a non-budget bill.

Isn't that the same as the one I proposed before?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I propose the following amendment:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

As for the pension tax, that will be in a non-budget bill.

Isn't that the same as the one I proposed before?

My apologies.  I did not see that.

Voting on HappyWarrior's amendment will now begin.  Members will vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.  This  will be a 24-hour vote.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

AYE

[HappyWarrior]

AYE

[California8429]

AYE