June 22, 2012
Student Loan Interest Rates: Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are getting close to a deal to prevent student loan rates from doubling on July 1st, from 3.4 percent up to 6.8 percent. A deal could be announced as soon as today, although early next week seems more likely. The talks have… Read More
April 16, 2012
Congress is back in session today after a two-week break for the Easter holiday. Appropriators in both chambers will begin moving FY 2013 annual appropriations bills this week. The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday will start marking up its spending bills for FY 2013 with a goal of cutting federal spending by a little more… Read More
February 17, 2012
The Obama Administration’s FY13 budget, released on February 13, reflects a continuing commitment to increased federal investments in research and education. The budget would increase funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF); the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science and ARPA-E; and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) in the Department of Agriculture,… Read More
February 17, 2012
The House and the Senate are expected to vote on legislation that would extend a payroll tax cut through the end of the year. The legislation also would extend federal unemployment insurance benefits and prevent a cut in Medicare payments to physicians. The Senate holds a test vote on an amendment offered by Majority Leader… Read More
February 15, 2012
Congressional leaders have reached a tentative deal on a payroll tax cut, extend unemployment benefits, and delay rate cuts to doctors who treat Medicare patients. Under the proposed plan, a 2-percentage point payroll tax cut would be extended until the end of this calendar year. The cost of this tax cut would be added to… Read More
February 13, 2012
The President is scheduled to deliver his FY13 budget request to Congress later this morning, kicking off the annual budget and appropriations season. While the details of the budget have remained under wraps until today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a 2013 “Fact Sheet” on Friday revealing that the budget will include… Read More
September 15, 2011
The American Jobs Act introduced by President Obama last week and delivered to congress in full bill form this week, looks like it may carry some tax implications for UW. If passed, the bill would expand and extend the existing payroll tax reduction for employees from the already reduced rate of 4.2% to 3.1%. Would… Read More
September 9, 2011
Last night in a joint address to Congress, President Obama laid forth a $447 billion plan designed to put Americans back to work and jumpstart the struggling economy. The proposed package includes $245 billion in tax cuts, $140 billion in investments in infrastructure and local aid, and $62 billion in continued unemployment benefits. To ensure… Read More
June 30, 2011
Congressional Schedule: The House is in recess this week and the Senate is scheduled for recess next week (week of July 4th). The House has another recess scheduled for the week of July 18th, and both chambers have recess scheduled for the month on August (August 8th through September 6th). Debt Negotiations Continue: Yesterday, President… Read More
December 15, 2010
**2nd Update 12/17** The packaged has been fully approved by Congress and is heading to the President’s desk, where it will be signed this afternoon. ** Update ** Today, by a vote of 81-19, the Senate voted to pass the much discussed tax-extenders package. The bill now goes to the House for a vote. The $893 billion… Read More
