Posted on 12/02/2017 11:37:17 AM PST by DoodleDawg
The GOP tax plan was passed through the Senate Friday night in a 51-49 vote. There are a number of things included in the last-minute text, including a provision by Sen. Gardner of Colorado that exempts Kombucha, a fermented tea drink, from alcoholic taxes and regulations.
Why it matters: These are small examples of what got slipped in the bill last-minute as the Senate vote neared, and reveals some of the senators' pet projects back in their home states.
Odd amendments included in the tax plan:
Sen. Orrin Hatch
Prohibit things like cash and gift cards to be given as employee achievement awards. Makes qualifying private religious school tuition deductible.
Sen. Joni Ernst
Eliminate Congress' tax deduction for living expenses in D.C. Per the Omaha World-Herald, Ernst said: "Congress should lead by example and offer up its own unnecessary tax break."
Sen. Jerry Moran
Treat Indian tribal governments as State governments for specific Federal tax purposes, and others.
Sen. Pat Toomey
Tax exemption for Hillsdale College (and only Hillsdale College) in Michigan. The small Christian college has connections to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. It was ultimately struck out of the Senate's final version of the bill.
Sen. Dan Sullivan
Exempts cruise ships from taxes while docking in Alaska.
Sen. Cory Gardner
Exempts kombucha, a fermented tea, from alcoholic beverage excise taxes and regulations. Allow deductions and credits relating to expenditures in connection with legal marijuana sales
Not hypocritical, practical. Federal funds come with unacceptable strings attached.
If you are not taking from the system it is only logical that you not be forced to pay into it.
Sen. Joni Ernst
Eliminate Congress’ tax deduction for living expenses in D.C. Per the Omaha World-Herald, Ernst said: “Congress should lead by example and offer up its own unnecessary tax break.”
Atta girl Joni!
Did it include a corporate tax cut?
That is what the children of the devil do, ask The LORD JESUS.
Yes but delayed it for a year.
Hillsdale isn’t really a “Christian” college. It’s not Liberty, for example.
The Toomey-Cruz amendment related to Hillsdale is perfectly logical. Striking it is not fair. here’s why:
The exemption is to a tax established on colleges with over 500 students and more than a certain amount in endowments. The reason for it is that if you have such a big endowment and you’re receiving Federal aid, you’re placing an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. (Why should we pay for what you’re doing if you have that yuuge endowment to pay for it?)
Hillsdale qualifies. It has a very large endowment thanks to its fights with the government and its large number of supporters. (Imprimis has over a million subscribers.)
But Hillsdale takes no government money — not even government-guaranteed student loans. So it is not placing the burden on the taxpayers that is the justification for the tax. So the amendment would exempt any college that would otherwise qualify for this endowments tax but does not take money under Title IV.
There are seven colleges in this country, of which Hillsdale is the most prominent, that do not take government money. It appears that Hillsdale is the only one of the seven that would qualify for the endowments tax.
The Toomey-Cruz amendment related to Hillsdale is perfectly logical. Striking it is not fair. here’s why:
The exemption is to a tax established on colleges with over 500 students and more than a certain amount in endowments. The reason for it is that if you have such a big endowment and you’re receiving Federal aid, you’re placing an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. (Why should we pay for what you’re doing if you have that yuuge endowment to pay for it?)
Hillsdale qualifies. It has a very large endowment thanks to its fights with the government and its large number of supporters. (Imprimis has over a million subscribers.)
But Hillsdale takes no government money — not even government-guaranteed student loans. So it is not placing the burden on the taxpayers that is the justification for the tax. So the amendment would exempt any college that would otherwise qualify for this endowments tax but does not take money under Title IV.
There are seven colleges in this country, of which Hillsdale is the most prominent, that do not take government money. It appears that Hillsdale is the only one of the seven that would qualify for the endowments tax.
I am shocked, shocked!! Democrats lie???
Hillsdale College does not take ANY Federal money.
But, especially since I learned she was stumping for Jeff Flake over his conservative challenger, I question everything she does.
So they won’t take federal funds but would take a federal tax exempt status?.....Of course. All other colleges take the exemption but Hillsdale takes no FUNDS. Would you say all Democrats get the Personal Income Tax Exemption but anyone else doesn’t? Why pick winners and personal preference losers?
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