Opinion-Editorial
Californians would bear the brunt of higher taxes on middle-class homeowners under a White House panel's plan to severely curb mortgage interest deductions.
The nine-member President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform recommended limiting the mortgage deduction as part of a proposal ostensibly designed to streamline the current income tax code.
It is not fair to pile a bigger tax load on the backs of middle-class homeowners in the San Fernando Valley in order to preserve tax breaks President Bush has given to the wealthiest Americans.
Beginning next January 1, Medicare will provide optional prescription drug coverage (œPart D) for Medicare beneficiaries. This voluntary program replaces the current temporary œdrug discount card. You have from November 15, 2005 to May 15, 2006 to decide whether to join the new prescription drug program.
For many people in the San Fernando Valley, Hurricane Katrina brought back memories of the 6.8 earthquake that struck Northridge at 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994.
Like Katrina, the quake was one of the worst natural disasters in our nation’s history. Like the storm victims along the Gulf Coast, people in the Valley experienced an outpouring of support from all across America. Unlike Katrina, there was a quick, coordinated, effective response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Cars have shaped our California culture. Drive-in restaurants, drive-through banks, and even drive-in churches started here. The flip side of our car culture is that we dont take a back seat to anyone when it comes to traffic congestion. But help is on the way.
After years of legislative gridlock, Congress approved a transportation bill that will both improve the flow of traffic on our freeways and surface streets and help the environment.
Security was stepped up on the Los Angeles bus system, the nations second largest, and on our subways after suicide bombers murdered more than 50 commuters on London subway trains and a bus.
On the day the blasts rocked London and sent shock waves around the world, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was awakened before dawn. He swiftly ordered extra security measures. After that decisive response during one of his first days in office, the mayor then took a ride on an LA subway to demonstrate that we cannot allow terrorists to limit our freedoms.
The number-one concern of Americas parents is the quality of education that their children receive. That is why Ive been working with others in Congress on initiatives to strengthen our schools and expand educational opportunities.
The Bush administration continues its efforts to persuade Americans to support its plan to partially privatize Social Security. The president has spoken frequently about the "crisis" facing Social Security some 50 years from now. Yet, he refuses to address the two most troubling aspects of his plan that would present real problems long before 2052 -- benefit cuts and massive borrowing.
The U.S. Census Bureau has come to the long-overdue conclusion that the San Fernando Valley has a distinct character. The director has informed me that by next summer the bureau will compile a special report on our region.
Census Bureau Director Charles Louis Kincannon told me a special report will be prepared in the summer of 2006 that will include a œone-time special tabulation.
The Census Bureau director had wanted to wait until the next decade to report on the Valleys population and economic data, but I persuaded him to speed up the process.
Lost amid the furor over our readiness for natural disasters, the political posturing over Supreme Court nominations, and the continuing bloodshed in Iraq, is an obscure œFinancial Page item that nonetheless could have profound consequences for our nation in years to come and should not be overlooked. Wal-Mart, the worlds largest corporation, is attempting to charter a bank.
Ben Franklin famously said: œIn this world, nothing is certain, except death and taxes. While paying taxes can be painful enough, it is certainly the more preferable of the two options.