Congressmen Robin Hayes Votes For Economic Stimulus Package

January 29, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Robin Hayes (NC-8) today voted to pump more money into the economy and stimulate growth and investment.  The House of Representatives passed the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. 

  

“This legislation works to stimulate our economy in two ways – putting more money into the hands of our working families and providing business incentives to invest in new equipment and construction,” said Hayes.  “I was strongly advocating that a provision directed at rural economies be added, and I am disappointed that it wasn’t.  However, I think this bill is a good step forward.”

Summary of the House Economic Stimulus Package

I.  Tax Relief for American Families: 

Rebate Checks: The economic growth package will include rebate checks in the sum of two separate calculations, with an overall phase-out for those with adjusted gross incomes above $75,000 for a single taxpayer and $150,000 for married couples.  Rebate checks will include a base amount determined by the greater of two options: (a) Income tax paid in 2007, with a maximum of $600 for a single taxpayer and $1,200 for married couples; or (b) $300 for an individual and $600 for a married couple, provided the individual or couple earned income of at least $3,000 in 2007. 

A children’s bonus also will be included in the rebate check calculation.  Anyone qualifying for the base amount also receives an additional $300 per child, with no cap on the number of children. 

II. Promoting Investment: 

Bonus Depreciation: The economic growth package will provide for a 50 percent bonus deduction on new equipment in the year it is placed in service, with certain exceptions for equipment with a “long life.”  This temporary tax cut offers significant savings on new property with a depreciation period of 20 years or less.  This will give employers – particularly small businesses – greater incentive to invest and create jobs for more Americans searching for work.  The temporary bonus depreciation, coupled with expensing measures enacted in May 2003, resulted in a four percent increase in business spending in the first six months alone. 

Section 179 Expensing This provision allows employers, including small businesses, to fully expense $250,000 in both new and used tangible property in the year it is purchased up to an overall investment limit of $750,000.  This will provide a particularly strong incentive for small companies to invest in their businesses so they can continue to provide good-paying jobs for the American people. 

Increase in Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE)/Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Conforming Loan Limit: The conforming loan limits for both FHA and GSE (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) loans would be increased from $362,000 to $725,000 and from $417,000 to $625,000 respectively. 

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130 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515  ·  137 Union Street South, Concord, NC 28025

Posted by Chairman | Filed Under National News 

Union County Republican Headquarters

January 22, 2008

Union County Republican Party Secures New Headquarters

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The Union County Republican party has secured a new headquarters located at 100 Myers St., Suite C, Monroe, NC (on the corner of Myers and Skyway Dr., next to Mills Cleaners).

A “Grand Opening Event” will be March 1st beginning at 12:00 Noon. See detailed announcement in Events section. Please join us to celebrate and familiarize Republicans with our new home during the 2008 Campaign cycle.

If anyone is interested in volunteering their time to work during the campaiign year, please contact Frank Feldmann at (704) 907-4656 or 1gopwebmail@earthlink.net .

We are also in need of various office fixtures including furniture, computers and equipment in good condition.  If you would like to donate or laon such items, please let us know.

Republican Party Headquarters

704-225-9454

Hours:

Mon-Wed-Fri - 12:00 – 5:00 PM

Sat – 10:00 – 2:00 PM

Posted by Webeditor | Filed Under General 

Coalition Will Continue To Press Jessica’s Law

January 21, 2008

The “coalition for Jessica’s law ‘has various rallies planned through-out North Carolina. The first rally in Weddington was very successful. Our goal is to educate the public on crimes being committed on children throughout North Carolina such as rape and molestation. We feel as though once the public is made aware of these horrendous crimes being committed on our children that in turn the public will demand passage of “Jessica’s Law For NC” which will require a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison for people convicted of rape or molesting children under 13 years old as well as wearing a global position device for life if released after 25 years.
North Carolina is one of only a few states that has not signed into law any form of “Jessica’s Law.” You would think our state would be among the first since Jessica Lundsford was born in Gastonia.
This will be a challenge that our coalition will not give up on until this bill is signed into law. Although we have received many many letters of encouragement and support from all parts of North Carolina surprisingly not everyone is in favor of passage. I would like to share a letter we received from an individual who apparently just doesn’t get it. This letter is an example of what we face in our efforts, though I assure you we are strong and will not give up our efforts until all N.C. children are protected: Jeff, It was with interest I read your involvement with sex offender laws.
Before I go into my position on them, let me first tell you a little about my background. I am now retired from Law Enforcement after over 25 years in police work, I can now speak out.
I became very involved with the sex offender laws. As you may or may not know sex offenders have one of the lowest recidivism rates among all criminals. Also over 95 percent of sexual assaults and rapes are committed by someone who has no prior arrest record.
So that brings me to sex offender list, should we have them? Only if the law makers will require ALL known sex offenders to be tested (at the sex offender’s cost) to see how likely the sex offender is to re-offend. If those who write the laws are not willing to do that, then no we should not have sex offender list.
As we in law enforcement called these laws ‘feel good laws, they make the public feel good, but do nothing to protect the public.’ In many cases these laws have made the situation worse.
I suggest that you do some deep research as to why these laws are being written in the first place. For the most part those we have elected to office are using this issue to get the public to think that they are doing something to protect the public. The issue is have we protected anyone with these laws. The answer is no as they are written now. The time has come for people to stop being hard on crime, but instead be smart on crime. Sex offender laws were never intended to make it harder or more of a punishment on sex offenders. Thank you in advance for your time on this issue.
Tim P.
The realistic research shows, however, that if you release these individuals too early they will most certainty recommit or at the very least continue their dysfunctional fantasies.
 JEFF GERBER
 Unionville

Posted by Chairman | Filed Under Op-Ed