MN Digital Sales Tax and Affordable Health Care Act

MSAE's Financial & Accounting Networking Group met last November to discuss the MN Digital Sales Tax and Affordable Health Care Act.  Here are the top takeaways from the meeting:

• Health care is a moving target, no firm plans to change.
• It was not legislative intent to tax on demand education, dealing with how to handle it now.
• Can't have tax that is discriminatory (some taxed) - in-state vs. out-state.
• To change the MN Digital Sales Tax, we need a coordinated effort - stay tuned for updates and contact your congressperson.

These issues are sure to come up again, we'll keep you posted as we learn more.  

Taxes for Online sales starting to look possible

Jim Puzzanghera from the Los Angeles Times reported that lawmakers, looking to help cash strapped local governments, are coalescing around legislation aimed at letting states require most online retailers to collect sales taxes from customers.

http://lat.ms/rMseg5

Health Lobby's Big War Chest

Reported in the Star/Trib (by Drew Armstrong-Bloomberg News 11/18/10)
Health insurers last year gave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce $86.2 million that was used to oppose the health care overhaul law, according to tax records and people familiar with the donation.

By funneling the money through the chamber,  (laws don't require identifying funding sources) insurers were able to remain at the table negotiating.

Really? And we wonder why our health insurance premiums are so sky high!

Just wondering

Are you a leader if you do nothing, accomplish nothing, and leave all the tough decisions for the person who will take your place?

State of the Union

The State of the Union Address. Watched it. Gotta say, it's embarrassing, ridiculous, and rather juvenile to watch one half of the room jump up and down and the other half of the room sit like frozen manequins. I vote for just listening to the speech and formulating my own opinion. Get rid of the TV coverage of such silliness in action. I know that I am an adult and can behave in an adult fashion. I do wonder about those who were in attendance at the speech last nite. What is it about Washington DC that turns people into (sorry) idiots? Is our legislative process so screwed up that nothing will ever get acomplished again? I just have to shake my head.....Let's try for some common sense - EVERYONE!