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Watching Washington: what to look for in 2005: from tax policy to health care reform, the 109th Congress will tackle a host of issues with important implications for state and local governments.(Federal Focus)
The incoming 109th Congress will again address a host of issues with important implications for state and local governments. As legislation is introduced and regulatory proposals are brought forward, GFOA will keep members apprised of significant developments through the GFOA Newsletter and the association's Web site. Below are some highlights of the issues the Federal Liaison Center will be following in 2005.
COMMUNICATIONS TAXES
Not since the mid-1990s has Congress been so focused on communications policy, especially as it relates to the taxing authority of state and local governments. Congress will review the 1996 Telecommunications Act, as well as piecemeal legislation dealing with communications issues. Of particular concern to state and local governments is the preservation of their authority to enact and administer taxes and fees associated with communication services, utilities, and rights-of-way. Additionally, the treatment of new technologies such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) will need to be closely monitored to ensure that these services do not receive a "tax-free" pass--a move that would severely curtail state and local tax revenues.
Although Congress passed legislation late in 2004 extending the moratorium on state and local taxation of Internet access until 2007, this issue will likely be re-addressed as part of the larger communications debate. It is critical that state and local governments continue to advocate for a strict definition of "Internet access" that precludes any broad tax exemption for communications services that are bundled together with Internet access.
REMOTE SALES TAXES
Congress will again review the progress that the states are making to implement a simplification of the sales tax system under the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA). The SSUTA is intended to allow for state and local taxation of remote sales by simplifying the make-up and administration of the sales tax system. SSUTA officials are aiming for an October 2005 target date for voluntary implementation. Although congressional approval of the SSUTA has not yet been achieved, legislation will be forthcoming in 2005 to secure congressional support for the SSUTA. State and local governments must ensure that any federal legislation pertaining to the taxation of remote sales focuses exclusively on sales and use taxes and does not include extraneous language about communications taxes or business activity tax reform measures.
DIRECT FUNDING TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
- China orders local governments to make up shortfall in social security funds.
- Newspaper article from: BBC Monitoring International Reports December 3, 2006 700+ words
...Labour and Social Security is ordering local governments to make up...ministry said. Local governments, responsible...management of social security funds, should...Labour and social security departments...to their local governments, should...
- Action urged on pension fund reform Local governments hampering efforts to...
- Newspaper article from: South China Morning Post November 25, 2006 700+ words
...provinces also manage social security funds, with little...to see the misuse of social security funds. Funds are held by local governments, which provide little...Shaoguang, director of the Social Security Research Centre at Renmin...
- China Finances for Railway Building from Local Governments.
- News wire article from: SinoCast China Business Daily News May 29, 2006 700+ words
...from investors like local governments, said Zhang Jianping...by insurance and social security fund. Nevertheless...cooperation with local governments is on the fastest...investment made by local governments has shotted to CNY...
- The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind., Kevin Leininger column: Social Security...
- Newspaper article from: News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN) June 5, 2007 700+ words
...this year Gionet knew the Social Security office was moving there...Milwaukee for use as a Social Security office. When local governments want to attract bidders...runner-up bidder for the Social Security office. With Social Security...
- China government audit finds nearly US$1 billion in misused social security...
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire November 24, 2006 700+ words
...280 billion; A216 billion) in social security funds, acting to prevent further...pledging to improve controls over social security fund management. Local governments managed about half of all social security funds in 2005, the National Audit...
- China government audit finds nearly US$1 billion in misused social security...
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire November 24, 2006 700+ words
...280 billion; A216 billion) in social security funds, acting to prevent further...pledging to improve controls over social security fund management. Local governments managed about half of all social security funds in 2005, the National Audit...
- Mandatory Social Security.
- Newspaper article from: Nation's Cities Weekly Shafroth, Frank March 22, 1999 700+ words
...effort to impose mandatory Social Security on state and local governments and their employees from any Social Security reform plan. The Senators...deliberately excluded state and local governments from Social Security because of Constitutional...
- Social security fund to join capital game.
- News wire article from: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire January 29, 2003 700+ words
...Ministry of Labor and Social Security's Social Insurance Research...suggested. China's social security fund's assets last year...statistics. Much of the social security fund belongs to local governments and cannot be invested...
- China says 3 million farmers who lost land covered by social security system.
- Newspaper article from: BBC Monitoring International Reports November 17, 2006 700+ words
...covered under social security systems in China...society that local governments have raised...established social security system for the...will obtain social security in future. Some local governments have made regulations...
- Social security for the excluded majority: Case studies of developing...
- Magazine article from: International Labour Review June 22, 2000 700+ words
...implementing new programmes. Social security for the excluded majority...to the extension of social security -- one where national or local governments and organizations come...workable policies regarding social security protection and the informal...
Source: HighBeam Research, Watching Washington: what to look for in 2005: from tax policy to...