Author Archives: Robert Hay

Extending Tax Cuts Could Cost More than $5 Trillion

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Robert Hay
DES PLAINES, IL - MARCH 23: The top of a form 1040 individual income tax return for 2005 is seen atop a stack on the same at the Des Plaines Public Library March 23, 2006 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Americans are preparing for the income tax filing deadline next month whether using tax software, filing on the paper forms or using a tax preparer. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report released October 27 said that if Congress were to permanently extend the expiring 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, it would cost more than $5 trillion over ten years, according to a story from the … Continue reading →

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HHS Helping Create Health Care Exchange Prototypes

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Robert Hay
WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (2ndL) speaks as Jim Houser (L), a small business owner from Oregon, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) (2ndR), and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) listen during a news conference September 23, 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senate Democrats held the news conference to announce the implementation of provisions in the Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Fears over the high cost of creating and running the state-based health care exchanges has prompted the Department of Health and Human Services to fund the creation of exchange prototypes. Dubbed “Early Innovators”, the program will select five state proposals … Continue reading →

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ASAE Requests Waiver for Grandfathered Plans

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Robert Hay
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius speaks during a news conference to explain how the Obama administration is combating Medicare fraud and to release tips and information for Medicare beneficiaries to avoid medical identity theft at HHS headquarters in Washington on October 15, 2009. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg Photo via Newscom

After the administration recently granted waivers to some large employers struggling to comply with parts of the new health care law, ASAE this week reiterated its request that transitional relief be granted to small and medium-sized employers as well. ASAE’s … Continue reading →

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Deficit Panel Running Into Delays

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Robert Hay
WASHINGTON - APRIL 27: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama (4th L) speaks as he greets members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, including co-chairs Erskine Bowles (3rd L) and Alan Simpson (5th L), in the Roosevelt Room at the White House April 27, 2010 in Washington, DC. The commission was holding its first formal meeting to hear remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, OMB Director Peter Orszag, and Former OMB Directors Robert Reischauer and Rudolph Penner. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Yesterday, the Power of A shared that the president’s deficit commission panel is considering a number of ways to balance the budget by 2015.  However, with time running out until their December 1 deadline for recommendations, there are doubts as … Continue reading →

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White House Forms Internet Working Group

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Robert Hay
SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 14: Twitter CEO Evan Williams is seen silhouetted against a screen as he shows off the newly revamped Twitter website on September 14, 2010 at Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California. Twitter launched a new version of the popular social media site in hopes it will be more user friendly. . (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Obama administration has formed an inter-governmental working group designed to advise the president on Internet legislation and regulations, according to The Washington Post. The subcommittee will draw members from a number of Cabinet agencies as well as the Federal … Continue reading →

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Financial Reform Commission Hints Tax Breaks in Play

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Robert Hay
WASHINGTON - APRIL 27: U.S. President Barack Obama (C) speaks as co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Erskine Bowles (L) and Alan Simpson (R) listen in the Rose Garden of the White House April 27, 2010 in Washington, DC. Obama thanked members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform for their service and spoke on the

An article in the Wall Street Journal today says that members of the president’s deficit commission could consider eliminating some popular tax credits in their final commission report. The panel, known as the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, … Continue reading →

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Administration Offers Clarification on Grandfathered Plan Rules

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Robert Hay
VALLEJO, CA - AUGUST 11: Vials of Tdap vaccinations sit on a table during the Solano County health fair August 11, 2010 in Vallejo, California. California medical officials are urging California residents to get booster shots for whooping cough as the state is in the midst of the largest outbreak in over fifty years. Close to 1,500 cases of whooping cough have been reported this year, including six cases that resulted in deaths of children under three years old. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Obama administration this week issued additional guidance on the so-called grandfathered health care plans, but that guidance failed to address the cost issues ASAE raised in its comments. Continue reading →

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ASAE 1099 Letter Has Over 550 Signatures

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Robert Hay
DES PLAINES, IL - MARCH 23: Various tax forms for 2005 are seen at the Des Plaines Public Library March 23, 2006 in Des Plaines, Illinois. As next month

Associations from across the country joined in their opposition to the new 1099 requirements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by adding their names to the ASAE letter opposing the onerous paperwork burden.  ASAE’s letter, which was delivered … Continue reading →

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IRS Issues Form for Small Employer Health Credit

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Robert Hay
The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Building is seen in Washington on September 20, 2010. UPI/Kevin Dietsch Photo via Newscom

The IRS last month released a draft version of the form that small businesses and tax-exempt organizations will use to calculate the small business health care tax credit when they file returns next year. The draft of Form 8941 is … Continue reading →

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Small Biz Lending Bill Does Not Contain 1099 Repeal

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Robert Hay
U.S. President Barack Obama signs the Small Business Jobs Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington on September 27, 2010. The bill extends Recovery Act measures to increase lending and provide tax relief for small businesses in the U.S. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg Photo via Newscom

Before adjourning for the 2010 campaign season, the Senate rejected two amendments to the small business lending bill that would have alleviated the onerous new Form 1099 reporting requirements contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  The … Continue reading →

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