Housing/Cars: Buyers could get a modest break.
If you’re in the market for a new car or your first house, the compromise
stimulus bill offers modest tax breaks for both kinds of purchases.
Taxes: A $400 to $800 credit for many
taxpayers.
A key element of the stimulus bill would provide most Americans with a tax
credit of $400, or $800 for married couples.
The tax credit would phase out for single taxpayers with adjusted
gross income of $75,000 to $90,000 and married couples with AGI of $150,000
to $190,000.
Energy: Weatherizing homes will save money. The agreed-upon stimulus plan
provides about $50 billion aimed at ushering in a clean-energy future and
includes money or tax credits for Americans to weatherize their homes and
buy hybrid cars.
The Safety Net:
Jobless get a little extra help. Many of those who are
unemployed will get a boost from the stimulus bill, including a $25 increase
in weekly benefit checks through 2009 that should help not only those who
are out of work but the broad economy as that money gets spent.
Broadband:
Help for rural areas. The stimulus bill includes $ 7
billion for broadband deployment in rural markets across the USA.
Highlights of the $410 billion spending bill
for 2009:
Agriculture — $20.5 billion, including a 14 percent boost
over 2008 for the popular WIC program that feeds infants and poor women.
Commerce — $9.3
billion, including $3.1 billion to conduct the 2010 Census.
Education — $66.5
billion, a 7 percent increase over 2008 levels.
Energy — $27
billion, including a $765 million, 54 percent hike for advanced energy
research.
Health and Human Services
— $66.3 billion, including $30.3 billion for health research.
Housing and Urban Development
— $41.5 billion, including $24.5 billion for low-income and American Indian
housing.
Interior — $10.1
billion, slightly more than 2008.
Justice — $26.1
billion, including a $715 million, 11 percent increase for the FBI.
Labor — $15.3
billion, including a 5 percent increase for employment and training
programs.
State — $13.1
billion, a 3 percent decrease.
Transportation
— $13.5 billion, plus $53.7 billion in highway and other transportation
funding financed mostly through gasoline taxes.
Treasury — $12.7
billion, including $428 million over 2008 for the IRS, a 4 percent increase.
If anyone would like more details I have some information here at City Hall
if you would like to stop by and pick it up.
I hope everyone has a Blessed Easter, Happy Mother’s and Father’s
Day! Until next quarter keep
your eyes and ears open and if you would like to add anything to our
quarterly Newsletter just let me know.
