WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
Quite a chunk of change...
As people all across America prepare to file their tax returns next week, the White House has released information pertaining to the first family's tax return. According to a release from the White House, the first couple reported taxable income of $771,940 for the tax year 2002, on which they paid $268,719 in federal income taxes.
Their income, the White House said, included the president's salary as well as investment income generated by the trusts in which their assets are held.
President and Mrs. Bush contributed $69,925 to churches and charitable organizations, including Southern Methodist University, Evergreen Chapel at Camp David, Tarrytown United Methodist Church, and the federal government's Combined Federal Campaign.
Drug task force...
On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a federal budget that included a $400 billion provision to modernize Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit. Hours later, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., announced the formation of a Prescription Drug Action Team to formulate a plan to strengthen Medicare while easing the financial burden that prescription drug costs impose on America's seniors.
"We need to deliver a Medicare-prescription drug plan that gives senior citizens the right to choose what's best for them, lowers the cost of pharmaceutical medicines, and particularly helps those seniors most in need," Hastert said. The task force is made up of 49 U.S. House members, all Republicans, including the chairman of the committees on Ways and Means and Commerce, which will review the legislation once it is introduced. Hastert says his goal is to take action on the issue before Memorial Day.
Out...
U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., thought by some to be the best candidate her party had in the upcoming U.S. Senate race, has decided to pass. On Wednesday, she announced she wouldn't be a candidate against two-term incumbent Democrat Sen. Patty Murray.
Attention now turns to U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., who won election to Congress in the 1994 election by defeating Rep. Tom Foley, D-Wash., making Nethercutt the first in more than a century to unseat a sitting speaker of the House in a general election.
Tax the man behind the tree...
An analysis of federal income tax data by the non-partisan Tax Foundation, a Washington think tank, shows the richest Americans continue to pay more in taxes. In tax year 2000, the group says, the top 25 percent of taxpayers -- represented by 32 million tax returns showing adjusted gross incomes of higher than $55,225 -- accounted for more than five out of every six dollars collected, continuing an upward trend.
An examination of data collected over time shows that, "since 1980, the share of federal individual income taxes paid by the top 25 percent has increased markedly." it said. The top 25 percent of taxpayers paid 77 percent of federal individual income taxes, the foundation reports. In 2000, the top 25 percent paid 84 percent -- while the share of the tax burden shouldered by the remaining 75 percent has correspondingly declined.
Flying leap...
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is applauding newly introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the federal government from privatizing the air traffic control system. The bill would prevent the U.S. Department of Transportation from authorizing the conversion of any Federal Aviation Administration facility or the outsourcing of work currently performed by FAA employees in the ATC system to private or public entities other than the U.S. government.
NATCA President John Carr praised the bill, calling it "a bold and critical step to preserve the safety and integrity of the world's best system and ensuring this country maintains its role as the world leader in air traffic control."
Raise your right hand...
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has introduced legislation that would accelerate the naturalization process for non-U.S. citizens serving in the American armed forces. His Military Citizenship Act "enhances other legislation currently being proposed" by removing financial obstacles that impede the naturalization process.
"One obstacle for many seeking citizenship is that they are often sent overseas during their service. While in the application process, service members are currently required to pay their own way, and use most of their leave-time to return to the United States for citizenship interviews, tests and to be sworn in," Cornyn's office says.
The proposed remedy requires the Department of Defense to develop a policy allowing non-citizens leave and higher flight priority on military transport flights back to the United States.
Under existing law, current legal permanent residents of the United States may become citizens after serving in the military for three years, passing civics and English proficiency tests, and paying immigration fees required for citizenship.
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