Taxable Talk

Congress is actually doing something smart. According to the TaxProf Blog, the House Judiciary Committee approved a proposal prohibiting patents of tax planning methods.

I'm amazed that Congress is actually doing something intelligent.

Democrats in Sacramento lack nothing in chutzpah. Democratic Assemblyman Charles Calderon is proposing an 8% tax on sexually explicit nightclub acts, sexually explicit pay-per-view movies, X-rated acts in public locations, and sales of sex toys.

Forgetting the dubious constitutionality of the proposed legislation, it is unlikely to go anywhere in Sacramento. Assembly Republicans, according to the story in the Sacramento Bee, vow to kill any new tax increase. Given the 2/3 vote required for an increase, this measure will die.

It would be nice to see our legislators in Sacramento looking at killing various government programs, so that instead of increasing revenues to cover a budget shortfall, they would be decreasing expenses. But that idea is, I think, over the head of the Democrats in Sacramento.

"Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
Cos you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
Cos you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh no"
(Don't Lose My Number, by Phil Collins)

There are a lot of people hoping that one person did lose their phone number. Remember Deborah Palfrey, the alleged D.C. madam who wanted to sell her phone list of clients? Well, her phone records have now been released to the public. You can go to this website and attempt to get the records. I say "attempt" because so many people have gone to the site that the website is currently down! A judge last week lifted the injunction against Ms. Palfrey posting her list.

Already, one Senator has found his name on the list. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) said in a statement, "This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible." His name won't be the only one found on the list.

Meanwhile, Congress continues to look more like a "do-nothing" Congress as far as tax legislation and pressing issues such as AMT relief. Perhaps our representatives will look at fixing real problems rather than covering their past transgressions...though I doubt that's going to happen.