25 Tax Cuts Passed By Obama & Democrats[3]
Individuals
“Making Work Pay” tax credit
Earned Income Tax Credit increased
Increased Eligibility for Refundable Portion of Child Credit
“American Opportunity” Education Tax Credit
First-time Home Buyer Credit
Temp. Suspension of Taxation of Unemployment Benefits
Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Improvements to Existing Homes
Sales Tax Deduction for Vehicle Purchases
Premium Credits for COBRA Continuation Coverage for Unemployed Workers
Economic Recovery Credits to Recipients of Social Security, SSI, RR Retirement, and Veterans Disability Compensation Benefits
Computers as Qualified Education Expenses in 529 Education Plans
Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Credit
Tax Parity for Transit Benefits
Health Coverage Tax Credit Expansion
Small Business
Extension of Enhanced Small Business Expensing
5-Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses for Small Businesses
Extension of Bonus Depreciation
Exclusion of 75% of Small Business Capital Gains from Taxes
Temporary Small Business Estimated Tax Payment Relief
Temporary Reduction of S Corporation Built-In Gains Holding Period from 10 Years to 7 Years
Other Business
Advanced Energy Investment Credit
Tax Credits for Alternative Refueling Property
Work Opportunity Tax Credits for Hiring Unemployed Veterans and Disconnected Youth
Delayed Recognition of Certain Cancellation of Debt Income
Election to Accelerate Recognition of Historic AMT/R&D Credits
Fun Fact: 1/3 of the $862 billion stimulus was for tax cuts, something Republicans claim to support … although they still stand against stimulus. I suppose it depends on who gets the tax cuts.
Women’s Rights
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Protection against pay discrimination
Restores interpretation of Title VII of Civil Rights Act that protected women and other workers
Financial Rights
Credit CARD Act
Prevents retroactive rate increases
Requires companies to provide 45 days notice before changing rates and other contract provisions
Additional restrictions placed on fees
Prevents companies from taking advantage of students
Ends unfair double-cycle billing practices
Financial reform bill
Establishes Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which seeks solely to ensure financial institutions are being fair to consumers, and improvement in the simplicity in contracts
Prevents taxpayer bail out of financial institutions
Allows the GAO to audit the Federal Reserve
Various mortgage and derivatives reform, etc.
Education
Student loans[1]
Ends “socialistic” federal subsidies to banks and other financial institutions (Interestingly, Republicans are okay with the kind of socialism that redirects taxpayer money to banks and other financial institutions.)
Eliminates unnecessary “middle-man” in student loan process, which placed financial burden on taxpayers while banks took in profits
Annual student loan payment capped at 10% of income
Saves an estimated $61 billion over 10 years
Health Care
Children’s health insurance bill[2]
CBO said bill will allow states to cover more than four million uninsured children by 2013, in addition to seven million already covered
Requires states to provide dental and mental illness coverage to children
Tobacco regulation
Provides graphic warnings on tobacco use risks
Restricts advertising to prevent marketing to minors
Health care reform
Insurers cannot cancel coverage when a person gets sick
Requires health insurance corporations to cover preexisting conditions
Eliminates lifetime limits
Allows insurance purchase across state lines
Allows young adults to stay on parents’ health insurance policy until 26
Crime & Civil Rights
Hate crime legislation[4]
Provides protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people
Tribal Law and Order Act
Provide additional means to reduce high rates of violent crime, including rape & sexual assualt within Native American reservations
View the rescuetruth.com post on the Tribal Law and Order Act
Other
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Expands service and voluteer opportunites
Benefits education, health care, energy, etc.
Stimulus
Cash for Clunkers successfully contributed to 680,000+ vehicle sales in summer 2009
Largest clean energy investment ever made
Reduced deficit by $122 billion[5]
Reduced federal spending by 2%[5]
What didn’t get passed because of Republican obstructionism?
Health Care for 9/11 Emergency Responders
DISCLOSE Act (transparency in elections, specifically campaign financing)
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal
Removal of $75 million cap on oil spill payouts
Elimination of tax incentives for companies shipping American jobs overseas, and creation of tax incentives to businesses bringing jobs home
42+ Democratic Accomplishments You May Not Know About | rescue truth.