E!! » Dina Titus

Titus Votes Against Higher Taxes on “Wealthy”

E!! — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:35:30 +0000

Dina Titus (D-NV) casts a vote that earns my respect.

From an article in the WSJ:

A group of Democrats elected in recent years from some of the country’s richest congressional districts have emerged as a stumbling block to raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for President Barack Obama’s ambitious health-care overhaul just as the plan has begun to meet increasing resistance over its cost.

Friday, two freshmen representatives — Dina Titus, from suburban Las Vegas, and Colorado’s Jared Polis, representing Boulder, Vail and some of the tonier suburbs of Denver — joined Republicans to vote against Mr. Obama’s top-priority health-care overhaul when it faced a vote in their House Education and Labor Committee. One reason was a one-percentage point-surtax on couples earning between $350,000 and $500,000 — gradually increasing to 5.4 percentage points on earnings more than $1 million — to pay for it.

Hell Hath Frozen Over

E!! — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:53:56 +0000

…because I will now praise Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus for statements she made today in a Budget Committee meeting on The Hill:

“…I remain concerned about President Obama’s proposal to reduce the itemized deduction rate for families with incomes over $250,000. I am particularly concerned with the impact this provision could have on housing and charitable giving.

“The Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) is an important incentive that encourages Americans all over the country to buy homes. Many consider the MID to be the single most important tax incentive facilitating home ownership in the United States. I am concerned that reducing the value of this incentive would lead to the further deterioration of the housing market. It has become evident over the past few years that the housing market is tied closely to the national economy as a whole. With the economy in its current state, we simply cannot afford to make changes to the tax code that could lead to a further decline in home prices. The housing market in Congressional District Three in Nevada – previously one of the fastest growing markets in the nation – is currently in shambles. Today, nearly 58.2 percent of Las Vegas homes have negative equity. We can’t afford to let prices drop any further by making it less attractive to buy a home.

“I am similarly concerned about the impact the proposal to reduce the itemized deduction rate could have on charitable giving. The tax deduction for charitable giving encourages Americans to make contributions to philanthropic organizations, many of which have been hard hit by the economic crisis. With so many people in need, the services many charities provide are in high demand. I believe that it is the wrong time to make changes to the tax code that could make charitable contributions less attractive.”

Forthwith, let it not be said that I am unwilling to acknowledge sanity when it occasionally visits itself upon Congresswoman Titus.

Reid Crows Over Obama’s Plans to Shut Down Yucca Mountain

E!! — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:13:22 +0000

Harry Reid said the following in a newsletter to his constituents yesterday:

“In his budget request for 2010, President Obama will announce plans to devise a new strategy to find another solution to deal with the nation’s nuclear waste that does not include storing it in Nevada.”

This is a shame if so. The Yucca Mountain project currently employs hundreds of people and stands to employ thousands more, not to mention the nearly $100 billion it would bring into the hurting state economy.

The operation of nuclear energy plants and the transportation, recycling, and storage of spent nuclear fuel can be done quite safely these days - in fact is done safely all over Europe - but apparently Harry Reid is not going to let the facts get in the way of politics-per-usual and a Wednesday press release. (More on the latest with Yucca here.)

This is the second time in less than three weeks an Obama agenda item has dealt a heavy blow to Nevada’s economy. What was the first, you ask? This offhand comment recently made at a townhall meeting:

“You are not going to be able to give out these big bonuses until you’ve paid taxpayers back, you can’t get corporate jets, you can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers dime.”

Rich Becker wrote an excellent piece on the fallout of that comment, which summed up is this:

Companies are now scrambling to avoid the “stigma” of holding company functions in Las Vegas and millions of dollars have been lost due to cancelled rooms and convention events. (These organizations aren’t really cancelling the events; they’re just relocating them. To sunny California, mostly.) And the tremendous loss of room revenue, convention business, enertainment dollars, and gaming revenue is going to lead to even more layoffs than Nevada’s already seen.

So where are Harry Reid (and Dina Titus) with their outrage and big press releases when Nevada’s economy really needs them? Busy rubbing elbows with a president who clearly doesn’t give a damn about the what’s best for the Silver State.

I guess Nevada is now “blue” in more ways than one.

But don’t just stand there and cry, good citizens. You can do something:

http://dumpreid.com/

Titus Camp Puts Out Most Boring Press Release Ever

E!! — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:10:05 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Andrew Stoddard
January 5, 2009 Phone: 202-225-3252

Congresswoman-elect Titus Named to Transportation

and Infrastructure Committee

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman-elect Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District announced today that she has been appointed to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 111th Congress. The appointment was recommended by the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and approved by the Democratic Caucus.

“I look forward to working with Chairman Oberstar and the rest of the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to reinvest and rebuild America,” Congresswoman-elect Titus said. “With record growth that has put an increasing strain on Nevada’s aging infrastructure, it is more important than ever to modernize and strengthen our roads, highways, and energy grid while spurring job creation in Southern Nevada.”

“I am pleased to welcome Congresswoman Titus to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” said Chairman Jim Oberstar of Minnesota. “As the Representative of one of the nation’s fastest growing regions, she brings an understanding and knowledge of the transportation challenges our nation faces and will be a valuable addition to the Committee.”

(zzzzZZZ)

Titus Slams Porter for Yes on Bailout Bill, Then Says She’d Have Done the Same

E!! — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:59:14 +0000

Just received a press release (statement) from the Titus campaign. Here are some excerpts:

Titus: Bailout Package Is One More Example of How Washington Is Broken

“Today’s vote in the House of Representatives is one more example of how Washington is broken and why we need change. Nearly the same bailout bill that failed in the House last week passed today because it was loaded with critical tax breaks that deserved to pass on their own merits…

“For eight years, George Bush turned a blind eye to the unregulated mortgage market. For six years, Jon Porter marched in lockstep, accepting more than $1.6 million from the financial, insurance, and real estate sectors. Their failure to provide proper oversight and regulation has left us in the current economic mess.

And Jon Porter supported this legislation before the tax cuts were added, when it was nothing more than a bailout for Wall Street.“I opposed the original House bill because it did not include the necessary regulation and oversight to ensure that this crisis does not happen again…

“The tax breaks that the Senate added to the package will benefit millions of Americans and have a significant impact here in Nevada… It is unfortunate that in order to pass these important tax cuts Congress had to bail out Wall Street in the process…

“The package voted on in the House today is far from perfect and I am disappointed that more was not done, especially for families facing foreclosure in the Third District. But with so many critical tax breaks in this bill that will help Southern Nevada, I would have reluctantly supported the broader package.”

Let’s review:

1. Titus fails to mention that the government policies which birthed the Fannie/Freddie financial crisis were enacted in the Carter and Clinton administrations with the approval of both Ds and Rs in Congress, so she’s either uninformed or being deliberately dishonest.

2. Titus says Bush and Porter are to blame for the lack of oversight when nearly everyone including the present Democratic leadership was complicit in looking the other way, so she’s either uninformed or being deliberately partisan.

3. Titus rips Porter for being in favor of the imperfect bailout bill, but then says “with so many critical tax breaks” for Nevada she would have “reluctantly” voted for the inadequate bill also, so she’s either very confused…or being hypocritical.

Porter voted for the bill. Titus bloviates at length – and then says she would have voted for the bill. When all the ranting and raving is done, what in Sam Hill is the difference?!

Neither the guy who’s in, nor the gal who wants to BE in, has the gumption to stand on principle and fight for good policy when there are special tax credits to be had. Of course: how else could they ingratiate themselves to the voters? Just look at all they’ve done for you!!

That’s a REAL example of how Washington is broken – and Nevada, too.