Category Archives: Business

Financial Reform Efforts –

Posted on 15. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Recently. there has been a great deal of attention on lobbying efforts related to the financial reform bill.  Closed door meetings are reported as playing a major role in attempts to change the legislation.  Televised conference hearings are one of the few … Continue reading →

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Financial Reform Conferees –

Posted on 14. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Reuters has some background on the financial reform conference committee.  The committee has 12 Senators and 31 House member and a party breakdown weighted towards the Democrats.  The Senate portion has seven Democrats and five Republicans and the House contigency is … Continue reading →

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Jobs Bill –

Posted on 13. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The administration is pushing for a jobs bill which will require almost $50 billion dollars.  Increased taxes on buyout funds managers and an increased levy on oil companies are part of the plan.  To read a related Bloomberg article, please … Continue reading →

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Real Clear Politics –

Posted on 10. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

 Real Clear Politics has news, analysis and opinions about politics and world events.  RCP is a great recource for information on politics and elections.  Real Clear Politics has an Election 2010 breakdown which offers multiple polls on several key races.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, DC, Election, Energy, Environment, Healthcare, Politics, Real Estate, Tax | Leave a comment

Fund Manager Tax Hike Lowered –

Posted on 8. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

It is expected that the Senate will lower the House tax increase on fund managers.  The increase will still be substantial with assets held longer than seven years being taxed at 33% and shorter than that taxed at 31%.  Carried interest … Continue reading →

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Laffer: 2011 Economic Collapse –

Posted on 7. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

In a Wall Street Journal opinion article, economist Arthur Laffer discusses the tax hikes and the effect that they will have on our economy.  Laffer illustrates how tax rates alter the timing of corporate profits and uses historical comparisons in his … Continue reading →

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Debt Super Cycle –

Posted on 6. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

A recent Bloomberg Chart of the Day highlights a Debt Super Cycle that our economy is about to enter in the near future.  The amount owed on our national debt will be greater than our 2012 GDP.  One economist noted … Continue reading →

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Gulf Oil Leak –

Posted on 2. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The Gulf oil spill has led to discussions on relating to the rolling back of tax breaks for oil companies.  The well is estimated to be leaking between 12,000 and 15,000 barrels a day.  There is more than enough blame … Continue reading →

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Call Center Tax –

Posted on 1. June 2010 by Jim Sutliff

New York Democrat Charles Schumer is proposing legislation that would put a .25 cent excise tax on call center calls that are relayed to outside countries.  There would also have to be notification to the caller of the country that there call will … Continue reading →

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Top Kill Method Fails –

Posted on 30. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

After three days, the Top Kill method has failed and BP is already discussing alternative methods.  The oil and natural gas leak is one of the worst in history and plugging the well at a depth of 5,000 is very … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Energy, Environment, Regulatory | Leave a comment

MMS Chief Resigns –

Posted on 27. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The head of the Minerals Management Service has resigned from the post.  There has also been a six month moratorium  placed on deep water drilling permits.  In addition, plans to drill off the Virginia coast have been cancelled and exploratory wells … Continue reading →

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FDIC Problem Bank List –

Posted on 22. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Financial news coming out of DC has not been all that pretty for the most part.  The FDIC problem bank list expanded to 775 which is 10% higher than the previous quarter.  The FDIC insurance fund is also still in the … Continue reading →

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Carried Interest –

Posted on 15. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Five Senators are attempting to have venture capital managers exempt from a tax increase that would effect carried interest.  Carried interest has been treated as long term capital gains which is a significantly lower tax rate.  The Senators cited the … Continue reading →

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Federal Reserve Maintains Oversight –

Posted on 13. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The Federal Reserve held onto political independence and banking oversight responsibilities in two separate amendment votes.  According to Bloomberg, one vote was 90-9 to void an amendment to strip some of the Federal Reserve’s oversight responsibilites.  To read a related … Continue reading →

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Senate Approves Audit –

Posted on 11. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The Senate voted 96-0 and approved an amendment to the Financial Reform bill that provides for a one time audit of the emergency lending by the Federal Reserve.  The measure was submitted by Senator Sanders and allows for an audit of … Continue reading →

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