Transportation/Student Loan/Flood Insurance Bill passes

[Lucille]

The corrupt and moronic bipartisan CONgress spent billions (http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=5332&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS) that we don't have, and they killed roll-your-own smoke shops (http://triblive.com/home/2125773-74/roll-machines-cigarettes-close-tobacco-rules-smokes-shops-stores-businesses). All in all, a good day for them, especially since people were distracted by SCOTUS ruling and the holiday weekend.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/235621-house-passes-highway-student-loan-flood-insurance-bill


Congress on Friday approved legislation that will extend federal highway programs through 2014, a low interest rate on student loans for one year, and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years.

Leaders in the House and Senate negotiated the giant package, leaving no doubt that it would have enough support to pass. The bill will likely be the last major piece of legislation approved by Congress until after the November elections.

The House voted 373-52 in favor of the bill, which was supported by every voting Democrat, while 52 Republicans opposed it. In the Senate, the tally was 74-19, with 23 Republicans joining every Democrat in voting for the measure. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) voted present, while Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) missed the vote.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Obama looks forward to signing the bill.
[...]
"I just want to say ... it continues to be unbelievable to me that this body does not have the courage, does not have the will, does not have the discipline to even live within a very modest budget that was laid out last August," Corker said. "So I would say, all those who vote for this today are basically saying we do not have the discipline to live within our means."

The final bill does not include language that would require approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. House Republicans had pushed for a provision on Keystone, but dropped the demand after winning a concession from Democrats to streamline permitting of transportation projects.

Related:

House puts brakes on taxing cars by the mile (http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/235261-house-slams-the-door-on-taxing-cars-by-the-mile)

TCS Statement Opposing Transportation Omnibus Bill
(http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=5329&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS)

[Keith and stuff]

...and they killed roll-your-own smoke shops (http://triblive.com/home/2125773-74/roll-machines-cigarettes-close-tobacco-rules-smokes-shops-stores-businesses).

By Sen. Baucus adding that to the bill, 1,000s of people may lose their jobs. Thank you Sen. Baucus!


Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he sponsored the measure to close the tax “loophole” and generate $94 million for a rural education program.

His office did not return a call seeking comment.


Roll-your-own machines have grown in popularity in recent years. Smokers can churn out the equivalent of a carton of cigarettes in about 10 minutes. It typically costs about $25 to pay for the tobacco, cigarette papers and use of a rolling machine. A carton of manufactured brand-name cigarettes costs at least twice as much.

About 20 stores in Allegheny County have roll-your-own machines, which are almost the size of a refrigerator and can retail for more than $30,000. Several dozen more stores are scattered across the rest of Western Pennsylvania.

“I guess I can use it as a paperweight,” Roy Albert, owner of Tobacco Road of Bethel Park said when asked what he plans to do with his machines.

Albert said he notified eight employees that they are being laid off effective midnight today.

Sharon Kinjerski, owner of Roll With It Tobacco in Ambridge, laid off five employees. She plans to keep her store open as a one-woman operation at least until her store lease expires late this year. Then she’s not sure what she will do. She’ll still owe money on her $32,000 rolling machine, manufactured by RYO Machine LLC of Girard, Ohio.

RYO has more than 2,000 rolling machines in more than 1,400 stores in the country. Company spokeswoman Bea Gonzalez estimated “several thousand” people work in the stores.

[Lucille]

I have a friend who was thinking about getting into the e-cig business, but I told her I wouldn't since the fedgov wants to ban them and most likely will...for Big Tobacco's own good, of course! Just like the Baucus amendment was great for BigCig.

House puts brakes on taxing cars by the mile (http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/235261-house-slams-the-door-on-taxing-cars-by-the-mile):


Pressure has been building on the federal government to find new ways to raise highway revenue, as more fuel-efficient cars have led to reduced tax revenues.

Hoisted by their own petard! No worries. JustUs Roberts opened up a whole new world of possibilities for the Destroyers in Washington, didn't he.

I keep looking to see if the black box mandate survived. I have to assume it did, even though the VMT tax was shot down.