Hanna: Repeal the Death Tax, it’s ‘Immoral and Wrong’
Hanna supports bill to permanently abolish tax on small businesses, family farms
(Washington – April 30, 2014) U.S. Representative Richard Hanna wants to put an end to the federal estate tax, better known as the “death tax.”
That’s why Rep. Hanna has cosponsored a bill that would permanently repeal the death tax, which is a punitive tax on family farms and businesses upon the death of an owner. The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013 would put an end to the government taxing business owners when they die.
“We see people work their whole lives to grow a business through hard work and saving and then upon death the government feels it’s entitled to a piece of someone’s business? It’s immoral and wrong,” Rep. Hanna said. “This death tax punishes entrepreneurs and farmers. It prevents businesses from being passed on to a second or third generation, and we should repeal it for good.”
The bill is sponsored by U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-Texas) who is chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. Rep. Hanna serves on the Joint Economic Committee, which estimates that the death tax has caused the economy to lose $1.1 trillion in capital stock. That translates into slower economic growth and lost jobs.
Several national organizations support the bill, among them: the American Farm Bureau Federation, Associated Builders and Contractors, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business, 60 Plus Association, Americans for Tax Reform, Club for Growth, National Black Chamber of Commerce, International Franchise Association, National Taxpayers Union, American Conservative Union, Family Business Coalition, and many others.
“New York Farm Bureau has long advocated for estate tax reform. As farm families look to pass along their legacy to the next generation, the estate tax stands in their way as a costly hurdle to overcome,” said Dean Norton, President of New York Farm Bureau. “No portion of a family farm should ever have to be sold off to pay a death tax. We support Rep. Hanna’s efforts to repeal this needless burden.”
“Repealing the estate tax remains a major priority for small businesses nationwide, and especially in New York state,” said Matt Turkstra, Manager of Legislative Affairs at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “Nearly half of NFIB’s small business owners have taken or plan to take money out of their business to pay lawyers, accountants, life insurers, and others to deal with the estate tax. While there has been significant progress in recent years to reduce the burden on small businesses, the best policy would be to repeal the estate tax once and for all. NFIB applauds Richard Hanna for adding his name to the growing list of Republicans and Democrats calling for the end of the estate tax.”
The bill has widespread, bipartisan support in the House of Representatives with more than 200 cosponsors.
Hanna Votes for $1.5 Billion Increase for Veterans
Bill ensures veterans receive the care they deserve and need, prohibits BRAC
(Washington – May 4, 2014) May 4 U.S. Representative Richard Hanna voted for a $1.5 billion increase for veterans’ programs to ensure the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has the resources it needs to provide medical services, including funding for mental health care, suicide prevention, homeless veteran treatment programs, job training, and rural health initiatives that are important in upstate New York.
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015 also:
– Provides funding for military construction projects
– Provides advance appropriations for VA medical programs and facilities
– Takes action to reduce the VA’s unacceptable disability claims processing backlog
– Demands that an interoperable electronic health record system between the VA and the Department of Defense be created and operational as soon as possible
– Prohibits funds from being used to implement a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, protecting facilities in Upstate like Rome Lab and DFAS
“The appalling and inexcusable incidents like those recently reported concerning veterans under the care of the Phoenix VA Medical Center should never be allowed to happen,” Rep. Hanna said. “I will continue to support legislation to ensure that our VA care facilities have the resources they need to properly treat all those who rely upon the VA for their healthcare needs.”
The VA cares for nearly 50 million veterans, family members, and survivors, and this bill ensures that Congress will care for the VA. By implementing fiscally responsible policies that improve efficiency and cut wasteful spending, this bill would save taxpayer dollars overall while still improving the quality of care and services made available to our troops and increasing spending on veterans’ programs.
“As the son of a Marine combat veteran, it is a top priority for me to assist the more than 60,000 veterans, service members, and military families who call New York’s 22nd Congressional District home,” Rep. Hanna said. “I supported this bill in order to continue to provide our veterans with the highest quality care and service that they need and deserve.”
Hanna To EPA: Ditch Effort to Regulate Upstate Farms, Small Businesses
New regulation could cost farmers thousands in fines for naturally occurring pools of water
(Verona, NY – May 2, 2014) U.S. Representative Richard Hanna is attempting to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers from expanding federal regulations that would negatively impact local farmers.
Both agencies are working to expand the already overly broad definition of the term ‘navigable waters’ in the Clean Water Act. Rep. Hanna detailed his effort to prevent the rule change at Quiet Meadows Farm in Verona. The farm is owned by the Regner Family, parents Janet and Delwin Regner, and brothers Howard and Roy Regner.
The Regner family mostly farms crops such as: corn, soybeans, grains, and sweet corn, but also has some heifers. There are creeks that run through Quiet Meadows where water can pool from time to time especially during a spring melt or heavy rainfall. If the EPA and the Army Corps are successful in changing this rule, temporary puddles could be considered ‘navigable waters,’ and thereby come under their sweeping regulatory jurisdiction which can lead to thousands of dollars in fines for businesses.
“Keeping a small business like a family farm operating and growing in New York state is hard work,” Rep. Richard Hanna said. “The very last thing Upstate needs is for the EPA to come onto our farms and start regulating common irrigation ditches and puddles. The red tape and fines that come along with the EPA could push farms out of business for no good reason. I will continue working to see that the Administration ditches this misguided rule that would cost us real jobs when we need them the most.”
The proposed rule would redefine the scope of federal power under the Clean Water Act, creating jurisdiction over almost all physical areas with a connection to downstream navigable waters. This would put features such as ditches, natural or man-made ponds, flood plains, and prairie potholes, among others, under federal control. Rep. Hanna said the new rule would directly contradict prior U.S. Supreme Court decisions and is based on incomplete scientific and economic analyses.
Just yesterday, Rep. Hanna and more than 230 U.S. Representatives sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and U.S. Army Secretary John M. McHugh (who oversees the Army Corps) asking the agencies to walk back their proposed rule.
Howard Regner of Quiet Meadows Farm said the proposed rule lacks common sense and is flawed.
“Farmers are dedicated stewards of clean land and water because our livelihoods depend on it,” Regner said. “The business climate in New York is already challenging, and the idea that the federal government wants to regulate – and could fine us – for things like pools of water during the spring melt is alarming. I thank Rep. Hanna for his attention to this issue, and coming from a business background himself, I know he will continue to stand up for us when we’ve done nothing wrong.”
“New York farmers take the care of our natural resources very seriously, but we cannot understand the reasoning behind the EPA’s push to greatly expand the Clean Water Act,” said Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau President. “The ambiguities that come with this proposal potentially opens up every ditch and rain puddle on our farms to a host of new regulations. This defies logic because the cost to our farms and to the taxpayers could be enormous. New York Farm Bureau thanks Congressman Hanna for his efforts to oppose the overreach of the EPA on this issue.”
Cortland County Student Takes First Place in Artistic Discovery
Madison County student comes in 2nd, Oneida County student places 3rd
(Utica, NY – May 5, 2014) U.S. Representative Richard Hanna announced Alice Jenkins of Cortland County as the First Place winner of the 2014 Congressional High School Art Competition, “An Artistic Discovery.”
High school students from throughout the 22nd Congressional District who placed in their countywide art competition showcased their work Saturday at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica. A panel of judges selected First, Second and Third place winners.
Here are the winners from the 22nd Congressional District:
First Place: Alice Jenkins (Underwater Dance, Pastel) of Cortland – Cortland County
Second Place: Hannah Farrell (Self Portrait, Acrylic) of Hamilton – Madison County
Third Place: Shannon Rowlands (Assiram, Graphite) of Marcy – Oneida County
Jenkins’ artwork will be displayed in the tunnel to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. for the entire year of the exhibition and Jenkins is invited to attend a luncheon with other national winners.
Farrell’s work and Rowlands’ work will be displayed in Rep. Hanna’s Utica office, which is the district office closest to their respective hometowns.
Rep. Hanna personally donated a cash prize to the First, Second and Third place winners.
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