legislation http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for legislation Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:36:28 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/legislation Tax And School Finance Reform -- Help Or Hindrance To The Dallas Schools? http://www.artwoo.com/article/tax-and-school-finance-reform-help-or-hindrance-to-the-dallas-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/tax-and-school-finance-reform-help-or-hindrance-to-the-dallas-schools#comments Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:27:15 +0000 dallas schoolsschool property taxproperty tax ratetexas legislaturenew legislationlocaltax cuts http://www.artwoo.com/article/tax-and-school-finance-reform-help-or-hindrance-to-the-dallas-schools Dallas schools is a problem experienced by many school districts in the United States. Most funding has become program specific, with government controlling its use and generally benefiting only a portion of the Dallas schools students. State funding has been scarce, requiring Dallas schools to rely upon property and school taxes to cover the general needs of the schools. Additionally, federal government oversight creates a lot more administrative requirements. This means that many of the precious dollars the Dallas schools receive through government funding must be spent on administrative costs, rather than directly to benefit the students.

Recently, the passed for tax and school finance reform. Many are touting the law as especially good for Dallas schools. The law includes to businesses, property tax cuts, strong taxpayer protections, and school funding and accountability improvements.

Here is how the new legislation affects the Dallas schools.

Control. Previously, the Dallas schools, along with other schools in Texas, could raise the school by six cents per $100 of property every year -- without voter approval. With the new legislation, any raise of the school property tax rate of more than four cents must have local voter approval. Additionally, the maximum school property tax was $1.50 per $100 of property. The new legislation will lower that maximum to $1.00 per $100 of property over the next two years.

More Accountability and Transparency. The new legislation not only requires even more bureaucracy for the Dallas schools, but they are required to make it available on the Internet. The Dallas schools will now be required to place detailed local school spending information on a web site for anyone to review. This new level of heavy oversight gives ammunition to anyone who wishes to get their name in the paper through official complaint to the legislators or even bogus court action. Some question whether this might lead to more costs to the Dallas schools to defend needed expenditures that benefit Dallas schools students, either directly or indirectly.

Teacher Compensation. On the upside, the new legislation includes a $2,000 teacher pay raise, sorely needed by Dallas schools teachers. A $250 million state teacher performance pay plan is also included in the law, of which Dallas schools will receive its portion. The performance plan is to encourage teaching innovation and excellence.

Overall, the new legislation puts $1.7 billion dollars of new money into schools across the state, dramatically increasing the state's share of public school funding. Though this new legislation does take a burden off the Dallas schools property taxpayers by providing more state funding for general school expenditures, it does decrease the local dollars that do not carry the heavy price tag of red tape administration, as well as lowering the Dallas schools ability to raise funds locally. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more on Dallas schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/Dallas/index.html ]]> Tax And School Finance Reform -- Help Or Hindrance To The Dallas Schools? http://www.artwoo.com/article/tax-and-school-finance-reform-help-or-hindrance-to-the-dallas-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/tax-and-school-finance-reform-help-or-hindrance-to-the-dallas-schools#comments Wed, 02 Aug 2006 04:27:57 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/article/tax-and-school-finance-reform-help-or-hindrance-to-the-dallas-schools Securing enough funding for the Dallas schools is a problem experienced by many school districts in the United States. Most funding has become program specific, with government controlling its use and generally benefiting only a portion of the Dallas schools students. State funding has been scarce, requiring Dallas schools to rely upon local property and school taxes to cover the general needs of the schools. Additionally, federal government oversight creates a lot more administrative requirements. This means that many of the precious dollars the Dallas schools receive through government funding must be spent on administrative costs, rather than directly to benefit the students.

Recently, the Texas legislature passed new legislation for tax and school finance reform. Many are touting the law as especially good for Dallas schools. The law includes tax cuts to businesses, property tax cuts, strong taxpayer protections, and school funding and accountability improvements.

Here is how the new legislation affects the Dallas schools.

School Property Tax Control. Previously, the Dallas schools, along with other schools in Texas, could raise the school property tax rate by six cents per $100 of property every year -- without voter approval. With the new legislation, any raise of the school property tax rate of more than four cents must have local voter approval. Additionally, the maximum school property tax was $1.50 per $100 of property. The new legislation will lower that maximum to $1.00 per $100 of property over the next two years.

More Accountability and Transparency. The new legislation not only requires even more bureaucracy for the Dallas schools, but they are required to make it available on the Internet. The Dallas schools will now be required to place detailed local school spending information on a web site for anyone to review. This new level of heavy oversight gives ammunition to anyone who wishes to get their name in the paper through official complaint to the legislators or even bogus court action. Some question whether this might lead to more costs to the Dallas schools to defend needed expenditures that benefit Dallas schools students, either directly or indirectly.

Teacher Compensation. On the upside, the new legislation includes a $2,000 teacher pay raise, sorely needed by Dallas schools teachers. A $250 million state teacher performance pay plan is also included in the law, of which Dallas schools will receive its portion. The performance plan is to encourage teaching innovation and excellence.

Overall, the new legislation puts $1.7 billion dollars of new money into schools across the state, dramatically increasing the state's share of public school funding. Though this new legislation does take a burden off the Dallas schools property taxpayers by providing more state funding for general school expenditures, it does decrease the local dollars that do not carry the heavy price tag of red tape administration, as well as lowering the Dallas schools ability to raise funds locally. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more on Dallas schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/Dallas/index.html ]]> Senate Approves New Legislation Aimed At Interrogating Itself http://www.artwoo.com/article/senate-approves-new-legislation-aimed-at-interrogating-itself http://www.artwoo.com/article/senate-approves-new-legislation-aimed-at-interrogating-itself#comments Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:27:08 +0000 senator john cornynspeaker dennis hastertinterrogationwar on terrorpresident bushrepublican sidenaysayers http://www.artwoo.com/article/senate-approves-new-legislation-aimed-at-interrogating-itself interrogation and overall treatment of terrorism suspects, voted on new legislation that would compel it to interrogate itself about why nearly every member's speechifying has been directed, not so much at the nation's problems, but at the November voter.

The body very politic had good cause to approve the controversial legislation. While a dozen Democrats crossed party lines to support the legislation regarding the treatment of terrorists, the members indulged in speeches with transparently political agendas, such as Senator John Kerry, who voted for the invasion of Iraq, doing his credible worst against George Bush, saying "After four years, the price we are paying is clear for saying to a president and an administration that we would trust you."

Or Hillary Clinton's disingenuous, "I fear that there are those who place a strategy for winning elections ahead of a smart strategy for winning the ."

And from the , commenting on Democratic , of Texas stated, with a not entirely sly allusion to electoral considerations, "It is a kind of difficult vote to explain, at least where I come from."

Meanwhile, The House of Representatives showed some inclination to its own self-interrogation. Reasons abounded. For instance, immediately after the House voted against the terrorist legislation, went after the Democrats who had voted against it like a rabid St. Bernard.

There were also indications from that the self-interrogation ought to reach as far as the White House. Even before the Senate vote, he maintained his usual sense of what is inarguably the Republican election tactic, noting, "We must give our professionals the tools necessary to protect the American people in this war on terror, and those in the House of Representatives were wrong to vote against this bill."

Self-interrogation, regardless of how pervasive it becomes, is expected to reveal that lawmakers are so obsessed with the looming elections that nearly their every word and act are employed with an eye toward electoral longevity and triumph, instead of clearly focused on the less compelling topic of what is right for the country.

Maybe it's a survival instinct. Given the shaky opportunism of the Democrats and the defensive bluster of the Republicans, prospects for electoral survival are at a point that would command a great deal of agonized attention. Tom Attea, humorist and creator of http://NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing for the theater "delightfully funny," "witty," with "great humor" and "good, genuine laughs." ]]> Reduce Taxes With Car Donations http://www.artwoo.com/article/reduce-taxes-with-car-donations http://www.artwoo.com/article/reduce-taxes-with-car-donations#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:15:20 +0000 federal tax legislationfair market valuesdonating your car to charitydonation servicesdonation taxvalue of a cardonating your car http://www.artwoo.com/article/reduce-taxes-with-car-donations donation services and they take care of everything else. Thus, to charity rather than selling it is more convenient and fast. Moreover, you help those who are in need of assistance when you donate your car and benefit from it through tax breaks in return. The IRS allows a deduction to your taxes payable equivalent to the proceeds from your car donation.

Before you donate your car to charity you will probably want to know how much will your car deduction be. The amount of your car donation tax deduction is covered by the 2005 revised on car donations. This legislation describes two possible amounts for your car donation tax deduction- the gross sales amount and the fair market value of your car.

Gross Sales Amount

Before the tax legislation was revised in 2005, the fair market donation was the amount used for the donor's tax deduction. However, the IRS found out that donors were claiming of donated cars based on the make and the model without considering the car's condition. Since the fair market value is the amount agreed upon by the donor and the car donation services, the donors usually considered the book value of the car as the fair market value without taking account of depreciation and the needed refurbishing.

Car donation services usually either refurbish donated cars first or sell them as is at auctions where the true fair market values of the cars are considered. So if the cars were donated to them at a bloated fair market value, the amount that the car was sold for did not match this bloated value. The 2005 car donation tax legislation revision corrects this error by allowing only the gross sales amount of the donated cars as the donor's tax deduction.

Fair Market Value

The legislation however, still allows that the fair market value of the donated car be used as the donor's tax deduction provided that they meet certain conditions and paperwork.

Car donation services do not always sell donated cars. They may either use the car for their charitable causes or assign the car to a needy family or individual. If the donated car is used this way by the car donation services, the revised car donation tax legislation allows that the fair market value of the car is used as the donor's tax deduction.

The necessary paperwork that the IRS needs for the fair market value tax deduction is an acknowledgment receipt issued by the car donation services. This paper must state that the car is used directly for their charitable causes, the donor's tax identification number or social security number and the car's identification number. Moreover, the IRS may also require that the document contain a phrase restricting the donated car to charitable uses only and not to any future sale.

Donating a car and reducing your taxes is very convenient and easy. There are already numerous car donation services online. All you have to do is: call their toll-free number, fill out the application form, and wait for your car to be picked up. But before that, you may want to check for a 501(c) (3) charity organization classification. This way you can be sure that your donation goes to charity and be assured that your car donation tax deduction is valid.Car donations are eligible for fair market value tax deductions under the new tax laws when donated to programs such as that offered by United Society. Car Donation Tax Deduction is a perfect way to save your money Donate car to charity at vehicle donations program now!]]> Smoke-Free UK: Are You Ready For This? http://www.artwoo.com/article/smoke-free-uk-are-you-ready-for-this http://www.artwoo.com/article/smoke-free-uk-are-you-ready-for-this#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:25:00 +0000 smoke freeuk legislationnew legislationsmokerssimply lightingcigarette smokesecondhand smoke http://www.artwoo.com/article/smoke-free-uk-are-you-ready-for-this UK legislation that bans smoking in "enclosed and substantially enclosed" public and work places, many would definitely be cutting back on their daily ration.

England was the latest country to join the smoke-free caravan following the decision of Ireland and Wales earlier this year to ban smoking. These two countries are successfully reaping the rewards despite the controversies surrounding the new law, since compliance has been considerably high and the provisions under the new law became self-enforcing after some time. For individuals and businesses that fail to do so are fined up to 2,500 pounds. Businesses have been required to put up signs all over their premises in order to inform employees and visitors of the smoke-free policy.

The fears that these businesses will lose business were unfounded, as they are now receiving non-customers who were previously thwarted by the smoke-filled rooms. These businesses should consider that smokers are just 25 percent of UK's total population and now they could enjoy the other 75 percent.

The will also have positive effects on smokers who wish to smoke but have difficulties doing so. They will have to make an effort to look for places to smoke instead of up anywhere they want. People against the new law are worried that this would encourage more parents lighting up at home but the national government replied that they will be tackling this issue next. It seems like the new law will serve as the platform for more smoke-free legislation.

As a member of the community, you should support the smoking ban that protects people from and also the environment from the bad effects of . If you are an employer, you should strictly enforce the guidelines that will transform the place of your business into a smoke-free compliant area.



Aside from the policies and guideline released by the national government in support of the new legislation, you could also come up with guidelines after consulting with your employees. The active participation of your staff will help you implement changes better. Lastly, you should be able to discuss with your employees the importance of this new law as well as the penalties that could be imposed on them for non-compliance. Are you ready to quit smoking? Find out more here - http://hubpages.com/hub/Quit-Smoking ]]> Federal Regulations Affecting Payday Loans http://www.artwoo.com/article/federal-regulations-affecting-payday-loans http://www.artwoo.com/article/federal-regulations-affecting-payday-loans#comments Sat, 08 Jul 2006 20:27:08 +0000 payday loansfederal truthfederal regulationstruth in lending actpayday lendersact statestruth in lending http://www.artwoo.com/article/federal-regulations-affecting-payday-loans federal regulations affecting exist today. Proponents of payday loans claim this is so because regulations over and above what individual states have already passed are not necessary. They believe payday loans are viable alternates when individuals find themselves temporarily short on cash. Opponents argue that payday loans are predatory and federal regulations affecting payday loans are needed immediately to curb the growth of this rapidly escalating industry.

The status of federal regulations affecting payday loans

In the year 2000, the wording of Regulation Z of the in Lending Act was modified to include originators of payday loans. Although the Act itself was not new, the wording resulted in the first federal regulations affecting payday loans. Originally designed to force lenders to fairly and accurately disclose to borrowers certain loan terms, the wording forced payday loans originators to also comply. Specifically, are now required to disclose the annual percentage rate, all finance charges, the payment schedule and the policy on late payments before an applicant agrees to the loan.

The law also requires that lenders clearly explain these parts of the loan in an easy-to-understand format. In addition to needing to be simplistically explained, the that the terminology must also be readily apparent and not buried in the fine print. Other sections of the Federal Act that now apply to payday loans include the sections on filing civil complaints against lenders and the ability to recover actual and statutory damages.

Other Federal regulations affecting payday loans have been introduced to Congress as recently as the 2005 session. However, none of these has yet to become law.

States legislation

Although federal regulations affecting payday loans are nearly non-existent, many states have enacted legislation governing payday loans. While crafted with the interests of consumers at heart, state legislation is not consistent among the different states. Instead of protecting consumers, most legislation seems only to confuse consumers further. Some states have even taken the drastic step of outright prohibiting companies from engaging in the business of payday loans.

Given the fact that Federal regulations affecting payday loans are few and State laws governing the process are jumbled, one has to wonder whether or not such legislation is necessary and whether it really can benefit the consumers, the people that many feel are at such risk. In other words, are payday loans really the monster that many claim them to be?

As with anything in life, there's a right way and a wrong way to use a payday loan. Those who see such cash advances as a short-term solution do benefit from their availability. They get the money they need, the fees are reasonable, and they repay the advance when due. On the other hand, those who repeatedly rely on this type of funding can and sometimes do end up with a bigger financial problem on their hands. Shouldn't then the responsibility lie with the applicant and not in the need to create federal regulations affecting payday loans? http://www.speeddog.com ]]> What You Need to Know About Legislation on Hpv Vaccine http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-legislation-on-hpv-vaccine http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-legislation-on-hpv-vaccine#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:29:22 +0000 advisory committee on immunization practiceshuman papilloma virusnational advisory committee on immunizationroutine vaccinationnational advisory committeegenital wartsstate legislatures http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-legislation-on-hpv-vaccine human Papilloma Virus is the cause of a very contagious sexually transmitted condition called . The virus is now preventable with a new vaccine which is being marketed as the best prevention for hpv in man. Legislation on hpv vaccine has been a hot bed of ethical debate ever since the vaccine was launched. Let us look through some of the highlights of the vaccine's journey.

The United States has seen many health departments in various states making compulsory legislation on hpv vaccine. Most states have made vaccination for teenage girls free. The states, in most cases have also tried to disseminate information regarding the condition to one and all, so that the vaccine may be availed by all girls and women who are susceptible to the virus. Currently there is just one vaccine which has been approved by the Federal Drug Authority (FDA) for use to prevent hpv in man. This is Gradasil manufactured by the pharmaceutical major, Merkk. The vaccine protects its users against four of the commonest strains of the virus. Other pharmaceutical companies are coming out with their own versions of the vaccine, of which Cervarix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline is awaiting approval by the FDA.

The fundamental question one would ask is what sparked off sudden legislation on hpv vaccine? This was initiated by a recommendation from the national (ACIP) in the United States. In June 2006, the authority recommended against hpv for girls between 11 and 12 years of age. These girls are in school and were supposed to be targeted before they became sexually active. Girls in this age group are in school and the onus for implementing school vaccinations rests on and their respective health departments.

The debate on legislation on hpv vaccine now comes under the scanner when it has to be implemented in schools. The wide availability of the vaccine is a boon but there is still an opposition to the introduction of the vaccine in school mandates. This is mainly because of issues like the vaccine's cost, its safety in children and the parents' right to refuse vaccination for their child. Concerns about financing this costly vaccine are also being cited as a point against introducing it in schools. There are also questions raised about the need for insurance like Medicaid to cover such a vaccine.

Amid all the objections and concerns raised about the introduction and use of vaccine amongst children, the United States has allowed the vaccine to be easily accessible to one and all. The Center for Disease Control has announced that the vaccine will be available in all states through the federally funded program Vaccines for Children. The scope for coverage under this program is children between nine and eighteen years of age who are insured with Medicaid, Native-American, Alaskan-American and some under- and un-insured children.You can visit our website for more information about Genital warts and Genital Warts Treatments. We have a lot of articles about Genital Warts, Genital Wart Medication, Genital Wart Removal, Genital Wart Symptoms...]]> Antispam Organization Out There That's Fighting For You http://www.artwoo.com/article/antispam-organization-out-there-thats-fighting-for-you http://www.artwoo.com/article/antispam-organization-out-there-thats-fighting-for-you#comments Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:27:08 +0000 mailzealand australiaantispamspam lawnewsgroupsamerican samoahttp http://www.artwoo.com/article/antispam-organization-out-there-thats-fighting-for-you antispam organization out there that's fighting for you and could use your help.

CAUCE, the Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-, is an all-volunteer global entity that began as SPAM-LAW, a group brought together for discussion only. They put all their efforts into getting legislation passed that would help stop and penalize spam.

CAUCE has no treasury and no offices. Completely virtual, the organization exists on the Internet, in , and online discussion lists. Donations are not accepted because the CAUCE founders and members believe that would necessitate having to respond to numerous lobbying regulations.

CAUCE is now soliciting members, however. While the grassroots of the organization began in the United States - in San Francisco - there are chapters in other parts of the world as well, such as CAUCE Canada, CAUCE India, CAUBE.Au, which covers New Zealand, Australia and all Pacific Rim countries; and Europe's EuroCAUCE. CAUCE can boast more than 20,000 members in the U.S. alone, with all states represented. Even and Guam have antispam proponents who have jumped on the CAUCE bandwagon.

CAUCE makes use of their membership list and each member's individual information in one way only. They give that list to the relevant legislators to further the cause of antispam legislation. The purpose of this is to let these legislators know how many voters in their area are concerned about spam and the need for antispam legislation.

To join CAUCE you simple provide them with your full name and e-mail address, your mailing address, your congressional district, and choose a password.

If you don't know which congressional district you are in you can determine that by visiting http://www.house.gov/writerrep. Here you will be asked for your state and zip code. Not only will this tell you your district but it will also give you your legislator's name as well as a feedback form to write to her or him should you so desire.

CAUCE has been gaining national and international recognition as they battle for legislation to stop, curtail and punish spammers. As long ago as 1998, CAUCE went to congress to spur on antispam legislation, which did make it to the floor but was never passed. The latest attempt, again quashed, was a bill requiring spam tagging.

This bill would have forced convicted spammers to note on their messages some clue in the subject line that would tell folks that the message they received is from a convicted spammer. The law didn't pass, nor was it supported by CAUCE. CAUSE and legislators both agree that the law would have been spineless, lacking enforceability. They agreed that those who were already breaking the law by spamming were not likely to comply with some new law that said they had to notify people they were spammers.

The CAUCE web site, http://www.cauce.org, lists its hall of shame. Here you will find sites that have been known to send or support, or at least fail to block spammers. At this writing there are only six sites listed. Robert Michael is a writer for http://www.libantispam.com which is an excellent place to find antispam links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.libantispam.com ]]> Car Donation: A Classified Tax Deduction Donation http://www.artwoo.com/article/car-donation-a-classified-tax-deduction-donation http://www.artwoo.com/article/car-donation-a-classified-tax-deduction-donation#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:08:33 +0000 fair market valuesnecessary paperworkcar donationsdonation servicescharitable donationsdonating your car to charitydonating your car http://www.artwoo.com/article/car-donation-a-classified-tax-deduction-donation car donations.

A car donation is a good way to help those in need, since it involves to charity through car . These services make the donation easy and convenient by handling all the related tasks, from picking up your car to the .

Tax Deduction Donations

To reward , the government allows a tax deduction provided that donations are classified tax deduction donations, and a car donation is one of them. In the past, a tax deduction was based on the fair market value of the donated car. But then the government found out that individuals used car donations for the sole purpose of enjoying a tax deduction. And what was worse was that the claimed were not always accurate. These values considered only the make and model of the car, and did not consider the car's depreciated state. So what usually happened back than was that the gross sales amount of the donated car did not match the claimed fair market value and the tax deduction was a bloated value.

Revised Legislation

To correct this, the federal legislation governing car tax deduction donations was revised in 2005. But before you understand how the tax deduction from car donations is considered, you must first understand these two types of amounts:

• Gross Sales Amount. Car donation services usually sell your donated cars at auctions. The amount of the proceeds is what is called the gross sales amount.

• The fair market value of your donated car is the value that you and the car donation services agree upon.

The car tax deduction donations legislation generally allows the gross sales amount not exceeding $500 to be used as a tax deduction.

However, the car tax deduction donations legislation is not limited to the gross sales amount. An amount equivalent to the fair market value of the donated car can be used as a tax deduction provided that two conditions are met.

If the car is directly used for the charitable institution's causes: either used for their operations or donated for use to a needy individual or family, then the fair market value of the donated car can be used as the tax deduction. Another fair market value tax deduction condition is when the car donation services do any improvements on the car before its sale or donation. Moreover, the tax deduction using the fair market value of the donated car is not limited to $500. So if you donate a car, you may want to go with a car donation services that will use it directly for charitable causes especially if your car is in good running condition. But it should be said that the greatest benefit from a car donation is the opportunity to help those who are in need and not the tax deduction.

To be able to claim a tax deduction from a car donation, an acknowledgment receipt should be attached when you submit your income tax return. This AR should contain details such as your tax identification or social security number and the vehicle identification number. If your tax deduction claim is based on the fair market value, the AR should also contain details on the car's intended use and or the improvements done.Motor vehicle or car donations is the best way of Tax Deduction Donations. Car donations are eligible for fair market value tax deductions under the new tax laws when donated to programs such as that offered by United Society. United Society Donations is best source for Car Donation Tax Deduction program.]]> Washington State Outlaws Gambling And Speech http://www.artwoo.com/article/washington-state-outlaws-gambling-and-speech http://www.artwoo.com/article/washington-state-outlaws-gambling-and-speech#comments Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:32:08 +0000 washington state legislatorswashington state lawonline gamblinggambling informationgambling destinationgambling commissionbetting odds http://www.artwoo.com/article/washington-state-outlaws-gambling-and-speech
For years the federal government of the United States has tried to pass specific legislation to revise the Federal Wire Wagering Act. The most recent attempt is expected to pass the house, but it will most likely fail in the Senate. decided to take matters into their own hands by passing this new law. Since there is no contradictory federal law, the will face clear sailing.

The legislation does more than ban . It also bans talking about online gambling--quite the communist move by legislators. The legislation specifically outlaws the passing of any "." Furthermore, gambling information is defined as: "information as to wagers, and changes in betting odds shall be presumed to be intended for use in professional gambling." Technically, a blog that talks about a nationally televised sports game and mentions the "spread" would be in violation of the law and subject to penalty.

As expected, legislators are quick to point out that the law would not be used against individuals in this way. While that is all warm and fuzzy, the fact remains that the law is still on the books. Perhaps a better way to put it is that they don't currently plan to use it in this way--just wait until they need it. Also, if there was an ounce of truth to those statements, then how do you explain the official statement by Rick Day, the Executive Director for the Washington State ? When asked whether or not a site simply linking to an online was in violation he said, "If the site also has a link to a gambling site, then to us that's no different." According to this statement, simply linking to a site can get you charged with a Class C Felony.

There is further cause for concern here, in regards to the way laws are written and the precedence they set. It's possible other states will look at Washington State's actions and decide to enact something similar. Even if you are against gambling, are you also against censorship? Today it is gambling; tomorrow it is something you care about even more. See more on the Wise Bettor Network: http://www.wisebettor.com Horse Racing: http://www.horseracingwinner.com Football: http://www.wisebettorfootball.com ]]> Show Plates Are About To Change http://www.artwoo.com/article/show-plates-are-about-to-change http://www.artwoo.com/article/show-plates-are-about-to-change#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:14:58 +0000 highly likely thatvehicle number platesdvlairelandnumber plate recognitionloopholesterrorists http://www.artwoo.com/article/show-plates-are-about-to-change vehicle Number Plates has been regulated by law. The exact character font, colour,spacing,margins and even materials used in the production of a number plates are controlled by legislationion . Suppliers must also collect proof of I.D. and entitlement to the registration number concerned and every supplier must be registered with . However there were two big in the legislation in that it did not apply to N. or Scotland and also it was possible to supply non-conforming number plates by calling them show plates ( not for use on the public highway ).

It seems that these loopholes are about to be closed by extending the legislation to N.Ireland and Scotland ( at present it is possible to order just about anything from N.Ireland suppliers via the internet) and also by marking so called show plates conspicuously so that anyone using a show plate on the highway will be highly visible.The DVLA have published a consultation paper which is downloadable from their website and interested parties can make a response to the proposals contained in the paper.

It seems these new measures will be introduced as the recent success tracking suspected has demonstrated how powerful the ANPRS ( Automatic System ) can be in the fight against terrorism. It also will of course help with the detection of vehicles which are not taxed or insured.Both of which are commendable enough reasons for the introduction of these reforms.

It is not clear if these further measures will be sufficient to stamp out the use of false plate in major crimes and terrorism , they maybe enough to stop cruisers driving around with illegal plates but the really dangerous criminals and terrorists are almost certainly more tenacious than these offenders. Visit us at :- http://www.northumbrianumbers.com ]]> The Internet Gambling Prohibition A http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-internet-gambling-prohibition-a http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-internet-gambling-prohibition-a#comments Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:27:31 +0000 world series of pokeronline pokerpoker playersonline gamblinginternet gamblingoffshore gamblinggoogle http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-internet-gambling-prohibition-a online gambling industry, for that was the day that the House Judiciary Committee passed HR 4777, otherwise known as the Prohibition Act. Right on the heels of that passage came HR 4411, or the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement. The House Judiciary Committee favors that bill as well, and both bills seem likely to be reinforced when submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Justice propose to ordain Banks and credit card companies as "watchdogs" by empowering these establishments to deny any transfer of funds between the U.S. and sites. Electronic transfer of funds between a player in the U.S. and an internet gambling site would be labeled as "a criminal offense " under this new legislation.

In addition, internet service providers, AOL, , Yahoo, MSN, etc., would be required to cut off access to these sites from all computers in the U.S. thus effectively eliminating the possibility of a potential internet gambler to access these sites by computer.

These U.S. Government actions are already being bitterly opposed and contested by the multi-billion dollar gaming industry, and associations such as the Alliance. Michael Bolcerek, who is the president of the Poker Players Alliance claims that "These bills promote an egregious intrusion into the personal affairs of ordinary Americans." He further stated, "Poker is a uniquely American game enjoyed by more than 70 million people in this country. Simply putting the word internet in front of poker should not criminalize this American tradition and the people who play it. Let's take a step in the right direction in the favor of good public policy that assesses in the 21st century and not relive the mistakes of 1930's prohibition."

2004 Champion Greg Raymer, and online poker star Chris Savage both agree that Congress is taking a huge step toward the "big brother way of life." The players also said they would be against this legislation "even if we did not play poker."

Lawmakers sponsoring these bills made sure to exempt online horse racing and state-run lotteries, since distaste of the loss of revenue from these enterprises caused similar legislation to fail in Congress in 2000.

However, this favoring of state-run lotteries and online horse racing could prove to be the "Achilles heel" that could open the proposed laws to arguments of favoritism, and either prevent these bills from being passed or tie up the legislators and pro vs. con arguments.

It could further be pointed out by those who oppose this legislation that in countries such as England, online gambling is legal, government regulated and taxed. Kenneth Bateman writes numerous articles on the subject of online casinos. To read more of his articles on http://www.21-online-casinos.com ]]> Poker News - Be on the Cover Now! http://www.artwoo.com/article/poker-news-be-on-the-cover-now http://www.artwoo.com/article/poker-news-be-on-the-cover-now#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:02:02 +0000 jim mcdermottunited kingdomswayne stenehjemlegal perspectivepoker newsjudiciary committeecaribbean sea http://www.artwoo.com/article/poker-news-be-on-the-cover-now legal perspective, it may differ a little bit from the online casino gambling. Online poker is relatively legal and it is regulated in wide array of countries which comprise of various nations within the and notably the . In the place of United State particularly in North Dakota, their House of Representative passed a bill during the year 2005 of February with an aim to legalize as well as regulate online poker cardroom operators and the online poker per see. The primary aim of the legislation is to physically locate the whole operation in the state. It was Nigel Payne who testifed in front of the that they would have to relocate to the state just in case the bill is made into law.

Nonetheless, the measure was defeated during March 20005 by the State Senate later when the US Department of Justice provided a letter to who is North Dakota's attorney general. The letter contains the note that online gaming 'may' be regarded as illegal plus the pending legislation 'might' in one way or another violate the federal Wire Act. On the other hand, a lot of legal experts were against the claim of the DOJ.

Now, for the latest , many poker enthusiasts will be happy that Rep. (D-Wash.) wisely taken a new route in order to win the battle for poker acceptance by the Congress. It was poker news that everyone is talking about. Basically, he introduced a bill that will not mainly focus on the regularization of online gambling, nevertheless it will be able to earmark the income obtained through the collection of taxes for programs that will serve as an assistance to the U.S. citizens who are deeply in need, financially. Through this means, Rep. McDermott is pleading on his knee that those legislators who have beforehand opposed the regulation will be able to open their eyes not to vote against the bill.

The said Human Resources Act of 2008 (H.R. 6501) will be able to funnel revenue which may be as high as $40 billion in just a span of 10 years. This money will be used for programs that would grant job training for those people who belong to the struggling parts of the economy. Furthermore, this will also provide educational assistance that will foster children. In addition, the said legislation will also tender gambling safety and accountability. In view of this, it is not hard to imagine why the National Council on Problem Gambling approved such legislation.

The credit should be given to the two Democratic leaders in the person of Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) who is a vice chair of the Democratic Caucus and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), a chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee. This poker news will surely paint a smile on the faces of people who wanted nothing but to legalize their source of happiness and relaxation; online poker.Sean Moronse is a professional poker player. Visit his website and subscribe to his free ecourse on how to win using the latest Poker News and poker tournament strategy at http://www.SitNGoGenius.com]]> The Poker Tournament Craze http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-poker-tournament-craze http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-poker-tournament-craze#comments Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:27:11 +0000 mutuel bettingpari mutuelworld series of pokerpoker tournamentspoker championshipbuy insnevada casinos http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-poker-tournament-craze Poker tournaments are the hottest gaming events, and the , (WSOP) is the hottest of them all!

And best of all, for those who host these tournaments, particularly those hosting the WSOP, are the huge monetary rewards, with player buy-ins ranging from $1,000 entry fees to $10,000 buy-ins per player at the final table, and thousands more for special event buy-ins within the WSOP tournament, as well as sponsors literally throwing advertising money at the hosts to get a piece of the world-wide publicity accompanying these events.

Just about everyone addicted to watching poker tournaments would love to get in on the action, but, like most of us, the requisite skills and experience just aren't there. However, pending legislation in the State of Nevada may soon give anyone a chance to participate by betting on the tournament players. In other words, allowing what amounts to pari-mutuel or group wagering.

Pari-, in which gambler's wagers are pooled and paid out to winners, are common to such betting venues as horse racing, dog racing and Jai Alai. In pari-mutuel betting players bet against one another, and not against the house. The fewer gamblers who bet on the winner, the larger their share of the winnings.

A primary benefit to the casino's -- if this legislation is approved -- is that the casino's would not be risking their own money by setting the odds. Instead, they would take a "rake" off the top of the pot, as they do with racing events.

Gaining permission to engage in pari-mutuel betting on poker events would give the opportunity to tap a revenue resource that has traditionally been the domain of illegal bookies, who attend tournaments and take wagers on individual players and teams of players.

The pari-mutuel betting proposal is still another example of the Nation's gambling capital originating new ways of making it easier for people to place wagers. Wireless wagering on casino floors and casino games in admission charging venues such as nightclubs, is yet another example.

Actually, Nevada's new found interest in incorporating pari-mutuel betting into poker tournaments was really inspired by Internet casinos, who, years ago set long and short term odds on individual tournament players.

Still another motivating factor in prompting Nevada casino's to pursue this legislation, is the fact that in addition to the widespread and still growing public fascination with high-stakes high profile poker tournaments, enhanced television coverage of these events have made celebrities of the players themselves, who are achieving what amounts to stardom, with fan clubs and the like developing for the most popular players.

With poker fans being able to participate in the wagering, thus getting the "feel" that they are actually taking part in the tournament, this legislation, if approved looks like a sure winner for Nevada's gaming industry. Kenneth Bateman writes numerous articles on the subject of poker and its players. To read more player profiles, visit http://www.xlpoker.com ]]> Make The Most Of Your Income As A Contractor http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-the-most-of-your-income-as-a-contractor http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-the-most-of-your-income-as-a-contractor#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:19:59 +0000 ir35 legislationumbrella companiesumbrella companycompany actschanges in legislationtax legislationfinancial risk http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-the-most-of-your-income-as-a-contractor tax legislation surrounding contractors seems to get more and more convoluted every year.

The aim of the HMRC is to remove the tax advantages from contractors who are selling their services via partnerships, under umbrella or managed service companies. The view of those lovely people at the Revenue is that contractors are, in effect, full time employees and should be taxed accordingly. Contractors, unsurprisingly, do not agree.

The legislation that governs this often fraught relationship is IR35. IR35, in (very) brief, a ruling that states if you can be considered 'employed' by the company you are contracting your services to, then you are liable to pay tax and NI contributions as is you were directly employed by that company.

Some of the indicators that a contractor falls under the are as follows :

1)The contractor has no from working on the project in question.

2) The contractor does not use his own materials and/or equipment on the project.

3) The contractor has fixed hours, as a normal 'employee' would.

4) The contractor works soley for a single client and does not have several clients.

Contractors looking to maximize their income would be well advised to be aware of IR35 before signing any contracts. Avoiding IR35 can make a huge difference to a contractor's income.

Even better, they should, at the very least, speak to an accountant who has experience in dealing with contractors and freelancers.

In essence, contractors falling outside IR35 have two basic choices, now that Managed Service Companies have effectively been outlawed by recent .

The first choice is the .

An umbrella as your employer for tax purposes when undertaking a contract with either a client or employment agency.

raise invoices on your behalf and pay you once they have received the funds. Many umbrella companies pay you the same day they receive the funds, but some will pay you only once a month.

What you will receive from an umbrella company is a payslip detailing not only your tax and NI contributions (both employee and employer contributions), your umbrella company's fees and any expenses claimed.

Umbrella companies have a special dispensation that means that they can process some expenses without having to record them on a P11D. This does not mean that, if investigated, you don't have to produce receipts for all expenses. You do.

However, all expenses are processed by your umbrella company, making things very much simpler for you. Expenses that can be charged to your employment agency or to your client will be refunded to you in full, while those expenses which are not are processed as a tax benefit.

The second option available to UK contractors is setting up a limited company, where you, the contractor, become a shareholder and director in the company.

Usually, a limited company is the most tax efficient option for a contractor.

This is because a wider range of expenses can be claimed back as a limited company and the legislation governing things like capital allowances is far more detailed for limited companies. Accountancy fees, capital expenses such as machinery, research and development costs - all these things can be claimed back.

In practice, there isn't really that much paperwork involved, particularly if you choose to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to take care of such things as your VAT returns, monthly accounts and payroll.

The limited company offers a greater scope for reducing tax liability of contractors than does an umbrella company. One of the reasons is that, as a shareholder and directory of your company, you can choose to pay yourself a small wage but take the bulk of your income as dividends, thereby attracting smaller national insurance and tax liability.

Taking advice from accountants experienced in dealing with contractors should be your first step in ensuring you minimise your tax bill and maximise your earnings. At the very least, you will get to understand the issues and, perhaps more importantly, how much paperwork is involved in each of the options available to you. Jim Haines works for Just Accountants, a UK website where you can find accountants who specialize in services for contractors. Visit http://www.justaccountants.co.uk/ir35.html for more details. ]]> Citizens Owe Our Soldiers a New G.I. Bill http://www.artwoo.com/article/citizens-owe-our-soldiers-a-new-gi-bill http://www.artwoo.com/article/citizens-owe-our-soldiers-a-new-gi-bill#comments Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:50:16 +0000 senator james webbworld war ii veteransworld war iicredible leaderfictional schoolpresident rooseveltpresident reagan http://www.artwoo.com/article/citizens-owe-our-soldiers-a-new-gi-bill fictional school is in trouble: its image has been compromised by the murder, and the military benefits can't cover the full freight anymore.

In researching my story, I had to understand military recruiting as well as the G.I Bill. I found myself surprised that the college education benefits under the G.I Bill today are not as expansive as they were after . received full tuition, fees, books, a monthly stipend and reimbursements for training expenses. The original legislation signed by enabled 7.8 million World War II veterans to go to college, more than half of those who served. It also invigorated the growth of higher education in our country.

Since the original legislation passed in 1944, there have been subsequent G.I Bills, however, according the (D-Virginia) their benefits were more appropriate to a military in peacetime, not an armed forces at war. I agree, because a better benefits package will only help to recruit and retain a strong military. It will be a much easier sell for the recruiters too.

Webb, an ex-Marine and former Secretary of the Navy under the first President Bush, is the primary sponsor of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act to increase educational benefits to all members of the military who have served on active duty since 9/11. Webb, a former Republican who served under as well as the first President Bush, is a beneficiary of the G.I Bill and a more than on this issue.

Webb's proposed legislation will enable eligible veterans to receive 100 percent of the tuition and fees charged by the most expensive state university in their home state. While this is not a total return to the intentions of the original post-World War II G.I Bill, it is an extremely reasonable start, and an appropriate reward to those who have served with honor. Yet, the Bush Administration opposes the bill, even though the current president's father was himself a beneficiary of the original G.I Bill. They, along with the Defense Department, believe that it will hinder military recruitment and retention, though the bill is meant to do the opposite.

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama support Webb's bill. Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is not a co-sponsor, although he has announced plans to introduce his own legislation.

The major obstacle to a new GI Bill is cost and the addition a new entitlement raises the federal budget deficit at wartime. However, I'd like to offer one suggestion that may make a new GI Bill more palatable: prioritize recipients by time at combat. Those who have been stop-lossed would receive priority, followed by those who have been deployed into a combat zone at least once. It's only fair that the soldiers who have taken the greatest risk receive the greatest rewards.

I hope there will be a final piece of legislation that will pass with a bi-partisan, veto-proof majority--and you should too. It's only right that we help those who risked their lives on the way to getting their postwar lives started on the road from soldier to citizen.Contact Stuart Nachbar at Educated Quest, a blog on education politics, policy and technology or read about his first book, The Sex Ed Chronicle, a novel on education and politics in 1980 New Jersey, at Sex Ed Chronicles.]]> Politicians Put the Car Into CO2 http://www.artwoo.com/article/politicians-put-the-car-into-co2 http://www.artwoo.com/article/politicians-put-the-car-into-co2#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:50:19 +0000 kyoto targetscar journeyscarbon dioxide emissionmotor magazinesengine emissionscarbon emissionsforward areas http://www.artwoo.com/article/politicians-put-the-car-into-co2 carbon dioxide emission on the majority of their new models, according to environmental campaigners. A pan-European lobby group, Transport and Environment (T and E), has called the industry out for fighting against current EU legislation and, even more worryingly, proposed future limits.

Car travel contributes a large chuck of Europe's C02 limits, with individual being one of the most straight that people can address if they wish to reduce their carbon footprint. , despite increased public awareness on the issue of climate change, have continued to rise across the EU. Britain looks likely to meet its , however emissions from aviation and shipping, as well as other forms of transport, are not including in this carbon balance sheet, a fact which leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many environmental campaigners.

In fact, transport in the EU was responsible for just under 30% of all emissions in 2006, an increase of 35% on 1990's level. The assumption that car manufacturers, consumers and politicians, in being well informed about climate change, will naturally act to reduce emissions is clearly wayward. Transport and the Environment highlight the fact that the 14 biggest car manufacturers in the EU still have to reduce by 17% to reach the EU's 2012 targets.

Transport and Environment's report does not place responsibility solely at the door of the giant motor industry. It also found that car buyers were unwilling, as yet, to take the effort into leaving behind their penchant for gas guzzling past models in favour of low-emission, more environmentally friendly vehicles. A change in consumer culture would surely drive a response from the manufactures, who are, after all, as eager to meet the most up-to-date aspirations of their target demographic.

With and television programmes still dominated by an outmoded, puerile appetence for speedy and sex y cars, it seems unlikely that this change in culture is anywhere close to arriving.

The fact that many car adverts now tout their emissions levels gives some cause for hope, as it suggests that, at the very least, people are aware of the environmental issues that are so inherent with driving.

Whilst consumers are currently left to their own free will when considering their next car purchase, the manufactures are, in theory, being forced to alter the carbon emissions of their current models thanks to EU legislation, legislation that is expected to become more stringent in the immediate future.

The German manufacturer BMW was identified by the report as having made an effective step toward the goal of reducing the negative impacts that their cars have. In 2007 the manufacturer managed to cut the emissions of its entire fleet by just over 7%, through an engineering process designed to reduce carbon emissions.

Overall though the German car industry has been one of the most vocally opposed groups to influence its domestic politicians. Thanks to intensive lobbying Agela Merkel, their chancellor, has made a compromise with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, to reduce the penalties that car manufacturers will incur if they break the legislation. They also discredited the need for immediate efforts to be made to halt climate change by phasing in, rather than just introducing, target emissions, proof, if proof were needed, that politicians and businesspeople should be kept as far apart as gunpowder and naked flames.Matt Gammie is a writer for Ecoswitch]]> The End Is Near: Limited Liability Entities In New York State Must Act Today To Avoid Suspension http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-end-is-near-limited-liability-entities-in-new-york-state-must-act-today-to-avoid-suspension http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-end-is-near-limited-liability-entities-in-new-york-state-must-act-today-to-avoid-suspension#comments Mon, 21 May 2007 21:19:57 +0000 email alertsllecompliance issuescumbersomenew york timepublication processpursuant http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-end-is-near-limited-liability-entities-in-new-york-state-must-act-today-to-avoid-suspension LLE) that either was organized to the statutes or the state of New York or that is duly qualified to do business in New York, time is running out.

By this it is meant you have only until May 31, 2007, to make certain that you fully are in compliance with certain newspaper publication and filing requirements that went into effect in New York.



Specifically, if your LLE either was formed in New York or qualified to do business in the state between January 1, 1999, and June 1, 2006, you must make certain that your LLE is in compliance. The new law permitted a grace period of until the end of May to get into compliance. The legislation requires any LLE formed after June 1, 2006, to meet the newspaper publication and filing requirement no later than 120 days after formation or qualification.

The compliance process for your LLE actually is not that or complicated. In order for your LLE to become compliant, the following steps must be taken:

1.The notice that is required of an LLE pursuant to the new law must be duly published in an appropriate weekly newspaper as described in that legislation for six consecutive weeks.

2.Following the as described, a certificate of the publication together with the duly executed affidavits from the newspaper in which the notices were published must be filed.

The reality is that this process easily can require a 90 day period to make arrangements for publication, undertake the publication process itself and to make the appropriate filing. If you have not commenced the compliance process we have outlined for you, you must make certain that this process is underway immediately.



In order to ensure that your LLE is in complete compliance in the future, you will want to make certain that you sign up for our authoritative and legal updates. If you have any questions or concerns about the that have been discussed with you today, or any other issues regarding your LLE, feel free to contact us for a consultation either by telephone or via e-mail. Robert Masud, Esq. is the principal of Masud and Company LLC, a law firm for business, finance and the internet (http://www.masudco.com). ]]> How To Get A Career In Energy http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-get-a-career-in-energy http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-get-a-career-in-energy#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:19:51 +0000 energy efficiencyinsresidential dwellingsefficiency factorsefficiency reportsenergy efficientenergy legislation http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-get-a-career-in-energy residential dwellings.

One of the best energy courses to start your understanding of in the UK is called Energy Efficiency from A to Z. The energy course came about with the UK government understanding that the energy used in the United Kingdoms residential dwellings now represents the greatest part of the countrys total use of energy.

Regulations in both the UK and all of Europe now demand improvement in energy standards and energy-.

The first in a series of energy courses, this introductory one day look at energy efficiency is designed to teach domestic energy assessor candidates, builders, home owners, home buyers, landlords, property managers and any other interested individuals and organizations the and outs of making residential dwellings .

Included in the information of this and other energy courses will be a look at the UK legislation that regulates energy and the reasons behind the implementation. These courses will also study throughout other parts of Europe. This energy course will provide a practical look at the factors involved in making a home energy efficient.

Those who attend this energy course should, at the end of the day, know and understand several key energy . They should understand why it is important to become as energy efficient as possible, both from the eyes of the home dweller and the government.

They should have a clear understanding of all new and old legislation. One important law that they will fully study is the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings. Included as well will be country-specific building and housing regulations that have energy-efficient elements.

This and subsequent energy courses will define and study fuel poverty as well as ways to combat the problem. The course will teach home energy rating systems and the regulations for compliance.

Those who attend this energy course will learn as well about the various choices of heating, cooling and hot water controls and systems. They will be trained in comparison of the costs of each. They will be apprised of grants and other funding help that is available for those who want to improve on their homes energy efficiency.

They will learn the meaning and the value of renewable energy, as opposed to non-renewable fossil fuel use. They will also learn about ways to conserve on heating costs, through things like ventilation, insulation and reduction of condensation.

This, as with all the government-provided energy courses, is open to many. Attendees at these energy courses include front line energy assessment teams such as domestic energy assessors, members and staff of local authority agencies, staff of pertinent housing associations, health and medical care professionals, staff and managers of utility and other energy firms, homeowners, landlords, property management staff and potential home buyers. James Copper works for http://www.propertycareerskills.co.uk who offer energy assessor training courses for people who want a new career. ]]> Small Business Cheap Health Insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-cheap-health-insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-cheap-health-insurance#comments Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:27:07 +0000 affordable health insurancebusiness health insurancekansas healthstatecontactgovernor patakibenefit association http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-cheap-health-insurance state your business resides, there may be government help.

For instance, in the state of New York, has proposed and Legislature has approved and enacted a program called Healthy NY. This program assists small business owners in providing health insurance for their employees.

Similarly, the state of Ohio, allows Group Purchasing Arrangements (GPA's). This is where small and large employers may band together to purchase insurance plans and reap the benefit of lower premiums. Some are formed as a result of state legislation/regulation and others GPA's a re formed by associations.

Kansas has the Partners . Their mission is to help reduce the number of uninsured in their state by helping small business so that they may be able to offer to their employees.

A bill introduced on to the House of Representatives by Georgia Democratic Representative John Barrow. The purpose of the bill, H.R. 2073: Small Promotion Act of 2005 is to "...to provide tax subsidies to encourage small employers to offer affordable health coverage to their employees through qualified health pooling arrangements..."

This is a proposal before Congress. It would have to be passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President before it is law. Get involved, your representative. Tell them to vote in favor of this proposal. After all, we elected them to do our bidding.

Bottom line, if you're a small business, visit your state's web site to see what legislation has been passed in your state. Additionally, check to see if there are program in existence that offer you help in providing health insurance for your employees. http://www.myquoteguide.com/ http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/ http://www.ezquoteguide.com/car/ ]]>