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HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED
New Mexicans have consistently served our country. This is an opportunity to continue our tradition of honoring and remembering the sacrifices New Mexicans have made for the preservation of freedom worldwide.
It’s near a century since American doughboys liberated France and its neighbors from the invaders. Perhaps you’ve seen photos from the time showing young girls rushing into the streets with huge bows in their hair, huge bouquets in their arms, and heart-felt smiles on their faces...welcoming the allies.
As a young Air Force officer, I discovered that that gratitude still lives in the hearts of the great-grand children of those who welcomed us so long ago.
So, when I learned that The National Cemetery in Santa Fe will be closing its doors to veterans within the next eight years, I thought it was time to introduce legislation to designate a new National Cemetery in or near Albuquerque... because our veterans deserve that final measure of respect for their service, a place of honor in a national cemetery. |
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True or False: The excise tax imposed to fund the Spanish American War in 1898 is still being imposed on American families today? |
True!
Enacted in 1898 to raise emergency funds during the Spanish American War, a federal telephone excise tax is still in place in the 21st century. At its inception, this tax was intended to be a luxury tax on long-distance service. In 1898, when telephone and long-distance services were outrageously expensive and usage was limited, an excise telephone tax was easily justified as a luxury tax, for expensive, non-essential goods or services. Despite numerous attempts over the past century to repeal this egregious tax, it is still with us today and was set permanently at 3 percent in 1990.
Later this week, the House of Representatives will vote to repeal this outdated and outrageous tax. |
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