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Dec 6, 2011
| USA Today
States want to direct flow of Gulf oil spill fines
... two bills circulating in Congress, both known as the RESTORE Act, propose to funnel 80% of those fines to the Gulf Coast to be spent on projects ranging from rebuilding damaged marshes to marketing campaigns aimed at bolstering Gulf tourism. A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Wednesday in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. A similar bill is being reviewed in committees in the Senate.
Nov 30, 2011
| Fox News
White House Sidelines Christmas Tree 'Tax'
The White House has decided to sideline a proposed fee on Christmas trees, after the fee was ridiculed by critics as a tax on Christmas.
Nov 30, 2011
| Associated Press
USDA yanks Christmas tree fees after criticism
Is the Obama administration really taxing Christmas trees? No, but the White House said Wednesday it was reversing its decision to approve an industry-sponsored Christmas tree promotion program after conservatives accused the Agriculture Department of spoiling Christmas with a new tree tax.
Nov 10, 2011
| Times-Picayune
Gulf Coast lawmakers optimistic about garnering 80% of BP oil spill fines
WASHINGTON -- Despite support from President Barack Obama and influential congressional Republicans, a bill that would channel 80 percent of BP oil spill fines to the Gulf Coast is far from enactment. Louisiana lawmakers remain upbeat, pointing to the bipartisan support for the legislation, approval by a key Senate committee and a scheduled Dec. 7 hearing on the bill in a House panel.
Oct 25, 2011
| USA Today
Obama takes bipartisan heat on energy policy
As his re-election campaign heats up, President Obama finds himself in an awkward position trying to defend his environmental policies against Republicans and disillusioned environmentalists who backed his campaign in 2008.
Oct 25, 2011
| Times-Picayune
Coastal restoration funding vital
Because restoring Louisiana’s coast is not just a matter of fairness, but a matter of survival, I am glad that House members from both sides of the aisle joined together to introduce a bill that will ensure that 80 percent of penalties paid by BP and others responsible for last year’s Gulf oil disaster are used to help restore the region, not for unrelated federal spending.
Oct 25, 2011
| The Advocate
House to address BP fine split
Chances for Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, to share in 80 percent of BP fine money got a boost Wednesday when legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives.
Oct 25, 2011
| Gannett
Gulf Coast lawmakers reach compromise on BP oil-spill fine money
After months of negotiations, Gulf Coast lawmakers reached a compromise and introduced a bill in the House Wednesday that would steer most of the fines collected from the BP oil spill to the region for recovery efforts.
Oct 25, 2011
| ABC News
GOP’s Alternative Buffett Rule: Voluntary ‘Tax Me More’ Check Box on IRS Form
Having condemned President Obama’s “Buffett Rule” proposal to raise taxes on some millionaires as “class warfare,” Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., proposed his own solution to billionaire Warren Buffett’s complaints that he paid a lower tax rate than his secretary.
Oct 25, 2011
| The Daily Caller
GOP congressman introduces his own ‘Warren Buffett Act’
Louisiana Republican Rep. Steve Scalise will introduce his own Warren Buffett-inspired legislation tonight, but this one has the support of conservatives like Grover Norquist.
