Dr. Boozman's Check-up

On Death and Taxes

Apr 17 2015

Benjamin Franklin once said, “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

That doesn’t mean death itself should be taxed.

Death should not force the sale of family farms or the closure of small businesses. Hardworking Americans should be allowed to pass along the results of their success, which they were already taxed on during their lifetime, to their families without having to pay even more to Washington when they pass away.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a bill to permanently abolish the estate tax, more commonly referred to as the death tax. It passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 240 to 179.

Over in the Senate, we recently approved an amendment to the Budget that encourages Congress to eliminate the death tax.  I supported that effort, but we still need to pass separate legislation that makes the repeal a reality.

That is why yesterday’s action in the House was so important. Likewise, a companion bill in the Senate, which I am cosponsoring, is of equal importance. I will be working with my colleagues to get either of these bills passed during the 114th Congress.  

According to a study by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the former director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, repealing the death tax would create 1.5 million additional small business jobs and would decrease the national unemployment rate by nearly one percent. This could be an important boost to our economy, which clearly continues to lag under the Obama Administration’s watch. Repeal of the death tax will allow job creators to grow their operations, instead setting aside those resources to pay an unfair penalty to Uncle Sam.

Part of the American Dream is to build an inheritance that will benefit our future generations. The death tax works against that idea by making planning and passing on family farms and businesses to the next generation even more difficult. That’s why the death tax needs to eliminated. 

In case you missed our interview with Jonesboro’s KASU radio, you can listen to the interview here. We talked about foreign affairs issues including Iran, coalition efforts to defeat ISIS and the deteriorating situation in Yemen. We also discussed trade, our recent visit to Jonesboro, our efforts to get VA to reimburse Arkansas medical facilities for services they provide our veterans and the upcoming Senate Ag Committee on Cuba trade. 

Arkansas hospitals and other healthcare providers are facing hurdles to getting reimbursed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after providing medical care for veterans. 

I’ve heard concerns from more than 60 health facilities around Arkansas about billing and payment issues with VA. Some claims have been pending for years. 

As the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports “The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs owes Arkansas health care facilities approximately $24 million for care they've given to VA patients, according to the Arkansas Hospital Association.” 

I’m concerned that the reimbursement times will have a negative impact on veterans healthcare. Working together to resolve billing and payment matters will ensure our veterans receive the healthcare they earned and our health facilities get the payments they are owed. 

On Wednesday, my office hosted an event with Arkansas healthcare providers and VA officials from Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 16) in Flowood, Mississippi, and the Veterans Health Administration Chief Business Office, Purchased Care in Denver, Colorado, to address issues that can influence the time it takes for reimbursement to Arkansas healthcare facilities including processing and coding. 

Learn more about this issue and the meeting:

 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette “$24M in claims still unpaid, Arkansas hospitals tell VA” (subscription required) 

Arkansas Business Journal “John Boozman’s Staff Talks Reimbursement with Health Providers”

 

 

Jonesboro – U.S. Senator John Boozman toured Northeast Arkansas and heard from business owners, service organizations and veterans program organizers how federal laws, rules and regulations are impacting their growth and services.

Boozman, toured the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. The facility opened in 2013 and serves more than 90 nonprofit agencies in 12 counties in the region. As a member of the Congressional Hunger Caucus, Boozman is committed to promoting public-private partnerships to combat hunger and food insecurity.

Boozman also toured Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc. Hytrol designs and manufactures some of the most advanced conveyor systems in the material handling industry. In 1962 the company relocated to Jonesboro and today it employs more than 700 people.

The Senator discussed Second Amendment issues at the Black Iron Shooting Range with the owners, including the recent attempt by the Obama Administration to reclassify common rifle ammunition as “armor-piercing.”

As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Boozman is committed to providing our veterans with the benefits and services they earned for their service to our country. Boozman toured ASU’s Beck Pride Center to discuss veteran issues including legislation introduced and passed by Congress to improve VA mental health services and the VA’s recent expanded eligibility for veterans to qualify for the Choice Act.

Learn more about his visit:

Jonesboro Sun - Boozman discusses Iran, gun rights (subscription required) 

Talk Business & Politics - Sen. Boozman Tours Hytrol Factory In Jonesboro

The Paul Harrell Program John Boozman interview 4-8-15

Mountain Home – U.S. Senator John Boozman toured Mountain Home’s Eaton Corporation on Tuesday, April 7. Eaton, a world leading power management company, employs more than 400 people in the Mountain Home area. The north Arkansas facility is one of the world’s largest producers of synthetic rubber and hydraulic hose for commercial construction. Following the tour, Boozman visited with KTLO about ways Washington can help create an economic environment that encourages job growth.

KFFB Open Mic

Apr 03 2015

There is a lot going on in Washington. I joined KFFB’s Bob Connell to talk about the debates underway in the nation’s capital and some of the issues that are concerning to Arkansans. If you missed our conversation earlier this week you can listen to the interview here where we talk about preventing a nuclear Iran and protecting our Second Amendment and the second part of our interview when we discussed improvements to veterans health services and our efforts to prevent illegal immigrants’ ability to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.

I wrote the following piece for the Jonesboro Sun (subscription required) about the EPA's overreaching efforts to exert federal control over almost all state and local waters.

Let Arkansans Have a Say in Environmental Protection
by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR)
Jonesboro Sun
Sunday, March 29, 2015 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bureaucrats in Washington, DC want you to think there are only two options: either give them wide-ranging power to control how we protect our environment, or live with dirty air and dirty water.

Arkansans know better. State and local work to protect the environment makes sense. It empowers citizens to speak up and be heard, and it allows us to weigh the costs and benefits of new rules. The frustration shared by many Arkansans is the direct result of an agency that often abuses its authority, forcing unnecessary costly mandates on them. And to add insult to injury, many times these mandates fail to provide honest environmental protection.

Last March, the EPA proposed the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule that could impose federal mandates over ditches, puddles and other waters that have never been controlled by Washington. This EPA power-grab violates the intent of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which provides water quality protection through partnerships between the federal government and the states. CWA does not provide unlimited power to the federal government.

Earlier this week, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge testified on this topic before the Senate Agriculture Committee. As a member of the Committee, I appreciated her testimony. She highlighted the “questionable legal basis for the proposed rule.” While displaying a printed copy of the massive rule, she explained that it “fails miserably at offering any clarity” for farmers and other land owners.

Over one million comments have been submitted to the EPA. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has doubled down on this rule, despite the opposition of more than 160 agricultural organizations and more than 70 non-agriculture organizations, including Arkansas groups like the Arkansas Associated Builders and Contractors and Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association.

For the past year, thousands of Arkansas farmers, ranchers, foresters and landowners have shared their concerns with me about the impact of the proposed WOTUS rule. The costs of permits and extended delays would add up quickly. We all pay these costs when we go to the grocery store or the lumber yard. As a voice for the Natural State, I am fighting against this agency overreach.

My colleagues and I have questioned the head of the EPA, Gina McCarthy, at several hearings. We have urged the Obama Administration to withdraw this harmful proposal. Despite what the proposed rule says, during our hearings, the head of the EPA has testified that the agency does not intend to take additional control of water. Since the EPA says it does not want to grab more power, at a minimum Congress should vote to hold the EPA to the commitments made in these hearings. Ultimately, I believe Congress must pass legislation to completely reject this rule and protect the role of states, local communities and citizens.

We must protect water quality, but we can do this without giving all power to Washington. Local citizens, including farmers and landowners have rights we must defend. I will continue to stand for Arkansas as long as I serve as your Senator.

Ag Committee examines the impacts of the EPA’s proposed overreaching water rule, Arkansas veterans getting a new state veterans home, Franklin and Yell counties improving first responders capability and the Senate approves a budget. Read more about this busy week in Washington in this Week in Review. 

  • Rein in the IRS: As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee I'm working to rein in the IRS and hold the agency accountable to the taxpayers. Read my blog post. 
  • Obamacare Anniversary: On Monday, we recognized the fifth anniversary of Obamacare becoming law. It’s not an anniversary worth celebrating. With a price tag in the trillions, the law creates more problems than it solves. It drives up health care costs, busts our budget, stifles job growth and raises taxes on hardworking Arkansans. 
  • North Little Rock State Veterans Home: We received great news for Arkansas veterans. The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs approved a 30 acre land transfer. This is a critical step in building a new veterans home in central Arkansas. 
  • Golden Triangle Video: Members of the Golden Triangle Economic Development Council updated me on the economic improvements and needs of South Arkansas. I appreciated hearing about their efforts and how we can help create an environment that encourages job growth and development. MyArklaMiss highlighted a video of the group’s visit. 

Secretary of State John Kerry once said, that when it comes to negotiating with Iran about its nuclear weapons program, “No deal is better than a bad deal.”

Now it appears he is negotiating for any deal.

The Obama Administration is considering what was once unacceptable—allowing the Iranians to maintain the capacity to continue enrichment activities at Fordow. This is no ordinary site. It is a fortified, underground military bunker built into the side of a mountain. It was constructed in secret and serves one purpose—to covertly produce weapons-grade highly enriched uranium. 

The Associated Press reports that “[I]n return, Iran would be required to scale back the number of centrifuges it runs at its Natanz facility and accept other restrictions on nuclear-related work.” 

Citing officials involved in the talks on background, the Associated Press story indicates that instead of uranium, any centrifuges at the Fordow facility “would be fed elements such as zinc, xenon or germanium for separating out isotopes used in medicine, industry or science.” 

Any agreement of this nature would rely on Iran’s commitment to allow international inspectors to verify compliance. This is far too much trust to place in a regime that regularly deploys double-talk, delay tactics and manipulation when it comes to dealing with the international community. There is absolutely no reason, given the regime’s history, to believe that international inspectors will have the ability to honestly see what is going on at Fordow. None. 

This troubling report shows the negotiations have moved a long way from the Obama Administration’s original position that Fordow must be shuttered. We have reached a point in the negotiations where the U.S. and our allies have conceded the upper-hand to the Iranians.

If this report is accurate, we will not achieve what the President promised at the onset of these talks. If President Obama is unwilling to walk away from a bad deal, once the guiding principle of the negotiations, Congress must have the authority to reject it.

Reining in the IRS

Mar 25 2015

It’s clear why Americans distrust the IRS. From abusing its enforcement of tax laws to paying millions of dollars in bonuses to employees, this agency is known for misusing taxpayer dollars.

The American people deserve better.

Instead of making taxpayers its number one priority, it’s clear that IRS Commissioner John  Koskinen’s primary focus is IRS employees. Last week he sent an email to more than 80,000 IRS workers touting his ability to cut the budget to protect the priority of the IRS’ union – no furlough days this year.

Instead of working to regain the public’s trust, the IRS wants more money and more authority over the speech of political groups.

The President’s budget requests a $2 billion increase for the IRS in the next fiscal year. This is unrealistic and busts the budget cap established by the Budget Control Act.

And what exactly does the agency need this money for?

Koskinen says the agency is considering expanding “a yet-to-be-released rule governing 501(c)(4), “social welfare” groups, to include political groups known as 527s, which focus on elections” according to Politico. It appears that he has yet to learn lessons that cost his predecessor her job.

The IRS has a history of overreach. Two years ago we learned the agency targeted political groups, singling them out for additional scrutiny because of their ideological views. Now it wants authority to police political non-profits.

The agency needs to focus on regaining the trust of the American people, but I’m concerned this potential rule will continue to erode the already fragile relationship that the public has with the IRS.