Press Releases
Kaptur was interviewed by Dan Moulthrop on "The Sound ofIdeas," which has been recognized as the best radio program in Ohio.
Kaptur called health insurance reform "a very historicmoment for our country," ranking it with Social Security and Medicare. "It does take a step in the direction ofcovering those who remain uninsured in our country and making sure thateveryone who is insured has more competition and private insurance plans thatare more competitive for our people."
Congresswoman Kaptur said she was convinced that the legislation will maintain existing law on abortion. “We have received assurances that we will be able to work with the Administration to assure that existing law is maintained—not to change it in any way, but to make sure that it applies to this bill.”
The HIRE ACT includes:
· Tax incentives for small businesses to write offup to $250,000 in any new investments that they make in equipment this year;
· A payroll tax holiday for businesses that hireunemployed workers, which is estimated to create 300,000 jobs;
· A $1,000 tax incentive for businesses thatretain unemployed workers for at least 52 weeks;
Joining Geithner at today's hearing were the other two members of the so-called "troika" of economic policymakers: Councilof Economic Advisers chair Christina Romerand Officeof Management & Budget director Peter Orszag.
Congresswoman Kaptur released the following statement today following the Democratic Caucus' decision to further limit earmarks in the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations process:
"Chairman Obey deserves credit for taking unprecedented steps to reform earmark procedures and eliminating the potential for abuse.
"Under his leadership, the committee has increased transparency, cut the dollar amount of earmarks almost by half, and now limited earmarks to non-profit entities.
The measure passed the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 4.
“We have 40,000 workers unemployed in the Ninth Congressional District, and we need aggressive action on jobs,” said Congresswoman Kaptur. Besides creating the tax holiday, the HIRE Act includes a $1,000 income tax credit for businesses that retain the unemployed workers whom they hire.
“The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act will save money for our seniors and more than 150 billion taxpayer dollars over the next decade,” said Congresswoman Kaptur. “The only parties who benefit from the current arrangement are the drug companies.”
The Bush Administration in 2004 prevented the federal government from negotiating with private pharmaceutical companies for discounts on drugs that are bought in bulk for the Medicare Part D program.
Kaptur, who co-chairs the House Jobs Now! Caucus, said credit unions can help fill the gap left by the mega-banks, “which even now seem to be more interested in gambling on high-risk instruments such as derivatives than providing credit to worthy customers.”
She noted that 30 credit unions are headquartered in the Ninth Congressional District.