Taxation & Estate Planning

Fools Rush In...
So, the Senate approved the "Splurge" last night... 74 to 25. Now it's the House's turn... what will they do? I suspect they'll turn tail and pass it. Sad. Look, I am a middle class guy, living in a middle class suburb, working a middle class job...

Residual vote rate in AZ drops
The residual vote rate in AZ has dropped, based on unofficial election returns.  The estimated rate for 2008 was 1.1%, compared to 1.3% in 2004 and 1.7% in 2000.  Write-ins have yet to be recorded, which will reduce the residual vote rate even further...

Downward Mobility: The Formerly Middle Class
The popular press (and to some degree academics as well) likes to focus on the middle class squeeze, see House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform page on the Middle Class Squeeze here, which when combined with the economic downturn...

Presidential Candidates' Tax Proposals
The following is from the latest GiftLaw eNewsletter's Washington Hotline: Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's Proposals Middle Class Tax Cuts - The general goal of the Obama plan is to cut taxes for the middle class and raise taxes for higher-income persons...

CA1: Contribution train wreck
Rio Mar Assoc. L.P. v. UHS of Puerto Rico, Nos. 07-1868, 07-2005 (4/10/08). In this case, Selya needs to reduce the use of big words, since there are complex issues of civil procedure involving members of the upper middle class...

CNN on What is Middle Class
CNN.com has posted an short intro definition piece on defining the Middle Class. -E.R. erosser@wcl.american.edu

Real Estate Brokers
Questions home sellers should ask potential brokers

Real Estate Brokers
The role brokersplay

Paxil Lawsuit
Paxil Claims, Lawsuits, and Injuries

Truth In Lending Act
Consumer Loans and Consumer Credit Protection Act

Gulf War Syndrome
Panel Confirms it's Real, and Identifies Causes

Middle Eastern Discrimination
Cruise lines to pay $485,000 settlement in employment lawsuit.

Auction Rate Securities
ARS stocks purchased from a brokerage

Nail Guns
Injury Rate More Than Doubles in Three Years

JP Morgan Chase & Co
Faces Lawsuit Over Hikes in Credit Card Interest Rate

Nobel Biocare Nobel Direct
alleging dental implants have a high failure rate.