Senate Proceeding on May 7th, 2009 :: 2:56:30 to 3:03:35
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2:56:28 to 2:56:48( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: arkansas plan to help move our state and hard-working families forward. together these tax measures will allow working families and small businesses to get ahead and emerge from this economic crisis stronger and more competitive than ever before. to entrepreneurship, to create new jo and lessen or dependence on

2:56:30 to 3:03:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Blanche Lincoln

2:56:49 to 2:57:09( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: foreign oil. and also to reduce the burden on workg families and small businesses by simplifying our ever complicated tax code. this week, madam president, i'm focused on measures that will allow working families and small businesses to emerge from the economic csis stronger and more competive.

2:57:10 to 2:57:30( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: i've reintroduced the small business health options program which would make health insurance more affordable, predictable and accessible for small businesses and self-employed individuals. our shop bill offers tax incentives to encourage states to reform poorly functioning small group insurance markets and encourages the development of state purchasing pools, back

2:57:31 to 2:57:51( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: stopped by a voluntary nationwide pool. the majority of uninsured americans are self-employed individuals and employees of small businesses. small businesses are the number one source for jobs in our great state of arkansas. yet, only 29% of businesses with few ter than 50 employees offer

2:57:52 to 2:58:14( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: heth insurance coverage because it is simply too expensive. of arkansas' total uninsured population more prohibition little 295,000 arkansans are employed by airm with 100 or fewer employees. our shop bill is a pragmatic

2:58:15 to 2:58:36( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: model for larger health reform legislation that to address the needs of the millions of working uninsured americans, madam president, whose top quality and affordable health care for their families. what we are looking for, madam president, is to be able to give small businesses, their

2:58:37 to 2:58:58( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: employees, and self-employed individuals the access to the same kind of quality and affordab health insurance that we enjoy as members of congress. so i think it's a very doable to continuing my work with senator snowe and others object a -- on a plan that we have worked on for years now. whether it is de independently

2:58:59 to 2:59:19( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: or in the context of a hair refm package, madam president, it is time -- health care reform, is time to do something for small businesses and the self-employed because the largest component of the uninsured that we could really do something substantive for. another piece of my arkansas plan is legislation to help

2:59:20 to 2:59:42( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: arkansas taxpayers who have seen their investments disappear as a result of deteriorating economic conditions. my proposal would allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 cap they have now, an individual can deduct annually for capital losses

2:59:43 to 3:00:03( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: more than 100,000 arkansans cot on such investmen many families have seen the value of their investment plummet during the economic cris. the resulting losses from the dramatic downturn in the market have been felt by all investors, but probably the hardest hit, madam president, those taxpayers at or near retirement age who

3:00:04 to 3:00:26( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: are counting on such funds for their this gives them a little bit of ease. i've also for working families act, which would encourage low and middle-income families to establish savings accounts for the purchase of a first accounts for the purchase of a first home, a college education

3:00:27 to 3:00:48( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: or to start a smart first business. these individual accounts have a proven track record of success in arkansas. in addition today i introduced the family tax relief act to help the families of mo 140,000 arkansas children afford the cost of child care. if you look around this nation and the hardworking americans

3:00:49 to 3:01:09( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: and particularly in arkansas who are in need of child care, good quality child care to be able to -- and to be able to pay for it, this is a substantial difference in these economic times that helps them achieve that goal. also today i introduced a bill to update rules for the s-corporations so that businesses can access capital

3:01:10 to 3:01:30( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: and have the opportunity to expand and create the much-needed jobs that arkansans need. together, madam president, i believe these bills will equip the working families and the small businesses of the great state of arkansas with the resources needed to navigate the current crisis. next week my arkansas plan will

3:01:31 to 3:01:52( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: focus on encouraging american innovation an entrepreneurship -- and entrepreneurship. to create new jobs here at home and lens our foreign oilism will introduce a series of energy, research, an development and workforce tax, i look forward to introducing

3:01:53 to 3:02:13( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: reform measures to sism my pie the tax code and reduce the burden of arkansas working families and businesses by working to build a tax structu that is fair and equitable for all americans. i encourage my colleagues to look at the commonsense measures to see how it will benefit their

3:02:14 to 3:02:35( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: own constituents in this great lafnld throughout my -- great land. throughout my can rear i have made arkansas my top priority. i will continue our families the relief they need and business owners the tools that they require to invest and grow and become successful and continue toe competitive.

3:02:36 to 3:02:58( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: we've got a great country, madam president, and each of us feels very particular about our states. i come from a seventh generation arkansas farm family. my home is very precious to me. and i reiterate what i started my conversation with and that is our greatest asset and our greatest resource in the state of arkansas are our people.

3:02:59 to 3:03:19( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: they're hardworking, innovative, they're stalwart in coming together to help one another and to help this great country. whether they're small business individuals or whether they serve in the armed forces, whether they're teaching our children or caring for our aging parents and elderly. they're wonderful people and they deserve our utmost attention.

3:03:20 to 3:03:35( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: i would be willing to bet to a of my colleagues that the arkansas plan that i put together which i think will benefit arkansas' small businesses and working families will also benefit the wonderful woing families all across this countries in each of your states.