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Today, the National
Grange National President, Kermit Richardson, Sent a Letter to President Bush
Regarding Grange's position on the Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003. His letter
is as follows: May
22, 2003 The
Honorable George W. Bush
Executive Office of the President
1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500 Dear
President Bush: On
behalf of the nearly 300,000 Grange members across the nation, I strongly urge
you to sign the Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003 as soon as Congress completes
final passage of this historic legislation. Thus legislation is needed to restore
confidence in our economy, especially in farming and rural communities across
our nation. Since
1867, the National Grange has provided a legislative voice for families, farmers
and rural communities. Grassroots policies adopted at our 136th Annual Convention,
held last November in Portland, OR, make it clear that tax reform is at the top
of the agenda for the National Grange. We strongly urge you to sign the Jobs and
Growth Tax Act of 2003 because it will accelerate income tax reductions that are
already scheduled to take place, creating flatter and fairer income tax system.
We support provisions to eliminate the "marriage penalty" and accelerate the $1000
per child federal income tax credit. We strongly support provisions in the Jobs
and Growth Tax Act to increase capital expensing for small businesses and farms
from a current maximum of $25,000 per year to $100,000. Finally, we strongly endorse
reductions in the maximum level of taxation for capital gains and dividends to
15%, in order to encourage new investment in jobs in rural communities and to
support small and beginning family farmers. We
also believe that $20 billion for additional federal funding for states during
this time of economic slow down , especially in the area of Medicaid, is warranted
as a means of sharing the burden of "unfunded mandates" that the federal government
has imposed on states over the years. We
would also strongly urge you to consider making the elimination of the "death"
tax permanent as part of any future tax proposal that your Administration sends
to the Congress. The
National Grange appreciates your Administration's strong commitment to addressing
the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural Americans. Your Administration's commitment
to support sensible and immediate tax reform to help stimulate the economy will
greatly benefit rural America. We strongly urge you to sign the Jobs and Growth
Tax Act of 2003 as soon as possible. Sincerely,
Kermit W. Richardson,
Master (President)
National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry For
your Reference: HR
2, The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 S
2, The Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003 Action
Plan --- Please contact President Bush to urge him to sign the Jobs and Growth
Tax Act of 2003
Email: president@whitehouse.gov
Phone: 202-456-1111 (Comments)
Phone: 202-456-1414 (Switchboard)
Fax: 202-456-2461 If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank you for your grassroots participation
in the National Grange Legislative program. Want
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