Tag: Business

McCain Pushes Nukes

Sen. John McCain proposed Wednesday to dramatically increase America’s commitment to nuclear power, calling for a crash program to build 45 reactors by 2030 and a long-term goal of building 100 such plants across the country.

McCain has long been a proponent of nuclear power. But his speech here included unabashed support for an energy source and technology that has been suspect in many communities since the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979, the most serious commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history.

No nuclear power plant has been built in America in more than 30 years, and few U.S. companies have invested in the technology to build new plants. The nation draws about 20% of its electricity from 104 working commercial reactors, but many are nearing the end of the operating period allowed by their licenses

I agree that Nukes are probably going to be part of the answer to global warming.  But it should not be considered until there is a foolproof method of disposing of the waste.  But right now the industry gets taxpayer money in the form of subsidies.  I will support it when the waste thingy is solved and there is an end to government subsidies for the industry.  Think about it, if the industry cannot finance itself, why should the American people help?

US Companies Call For Passage Of Tax Extenders

The companies did not waste anytime trying to make sure that their tax cuts and such stay in place.  Tax cuts help the bottom line and that is what is most important….gotta keep the investors in cash.

Hundreds of companies signed on to a statement calling for the U.S. Senate to renew tax provisions expiring at the end of the year, citing a potential negative impact on the U.S. economy if Congress doesn’t approve an extension measure.

The Senate on Tuesday swatted down a bill introduced by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., to extend expiring tax cuts and provide incentives for renewable energy. The Senate voted 50-44 on a procedural motion on the bill, falling 10 votes shy of the necessary votes to move forward to debate the tax package.

“Failure to act this summer on tax extender legislation will have significant negative consequences for the U.S. economy,” the letter said. “The value of the legislation to the U.S. economy and the need to act quickly at this critical time should be the dominant considerations.”

Most of the opposition to the bill in the Senate came from Republicans, who argued that the tax extension shouldn’t have to be offset with tax increases. Baucus said Tuesday that he hopes to negotiate an agreement with Republicans on the tax extensions in “a week, (or) a week and a half.”

The Senate bill, largely similar to legislation passed by the House in May, renews for one year expiring business tax cuts such as the research tax credit, quicker depreciation for restaurant properties, and a tax break for overseas financing income.

It would extend production tax credits for wind energy by one year, and for energy generated by biomass, hydropower and geothermal energy by three years. It would extend the solar energy investment tax credit for eight years.

Gays Could Be Big Business

A California Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday clears the way for gay marriage ceremonies that could bring a business windfall to San Francisco and other cities starting this month.

“The economic impacts will be huge,” said David Paisley, a senior projects manager at Community Marketing Inc.

Estimates suggest that gay weddings will pump $684 million into the California economy in three years, said Lee Badgett, research director of the Institute on Sexual Orientation, Law & Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I think you’re going to see tens of thousands of couples and their families descend on San Francisco,” Mayor Gavin Newsom said. “People are looking at this as an opportunity to come and support their families, their partners and also the city’s economy.

Strategies for wooing the market include a “Marriage For All” campaign to coincide with the Gay Pride Parade, which will fill city streets with more than 1 million spectators in late June.

Headlines have already caused a spike in traffic at Gayweddings.com, which helps users find gay-friendly vendors and resources, said company president Kathryn Hamm. In May, traffic on its vendor’s page was up 38 percent over last year.

Joie de Vivre, a boutique hotel company with 37 facilities in California, is planning honeymoon packages that will appeal to gay clients.

Chasing this opportunity capitalizes on two trends — destination weddings and gay tourism, a lucrative market because same-sex couples often share two paychecks without children, leaving more disposable income for travel and luxury, Paisley said.

Another reason to push the marketing now is that gay marriage may not be legal for long. In November, California voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman.