TARP Funds for Small Banks & Businesses
The Obama administration is planning to open TARP funds up to small banks (those with less than $1 billion in assets). This effort is designed to put new money into the business credit loans, an area of finance still suffering from the recession. Many small businesses depend on such loans, these funds could help those businesses survive and grow.
Colorado Gives Residents $42k Towards a New Tesla
If you live in Colorado and if you like electric vehicles and if you've got $68k to pay for one (all readers of this blog are now excluded): good news! The State of Colorado is giving a special tax credit for 85% of the price difference between alternative fuel vehicles and traditional gas vehicles. For the $110,000 Tesla roadster, that works out to $42,000, a 38.6% discount. Now watch your electric bill fund your driving habits...
Maine voters will decide two tax-specific ballot questions on November 3rd. Question 2 limits auto excise tax on new vehicles, and exempts hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax. Question 4 holds state and local government spending increases to inflation plus population growth, unless specifically approved by the legislature and voters (local voters would have to approve local and county increases above the defined rate).
Question 4 has the typical proponents and opponents, but some traditionally lower-tax advocates don't support the sweeping changes of Question 2. What remains to be seen is whether voters will be convinced they need to limit the growth of government.