
Check back here often for the latest news as delivered by Defend My Dividend.
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Next Big Battle in Washington: Bush’s Tax Cuts
Jul 24, 2010 — New York Times
An epic fight is brewing over what Congress and President Obama should do about the expiring Bush tax cuts, with such substantial economic and political consequences that it could shape the fall elections and fiscal policy for years to come.
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The Looming 164% Dividend Tax Hike
Jul 19, 2010 — Investor\'s Business Daily
Today's reduced federal tax rates on dividend income are good for investors, consumers, American businesses and the recovering U.S. economy. But unless Congress acts now to stop a tax hike, the maximum tax rate on dividend income is set to skyrocket at the end of the year — leaping by 164% for some investors.
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Congress to extend middle-class tax cuts: Dems
Jul 13, 2010 — Reuters
The Congress will likely act to extend tax cuts for the middle class to avoid choking off the fragile economic recovery, key congressional Democrats said on Tuesday.
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Finance to hold a hearing on the Bush tax cuts
Jul 12, 2010 — The Hill
The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday will examine the future of individual tax rates and their effect on economic growth.
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Top Republicans want all tax cuts extended
Jul 12, 2010 — The Hill
Top Republicans called on Democrats in Congress and the White House to extend all the tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year.
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Dorgan: Dems likely to seek extension of tax cuts for households under $250K
Jul 9, 2010 — The Hill
Democrats are likely to seek extensions of President George W. Bush's tax cuts for households earning less than $250,000, a top Senate Democrat said Friday.
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Tax Foundation Report Shows Harmful Effects of Higher Dividend Tax Rates
Jun 7, 2010 — The Tax Foundation
The expiration of the Bush tax cuts and new Medicare taxes on investment income that were part of recent health care reform will push the top effective tax rate on dividends in the U.S. to 68 percent in 2011 - highest among all industrialized nations, according to a new Tax Foundation report.
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Tax Hikes and the 2011 Economic Collapse
Jun 6, 2010 — Wall Street Journal
Today’s corporate profits reflect an income shift into 2010. These profits will tumble next year, preceded most likely by the stock market.
By ARTHUR LAFFER
People can change the volume, the location and the composition of their income, and they can do so in response to changes in government policies.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the nine states [...]
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Fate of dividend tax leaves companies and investors guessing
May 18, 2010 — Reuters
Companies and investors can only guess whether dividend taxes for high-income Americans will skyrocket next year, a distinct possibility.
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Dividend outlook sunny, but tax cloud looms
May 13, 2010 — CNBC
Dividend investors are enjoying fatter payouts again, to the tune of $10 billion per year.
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The Future of the Dividend Tax Cut
May 1, 2010 — Morningstar.com
Though the Bush dividend tax cut is set to expire, there's a very good chance that dividends and capital gains will continue to be taxed at the same rates, says DividendInvestor editor Josh Peters.
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Fair and reasonable dividend tax rates: it’s the right thing
Apr 27, 2010 — American Gas Association
On Wednesday, April 21, President Obama was interviewed on CNBC in a discussion that covered a number of economic issues. The topic soon turned to the expiring 2003 tax legislation and to my surprise, it appears that the president may be prepared to abandon his repeated promises to protect fair and reasonable dividend tax rates for all Americans.
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The Great Dividend-Tax Mystery
Apr 24, 2010 — Wall Street Journal
Next year, what will the top tax rate on dividends be?
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The Washington Tax Attack Marches On
Apr 23, 2010 — Kudlow's Money Politc$
The worst thing I’ve seen recently, by far, is the Senate Budget Committee’s new mark-up to jack the dividend tax from 15 percent all the way up to 40 percent.
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CNBC EXCLUSIVE: CNBC Transcript: CNBC’s Chief Washington Correspndent John Harwood Sits Down One-on-One with President Barack Obama, Today, Wednesday, April 21st on CNBC’s “Street Signs”
Apr 21, 2010 — CNBC
Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview, with President Barack Obama, today, Wednesday, April 21st.
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Conrad’s budget aligns with Obama’s priorities on tax cuts
Apr 20, 2010 — The Hill
Senate Banking Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) on Tuesday outlined his budget proposal that aligns closely to President Obama's budget when it comes to tax cuts.
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Geithner reaffirms Obama tax pledge
Apr 18, 2010 — The Hill
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Sunday reaffirmed President Obama's campaign pledge to let expire tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush that benefit individuals earning over $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000.
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Expiring Tax Cuts’ Fate Has Parties Strategizing
Apr 14, 2010 — New York Times
Democrats for years have vowed to let the Bush administration’s tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers expire as scheduled after this year, but election-year politics and the economy’s fragility could complicate matters in Congress.
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Wall Street’s big rally sharpens focus on tax
Apr 14, 2010 — The Hill
Expiring tax breaks for dividends will be in the spotlight for the rest of the year thanks to Wall Street's rally and record budget deficits.
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Cloudy Dividend Tax Outlook Yields Confusion
Mar 30, 2010 — CNBC
Investors and their advisers can only scratch their heads as they face an uncertain future for U.S. income tax policy, including one scenario that could send levies on dividends soaring.
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Alliance for Savings and Investment issues statement critical of additional taxes on investor’s dividend income
Mar 25, 2010 — Alliance for Savings and Investment
The Alliance for Savings and Investment is disappointed that the House and Senate have now passed a 3.8 percent tax increase on investment income for certain taxpayers. This represents a 25 percent increase over current capital gains and dividend tax rates and adds to the uncertainty felt by taxpayers who fear another possible rate hike on investment income is just over the horizon.
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Capital Gains Taxes Set To Rise, Crimping Investment, Savings
Mar 23, 2010 — Investor's Business Daily
Along with a partial expiration of 2003 tax cuts at year-end, rates on long-term capital gains and dividends are due to jump in two steps from 15% to 23.8%.
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Expansion of Medicare taxes under healthcare legislation
Mar 18, 2010 — Boston Globe
Emerging from the healthcare reform legislation is a new expansion of the Medicare tax. This is in addition to the various other tax increases included in the legislation.
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New Study Analyzes Beneficiaries of Dividend Tax Rate Reduction
Mar 1, 2010 — Ernst and Young
Among other things, this exhaustive research shows that many utility shareholders rely on dividend earnings to supplement their income.
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Let’s work together to protect our seniors
Mar 1, 2010 — The Hill
Dividend income comes through each quarter, when most American companies make payments to tens of millions of Americans who own shares in U.S. businesses. Right now, taxes on dividend income are low, but Congress must act to keep it that way
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Coalition seeks freeze on dividend tax
Feb 27, 2010 — The Hill
"As the country is trying to come out of the worst economic period since the Depression, we’re saying this is not a great time to essentially create a federal tax hike on dividend income," said Jim Owen, Director of Media Relations at the utility advocacy group Edison Electric Institute (EEI). "There are tens of millions of people that receive dividend income and a great many of them are retired, or teachers, and don’t make a lot of money."
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New Group Formed to Represent Utility Investors
Jan 11, 2010 — InsideINdianaBusiness.com
A former state representative is the executive director of a new organization representing investors in Indiana utility companies. Tim Harris is serving as executive director of the Marion-based Indiana Utility Shareholders Association. The organization says it already has more than 1,000 members.