| JANUARY, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 107 | Vise | Control Bd to Admit DC Elected Leaders Williams and Council Chair Cropp to Weekly Meetings |
| 110 | Melton | In States of Surplus, Lawmakers Have Plans to Spare--VA, $900M: MD, $250M: tax cuts? schools? etc. |
| 114 | Vise | DC's '98 Budget Surplus Grows by $100M to $400M--may eliminate all $332 debt--better economy, tourism |
| 116 | Editor | Big Surplus for Big Problems--City and Control Bd miffed by Brimmer expose'--but $ won't fix problems |
| 117 | Dearborn | DC and the Feds--Favors Tax Rev Comm recomdtn for $408M Fed 'payment in lieu of (property) taxes' |
| 129 | Lipton | DC Tax Office Is Losing Big to Cheaters--at least $100M/yr lost due to weak processing system, fraud |
| 130 | Vise | Vendors Try to Pry Millions Owed from DC--payment backlog blamed on computers--and operators |
| FEBRUARY, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 202 | Hsu/Vise | Region's Share of FY00 Budget Includes Millions in New Projects--DC for students, 1st homebuyers, etc. |
| 203 | Vise | $450M FY98 DC Surplus Exceeds Forecasts--$332M deficit wiped out, Congress may reward mayor |
| 209 | Vise | Record $445M DC Surplus Called Proof of Recovery: 15K new taxpayers 'had not bothered to file' in past! |
| 209 | Vise (cont) | DC Budget surplus contains +$275M in income tax rev; -$175M underspent; +/- adjustments net -$5M |
| 218 | Shear | Fairfax County's $1.95B '00 budget, includes 3.6% raise for 10,800 workers (pop'n over 950,000) |
| 220 | Editor | Tax Those Packs in Maryland--time for lawmakers to keep promise to raise cigarette tax--up to $1.50 |
| MARCH, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 304 | Williams | Schwartz Proposes $87M in Income, Sales, and BusinessTax Cuts--4 other councilmembers sign on |
| 308 | Pyatt | More from the Hotelier without a Moving Argument--Marriott won't consider DC site--VA arguments thin |
| 308 | Behr/Evans | A Suite Deal at Steep Cost--MD offers generous incentives for Marriott (and others), but is it selling its soul? |
| 309 | Pae/Shields | Rising Home Values Mirror Demand for Close-in Addresses--DC sales +33%, value +3% in DC, Arlington |
| 312 | Evans | Marriott Workers Relieved They'll Being Staying in MD--didn't want to uproot lives in Montgomery Cnty |
| 312 | Behr | MD's 'Must' (Marriott) Deal Comes with Risks--other major employers to want incentives too |
| 312 | Wilson | Marriott Takes Deal to Stay in MD--total 20-year 'incentive' (bribe?) worth $49M to $74M |
| 316 | Wilson | Montgomery's Duncan Offers $35M Prop/Phone Tax-cut Plan--$2.6B budget w/schools:$1.1B; police $118M |
| 317 | Vise | DC Lost $22.3M in '98 Fed Grants--$17.1M spent outside grant limits, 'only' $5.2M unspent--improvement! |
| 318 | Williams | For Williams, a Friendly Reception--Council vows to look at budget proposal w/open mind--except UDC |
| 318 | Editor | The Grants That Got Away--DC gotta master elemental functions of getting, tracking, and spending grants |
| 320 | Editor | Sharing Montgomery's Wealth--economic boom assures good outcomes--tax revenues up 45% since '92 |
| 322 | Lipton | More DC Appraisal Problems--assessment errors delay 3000 notices in Georgetown, elsewhere |
| 325 | Williams | Williams' Debt Plan Challenged by Schwartz, Ambrose--restructuring to fund small-business tax cut |
| 331 | Spinner | Curry Budget Boosts Pr. George's Public Safety Funds 11%--educators disappointed by 3.7% increase |
| APRIL, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 317 | Dennis(Gaz) | Montgomery's Duncan ups budget $161M to $2.42B--education 50.6%, safety 10.2%, debt service 6.5% |
| 414 | Vise | Wall Street Analysts Smile on DC--reaction to Briefing by DC officials may bode well for bond ratings |
| 415 | Editor | DC Tax Cutting--strong support for Schwartz, Evans/Catania bills--should DC spend hard-won surpluses? |
| 415 | Spinner | Montgomery Cnty Emerges Big ($107M) Winner in new Md budget--PG's Curry displeased w/only $51M |
| 415 | Vise | Council Majority Backs DC Tax Cuts--3-yr, $419M cuts move towards regional comparability,Hill supports |
| 415 | Vise(cont) | Evans/Catania Bill backed by 7 others--max bus & pers income tax to 6.5% frm9.5%; sales 5%v5.75%; |
| 415 | Behr | Pulling Even in Refund Race--DC now on par w/Md, Va: checks out within 2 wks--139K returns (40%tot) |
| 419 | Pyatt | DC Considers Tax-Cut Proposals (income, sales, licenses) , But Revenues Needed (only up 3.6%) |
| 423 | Vise | Wall Street Rewards DC with Better than Junk Bond Rating--Std and Poor "BBB" is investment grade |
| 425 | Editor | From Junk to Investment Grade (bonds)--worth celebrating, Cntl Bd, Jarvis, and CFO can take credit |
| 426 | Vise | Council's DC Tax Cut Plan Called Too Risky --deputy CFO Gandhi finds Council estimates way off |
| 427 | Williams | Council Members Dispute DC Official's Critique of Tax-Cut Plan, claim doomsaying politically motivated |
| 427 | Editor | Wise Counsel on DC Tax Cuts: Evan/Catania should should consider risks of too-soon deep tax cut |
| 428 | Vise/Williams | Mayor-Council Budget Rift Widens--disputes on tax cuts, initiatives threaten home rule--Cntl Bd to mediate |
| 429 | Cottman | Williams Softens Edge on Fiscal Message--shifts focus of budget effort to compassion for DC kids |
| 430 | Vise | IRS Limits Home Credit in DC--Norton, Williams object to Alt Min Tax limit on deduction--IRS will resolve |
| 430 | Vise | Williams Leaning Toward 31% Tax Cut--revised DC plan eases budget risk w/Council,CntlBd, Congress |
| MAY, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 501 | Vise | DC Council Panel Approves Tax Cut Plan--Council, mayor still negotiating: $431M cut seems too big |
| 501 | Vise(Cont) | Tax cut to be paid for by holding all spending at current levels, refinancing debt, cutting into 'rainy day fund' |
| 501 | Staff | Control Board Official Named--Francis Smith, Control Bd attorney, named to replace John Hill |
| 501 | Editor | Dancing Around DC Law--DC Alcoholic Beverage Control Board unresponsive to community interests |
| 501 | King | Tax Cuts to Fill Deep Pockets--Council tax-cutters disregrading tax revision committee--wouldn't enjoy cut |
| 502 | Staff | Mayor, Council Make Headway on Possible Tax Cuts--income tax rate to fall frm 9.5% to 6.5% in 3 years% |
| 502 | Mendelson | Councilman says $431M Tax Cut a Mistake--ignores most tax comm. proposals, needed reforms |
| 503 | Vise | Tax Cut Criticized As Aid for DC's Rich--study concludes 65% of cuts would go to richest 20% of households |
| 504 | Editor | A Tax Plan that Needs Work--Evans/Catania plan looks like too much too soon: gotta fix tax system |
| 504 | Vise | DC Likely to Scale Back Tax Cut, Negotiators Say--little support for big cuts that favor rich... |
| 505 | Williams | DC Council Approves Massive Tax Cuts--10/ 2 vote adds provision to stop if revenues fall below +$250M |
| 506 | Williams | DC Residents Ponder Pros, Cons of Tax Cut--most seem to doubt wisdom of present version |
| 506 | Cottman | Mayor Denounces DC Tax-Cut Plan--Williams says city can't afford 'failed, grotesque' proposal |
| 508 | Williams | Mayor Rejects New Tax Plan--talks continue with DC Council cut $441M to $316M over 5, not 3, years |
| 510 | Editor | Saved by Control Board--$431M tax-slash averted--gloating Council forced to accept more prudent cuts |
| 516 | Crenshaw | What DC Tax Cut Won't Do--cuts not big, but may help rebuild middle class, housing mkt up, all good news |
| 517 | Editor | DC's Consensus Budget--resident/business taxpayers real winners--no threat to future, but needed CntlBd |
| 518 | Staff | (Rich) Taxpayers Owed Home-buyer Credit get IRS Ltrs--800 above alternate minimum tax threshhold |
| 526 | Spinner | Pr.George's Passes $1.7 B budget--up 6%, $876M for education, $367M capital: $2.40/100 tax rate same |
| JUNE, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 605 | Editor | Mrs. Rivlin Quits the Day Job at Fed Reserve--will stay on Control Bd and return to Brookings to write |
| 610 | Vise | DC Tax-Cut Plan Assailed on Hill--Sen Durbin dislike tax cuts; Sen Hutchison goes after Council pay raises |
| 612 | King | The Republicrats' Tax Cut--Reps won because Dems more anxious to look good atmayor's expense |
| 613 | Editor | Boss K Bailey Hutchison--acts like worst of subcommittee predecessors--re payraises, debt deferral |
| 615 | Staff | 2nd Firm (Moody's) Raises City's Credit Rating--from Ba1 (speculative elements) To Baa3 (adequate) |
| 618 | Staff | Another Firm (Fitch IBCA) Boosts City's Credit Rating to BBB--(MediumQuality/Adequate=Moody's) |
| 619 | King | Beware Congressional Scorpion--Hutchison et al interfere in DC's business: salaries, debt restrux, etc. |
| 623 | Staff | Montgomery County introduces Living Wage Bill--County contractors would pay $10.44/hr minimum |
| 623 | Staff | DC Council Amends Tax-Cut Package--halve cuts if GDP growth below 1.7%--may not cut max rate to 8% |
| 624 | Vise | House Panel Chairman Istook Wants to Protect DC Tax Cuts--questions Rivlin's 'circuit breaker' hedges |
| 625 | Vise | Senate Panel Slashes Raises for DC Council--Hutchison says $92.5K 'excessive' for parttime work |
| 625 | Vise(cont) | Huchison also gets city $5.8M from feds for drug tests; cuts rainy day fund to 4% year-end fund balance |
| 626 | Editor | Mr. Istook's Take on the Budget--hopes latest subcommittee chairman will warm to trigger mechanisms |
| 630 | Editor | DC's Senate 'Friends'--3 democrats threaten DC budget with amendments: Hutchison, Durbin, Dorgen |
| JULY, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 703 | Editor | Senatorial Courtesy for DC--budget sails thru w/ help from Hutchison, White House, Democrats, Council |
| 705 | Behr | Tax Cuts: Seeds of a Dilemma--if local economy slows, DC could face difficult choices, says GWRC |
| 706 | Evans OpEd | Councilman says Tax Cut Part of Formula for Thriving City--w/Tax Comm, Mayor and Council suggestions |
| 708 | Editor | Sense of Council--Senate adopted unneeded sense-of-senate resolution to measure Council performance |
| 709 | Lipton | Back Taxes Put 7730 Properties on DC Auction Block--city got $21M over past 2 years, 220 owe over $10K |
| 714 | Wilson | Montgomery Cnty Exec Duncan Considers $11M State-like Tax Credit for Poor vice 'living wage" law |
| 714 | Editor | Falling for a 'Living Wage' Bill--serious flaws in proposal eliminated by Duncan's tax credit approach |
| 715 | Lipton | House Appn Subcom Adds $95M to DC Budget--severance pay, o/s tuitions. foster care, Anacostia River |
| 720 | Editor | Ridding DC's Budget of Riders--House Appns Comm should remove riders added by DC Subcommittee |
| 720 | Staff | Rep Istook Seeks Curbs on Office Rentals by DC--in view of recent exposure of empty rented bldgs |
| 721 | Lipton | DC Home Rule Wins as House Appns Comm drops 2 riders re needle exchange, referendum counting |
| 727 | Woodlee | City Acts to Spend More of its $'s at Home--Williams signs bill to boost contracts to small DC businesses |
| 728 | staff | House OKs Debate on DC Riders: needles; medical marijuana; unmarrieds adoptions; fines for cigarettes |
| 728 | Ly | DC Officials Try to Ease Y2K Worries--say City will cope with possible service emergencies |
| 729 | Lipton | DC to Sell $900M in (investment grade) Bonds--to restructure old debt, increase capital investments |
| 729 | Editor | Riding DC's Budget--House decision to debate riders isn't fair, isn't right--riders are anethma to DC |
| 730 | Lipton | House OKs $4.7B DC budget-- rejects medical marijuana, needles, abortions, but stops other riders |
| 731 | Editor | Body Blows to Home Rule--Conferees should work to remove intrusive riders, unwarranted restrictions |
| AUGUST, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| | | | |
| 801 | Lipton | DC Warms to House Chairman--Istook steers DC budget less to the right than some leaders feared |
| 805 | Lipton | DC Loses Ground on Riders--House-Senate Panel backs no needle exchange, no med marijuana |
| 805 | Lipton | All--Too-Familiar Debate--All-Too-Familiar Conclusion--riders creep back in--despite Davis, Obey, et. al. |
| 806 | Dewar | Sen Voinovich Stays True to Form--Ohioan refuses to use hypothetical surplus to cut US taxes |
| 806 | Staff | City Sells $927M in Bonds--$241M new, $686M refinanced to save $5.2M interest over bond life |
| 807 | Editor | DC Budget About Face--basic budget unchanged, some funds added--but at expense of unwanted riders |
| 807 | Staff | Final Vote on $4.7B DC Budget put off (at Norton urging) til after Congress's recess--many riders back in |
| 811 | Stockwell | DC Sues Credit Assistance Firm--for failure to keep promises to consumers to consolidate their debts |
| 818 | Norton,EH | Tying Up Our City by the Purse Strings--details 'lose-lose' situation of Congressional riders--gotta resist |
| 819 | Lipton | GAO Assails Contracts by DC Contrl Bd--study says panel broke its own rules in consulting contracts |
| SEPTEMBER, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 904 | King OpEd | Let's Sic Congress on Kansas--wouldn't allow teaching 'Ebonics", but OKs creationist science? double std |
| 910 | Fehr | House Puts Strings on DC Budget--riders include no marijuana, needles, abortions, benefits for unmarried, etc. |
| 910 | Fehr(Cont) | House Action pits Chrmn Istook v. Moran who says same riders would not be pressed on own districts |
| 911 | Editor | An Overburdened DC Budget--presidential veto warranted if Senate also passes conference rpt |
| 915 | Staff | MD Rep Connie Morella Decides Against Senate Bid--likely to remain on House DC subcommittee |
| 917 | Fehr | Senate OKs DC Budget 52/39, Hutchison claims 'right to set standards', OMB to urge veto re home rule |
| 918 | Editor | The DC Budget High-Wire Act--national leaders should give DC bill its wants, then leave city alone |
| 929 | Fehr | President Vetoes DC Budget Bill--accuses Republicans of violating home rule to pursue social agenda |
| 929 | Editor | A Veto to Defend Home Rule--Congress should cut out the riders--not cut funding out of vindictiveness |
| 930 | Williams | Tax Break for Retirees--wants income and pensions exemptions raised to match VA,MD for over 62/65 |
| 930 | Fehr | DC Budget Caught in Hill Standoff re drug riders: Istook says let Pres and Dems 'sit in mess they created' |
| OCTOBER, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 1002 | Editor | Don't Cut Out CFO--Council legislation should not take CFO out of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) loop |
| 1009 | Fehr | GOP Offers Changes in DC Budget--keeping restrictions on needles, marijuana--Norton says premature |
| 1016 | King OpEd | Rep Istook's DC Pals--why did most city officials attend fund raiser for 'kinder, gentler, home rule assassin'? |
| 1016 | Editor | Get Serious re DC Budget--3rd House version still unacceptable, Senate a bit better--time to get serious |
| 1016 | Fehr | Raise Lowered for DC Council--Senate reduces raise to 5% ($84K); keeps cell phone towers in DC bill |
| 1024 | Grunwald | In Legislative Tide, State Power Ebbs--Sen Voinovich unsuccessful champion of restoring state powers |
| 1026 | Fehr | GOP's 1.4% Cut Could Cost DC $6M--from $429M fed payment, mostly corrections 176M, courts-related $228M |
| 1026 | Eilperin | DC Funding Bill May Include Superfund Fight--Lott wants special non-DC gimick in, Hastert wants it out |
| 1027 | Editor | A Win in Montgomery Cnty--local earned-income tax credit for working poor--better than wage supplements |
| 1028 | Staff | Needle Exchange Compromise Reached--House/Senate OK private distributor (but no med marijuana) |
| 1029 | Fehr | Veto Looms for House-Passed DC Budget--House Republicans grafted national spending bill to it |
| NOVEMBER, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 1101 | Editor | Treating DC as Pawn--DC bill to be vetoed 4th time--Congress,Pres should drop DC from their game |
| 1102 | Fehr | Clinton Seeks to End Impasse on DC Budget--newest version OK--if stripped of huge US spending bill |
| 1103 | Staff | Senate Approves DC budget 49 to 48 with huge unrelated federal spending bills attached--veto promised |
| 1105 | Staff | Needle Exchange Issue Holds Up DC Budget--House still bans distribution by private clinics |
| 1107 | Fehr | DC Control Bd Revising Its Purpose--wants legacy to be sustained financial fix thru ec development |
| 1111 | Staff | Negotiators Reach Deal on DC Budget acceptable to Clinton--but could be merged with other bills |
| 1117 | Planin | White House, Hill Near Final Deal on Spending--GOP presses demand for across-the-board cut |
| 1119 | Staff | DC Budget Clears House, Stalls in Senate--part of $390B spending bill, incl. tax cut, riverfront fix-up etc. |
| 1119 | Editor | Hill Brought Forth a Mouse--last 5 of 13 appns bills: shabby, showy end to nasty, duplicitous session |
| 1120 | Fehr | Senate Sends DC Budget to President--many riders: marijuama, needles, lawyer fees, cell towers, etc. |
| 1120 | Pianin | Spending Vote Ends Hill's Year--8-bill, $385B pkg includes DC, UN bills, no Medicare cut, etc. |
| 1124 | Fehr | Key Congressman Calls Plan to Fund DC Bonuses Illegal--Istook says mayor can't use severance pay item |
| DECEMBER, 1999 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 1210 | Woodlee | DC Recovers Less than Half Owed in US interest--sloppy record-keeping, not following guidelines |
| 1219 | Editor | In Times of Plenty--no indication of budget increases for poor, near-poor despite MD, VA surpluses |
| 1220 | Behr | Sources of Tax Revenues: sales, use taxes 23% of DC's $2.2B; 27% of MD's $6.2B; 22% of VA's $7.8B |
| 1226 | Spinner | Neglect Hobbles Pr. George's Audit Office--new auditor finds serious staff, equipment problems |
| 1231 | Hamilton | DC PubServComm OKs Right to Shop for Electricity--like MD,VA--Pepco to auction MD plants, keep DC's |
