Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 This paper can be recycled Vol. 38 No. 33 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Fax: 512-476-0179 December 31, 2010 White House Outlines Tax Benefits for Black Families WASHINGTON (TEWire) – Despite opposition 2.7 million African-American from Black economic leaders children. and members of the Congres- · For many families, sional Black Caucus, who extending the minimum said his tax compromise bill threshold in the CTC will re- did not go far enough for the sult in thousands of dollars in poor, President Obama won additional tax benefits that a relatively easy battle push- would have otherwise been RAPPIN’ ing it through the House and lost. For example, a single Senate last week. He has now mother with two children Tommy Wyatt signed the bill that includes making $17,000 will receive tax breaks for both wealthy $2,000 in child tax credits Would you and middle class Americans compared to about $640 if move? and a renewal of unemploy- only the 2001/2003 tax cuts ment benefits - a package that were extended – an increase After World War II the White House has de- of about $1,360. many African Americans scribed as a “major win for · According to a study left the South in search of African-American families.” released last year by the Cen- greater opportunity in the The political opposition ter on Budget and Policy Pri- large industrialized cities from Democrats was largely orities, seven policies included of the North. And many due to the fact that billions of in the Recovery Act have kept others went West. They dollars in tax breaks will be 1.4 million African-Americans all were looking for a bet- President Barack Obama, joined by Republican and Democratic members of Congress and Cabi- returned to wealthy Ameri- net Secretaries, signs the middle-class tax cuts bill in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower above the poverty line. Three ter life for themselves and cans that could be applied to Executive Office Building, Dec. 17, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) of these policies are continued their families. It looks as programs to help the poor, in the current bill, including though there may be an- historically disadvantaged Among specific ben- Black Women praised the than the median unem- Unemployment Insurance, the other movement under- and underserved communi- efits to Black families out- President for giving the un- ployed worker. To help rem- EITC and the Child Tax way today. ties such as African-Ameri- lined in an email from the employed a “new lease on edy the economic suffering, Credit. Census reports re- cans. Obama had repeatedly White House are: life” and a “survival line” the Obama tax plan secures · High impact job cre- veal that there is a move- promised to repeal these tax · An estimated 2.2 through the next 13 months. an extension of unemploy- ation measures. The bill includes ment underway where Af- breaks instated by President million African-American · The unemployment ment insurance for an addi- some of the best measures for rican Americans are leav- Bush. But, due to political families will benefit from the rate among African-Ameri- tional 13 months. Without jumpstarting growth and job cre- ing the larger cities and pressure from Republicans expansion in the Earned In- cans was 16 percent in No- this extension, 330,600 Af- ation, including a full year of going back to the South or who promised to block any come Tax Credit (EITC) and vember 2010. It has increased rican-Americans looking for emergency unemployment in- to smaller suburban cities bill without the Bush tax Child Tax Credit (CTC) that 7 percentage points since the work would have lost their surance benefits, a 2 percent pay- near the cities where they breaks, President Obama said are extended in the agree- beginning of the recession in benefits this month alone, roll tax cut for working families, now reside. Whether this he had no choice but to com- ment. These credits help December 2007. Young Afri- and through the end of next and a continuation of tax credits is good or bad is still to be promise. roughly 4.7 million-African can-Americans face ex- year over 1.1 million unem- for working families. This is on determined and could not At Christmas this week, American children or almost tremely high unemployment ployed African-Americans top of growth generated by ex- be known for a number of 15.8 percent adult African- half (44 percent) of all Afri- rates, with 28 percent of those would have lost their ben- tension of the middle-class in- years. However, if one be- Americans are unemployed, can-American children. For ages 16-24 in unemployment efits. come tax rates. Without action, lieves that opportunity is more than twice the rate of example, an African-Ameri- in November 2010. African- · About 4.1 million Af- unemployment benefits for at limited or non existent Whites and consistently well can mother with three chil- Americans also face longer rican-American children will least 2 million Americans would where they currently re- above the national average of dren making $20,000 will re- durations of unemployment. benefit from an expanded disappear this month alone with side, it may be time to look 9.8 percent. With these stats ceive. This family will also For example, 47 percent of Earned Income Tax Credit. millions more in jeopardy in the for opportunities else- in consideration, the Obama receive a $400 tax cut from unemployed African-Ameri- Without this agreement, their weeks ahead. where. Administration compiled a the new payroll tax cut and a cans have been unemployed families could lose up to Despite the significants A few years ago, I list of major benefits of the total tax benefit of $2,500 next for 27 weeks or more, com- $1,040. benefits, the compromise re- took a trip to Elko, Nevada bill, titled “The Tax Relief, year. pared to 43.8 percent for all · The extension of the mained sour to many Democrats in the Northern part of the Unemployment Insurance Re- · The extension of unemployed (not seasonally Child Tax Credit – help for and Black leaders who thought state. During that trip, I authorization, and Job Cre- Unemployment Insurance adjusted). The median Afri- low-and moderate-income the President simply sacrificed met a young man from ation Act of 2010”, to African- will benefit 1.1 million Afri- can- American unemployed families with children - with too much in allowing billions of Denver, Colorado who was Americans. It was signed into can-Americans. That is why worker has been unemployed a $3,000 minimum threshold dollars in tax cuts for the unemployed. When he law on Dec. 17. the National Congress of for almost a month longer in the agreement will benefit wealthy. heard that the casino had job openings, he applied. ACC Foundation Announces Myra A. CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DR. The next time that I went back, this man had been McDaniel Endowed Scholarship MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN HISTORIC ATLANTA hired and had worked his nent endowment will provide a way up to supervisor. He $450 scholarship for one stu- said that he was very dent annually beginning in the happy with the move. 2013-14 academic year. Elko had a very small The Bickerstaff firm says African American popula- the award will honor Mc- tion, about 1% of the total Daniel’s legacy of leadership population and the city and commitment to public ser- was very small. That is a vice and community involve- situation that most Afri- ment. In order to be eligible, stu- can Americans would find dents must maintain a mini- very uncomfortable. How- mum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate in- ever, there was one Afri- volvement in extra-curricular can American there who Myra A. McDaniel activities such as student gov- was one of the largest AUSTIN, Texas (Decem- ernment or community service, ranchers in the area. ber 21, 2010) – Bickerstaff Heath and possess a financial need as It may be necessary Delgado Acosta law firm is do- determined by the ACC Finan- to move to other areas in nating $15,000 to the Austin cial Aid Office. Applicants may order to accomplish our Community College Foundation be pursuing an associate degree goals and also to support to create an endowed scholar- from ACC or planning to trans- our families. We cannot ship that honors Myra A. fer to a four-year college or uni- King Chapel Discover historic Atlanta as have a closed mind. This McDaniel, an attorney who rep- versity. ness the “hall of fame,” and engage from April 7-11, 2011. For more in- you learn about Dr. Martin Luther may be the time for an- resented ACC before she passed “Myra McDaniel was an in lectures offered by professors formation or to register, call toll-free King, Jr.’s life in the city of his birth. other migration to other away earlier this year. integral part of our firm, an out- who knew King. Participants will (877) 426-8056 or visit www. road The four-day experience is offered parts of the country or the The scholarship is de- standing lawyer, and a great have an opportunity to attend Sun- scholar.org/19773. by not-for-profit Road Scholar, world. The west was open signed to help students pursu- friend,” says attorney Bob day morning services at the new known for its exceptional learning What are you by people in covered wag- ing a future in public service.