The coming week...

As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevent political bodies/agencies, except where noted, and subject to change without notice...

This will be a brief post due to other pressing matters, but I'll try to hit the high points.


In the U.S. House of Representatives, they'll be reconvening after their holiday recess on Tuesday. Much of the week's agenda will be taken up with post office namings and the like, but one highlight will be consideration of H.R. 4154, the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009. From the CRS summary -

Repeals provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) eliminating the tax on estates and generation-skipping transfers and the step-up in basis provisions for property acquired from a decedent for estates of decedents dying after 2009. Declares that the sunset provision (general terminating date of December 10, 2010) of EGTRRA shall not apply to title V of such Act (Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Provisions).

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $3.5 million estate tax exclusion and a reduction in the maximum estate and gift tax rate to 45% after 2009.

Yup, there will be serious controversy over this one.

Oh yeah...

...The most interesting week should be in the U.S. Senate - they'll be holding floor debate on health care reform. Because of the cloture vote taken on November 21, there will be limits on the debate (though there will still be a lot of it). As such, expect Republican obstructionists to whine that there won't be "enough time" to properly consider all of the ramifications of health care reform.

That's crap.

The Senate's committee schedule is here.

...The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold a securities meeting on Monday; the ACC's hearing schedule is here.

...The Arizona Board of Regents will meet on Thursday and Friday at U of A. The agenda is here.

...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will meet in "informal" session on Monday and *formal* session on Wednesday.

...The Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project will hold a regular meeting on Thursday.

...The Tempe City Council isn't scheduled to meet this week, but the Council Calendar is here.

...The Scottsdale City Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday. At 2 p.m., they will hold an executive session to interview three candidates for the vacant City Attorney job. At 5 p.m., they will hold a regular meeting. The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.

Later...