Category Archives: General Interest

Paul Gores reported on Saturday at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online that, “A group of Wisconsin bankers on a recent lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., returned with heightened optimism that some of the rules now governing community banks — regulations they contend are too costly — will be eased. “Community banks in Wisconsin and the… Continue Reading

Laura Saunders indicated in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal that, “New cases of tax-identity theft have dropped sharply following coordinated efforts by tax agencies and preparers, but filers need to stay vigilant. “Tax-ID theft, also called tax-refund fraud, occurs when a criminal uses stolen personal information to file a return in someone else’s name and receive… Continue Reading

New York Times writer Alan Rappeport reported last week that, “President Trump has a rocky history with the Internal Revenue Service, which he has complained audits him with unfair ferocity. Now he wants to significantly cut the tax agency’s funding at a time when it has already been bleeding staff and struggling to keep up with… Continue Reading

Patrick Kennedy reported last week at the Minneapolis Star Tribune Online that, “Two years ago, SurModics Inc. conducted its annual meeting and only four shareholders showed up. “Even though it was held at the company’s Eden Prairie headquarters, there was not a big return for the expense. “So last year, the company conducted a virtual… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Joyce M. Rosenberg reported recently that, “Community banks and small businesses are optimistic about changes the Trump administration and Congress have promised to laws that tightened supervision of the banking industry after the 2008 financial crisis. “The number of small, local banks has declined since the Great Recession, a change that advocates… Continue Reading

Alan K. Ota reported yesterday at Roll Call Online that, “South Dakota Sen. John Thune and other top Republicans will launch a new drive to repeal the estate tax next year, while pulling back on efforts to force a year-end vote aimed at blocking a proposed Treasury Department rule that would tighten levies on inheritances…. Continue Reading

Laura Saunders reported on Friday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “The American estate tax turned 100 this year. It probably won’t live to see 101. “Both President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans in the House of Representatives have issued proposals to end the tax, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) has… Continue Reading

Aruna Viswanatha and Brent Kendall reported on the front page of Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal that, “The Supreme Court handed the government a significant win Tuesday in its pursuit of insider trading, ruling prosecutors in such cases don’t always have to show that something valuable changed hands to prove a crime was committed. “The unanimous… Continue Reading

Cecilia King reported in today’s New York Times that, “On the first day of the harvest last week, a line of trucks brimming with sweet potatoes rolled into Vick Family Farms, headed for a new packing plant that runs on ultrafast internet. “The potatoes were tagged with online bar codes to detail the plots where… Continue Reading

Laura Saunders reported in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal that, “New rules are coming that will likely limit techniques used by the wealthy to lower their estate and gift taxes. “The proposed regulations, issued by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service in early August, apply to moves known as ‘valuation discounts.’ They allow people with… Continue Reading