Oklahoma City (OK) Mayor Mick Cornett, Chair
May 29, 2006

Resolution #75: Urges Increasing the Federal Role in the Assessment, Development and Financing of Critical Infrastructure urges Congress to immediately address the country’s infrastructure financing gap through encouraging greater private sector investment; to make critical infrastructure a top priority and support adequate federal funding; to require full funding of federally-imposed mandates on state and local infrastructure; and require federal agencies to systematically report and update critical infrastructure needs.

Resolution #76: Urges Congress to Continue to Allow the Revitalization of Cities Through Eminent Domain urges Congress to allow local government to continue to use eminent domain: to construct affordable housing, hospitals, educational institutions and other facilities that serve the general public; to promote economic development through creating jobs and revitalizing blighted areas; and to require property owners involved in zoning and land-use disputes to pursue all available remedies at the local and state level before filing a claim in federal court.

Resolution #77: Urging Opposition to Mandatory State Collection and Administration of Local Telecommunication Taxes urges Congress to oppose language in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax bills that would preempt local control of local telecommunication taxes and fees.

Resolution #78: Urges IRS Collection of Past Due Local Taxes urges Congress to adopt bipartisan legislation that would expand the Federal Offset Tax Program to authorize the Internal Revenue Service to assist local governments in collecting past-due local taxes by reducing federal income tax refunds due individual taxpayers by the amount of legally enforceable past due tax obligations the taxpayer owes to a local government.

Resolution #79: Urging Support for Federal Tax Reform urges Congress to reform the federal tax code by: expanding local access to the tax-exempt bond market; consolidating certain tax incentives into a single jobs tax credit; renewing and expanding the research and development tax credit; consolidating the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and the Child Credit into a unified Family Tax Credit; establishing a consolidated College Credit; renewing the Saver’s Credit; making the Home Mortgage deduction available to individuals who do not itemize their taxes; initiating a “ReadyReturn” tax liability report system; continuing state and local tax deductibility; amending the Alternative Minimum Tax; and amending the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act to cover any changes in federal tax law that negatively impact on state and local revenues.

Resolution #40: Urges Support for the Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act urges Congress to pass legislation that would ensure that federal consent decrees are narrowly drafted, limited in duration, and respectful of state and local interests and policy judgments.

Resolution #80: Urging the Elimination of IRS’s Payroll Tax Burden on Volunteer Municipal Board and Commission Members urges Congress to enact legislation to repeal legal requirements that volunteer municipal board and commission members be treated as employees when their stipends total less than $75.00 per month.

Resolution #81: Urging Support for the Go Direct Program to Promote Direct Deposit of Social Security Payments urges mayors nation wide to participate in the Go Direct Program and actively encourage citizens to switch to direct deposit.

Resolution #82: Urges Support for the National Dollar Wise Campaign urges mayors across the country to support Dollar Wise Week from September 25 – 30 by holding events and forums to promote financial education in their cities, and to highlight local financial education “best practices.”