I now endorse…………………….

Eliminating the cap on social security:  

All agree this would eradicate any shortfalls for decades.  (Yes, this could equate to as much as 14-15% in additional contributions by the wealthiest, but this could be somewhat alleviated in the future by prudent offsets.)

Amending the total Medicaid contribution from 1.45% for both employer and employee (2.9%) of earnings to 1.95% each (3.9%) regardless of wages – there is no cap:

I do believe this is an example of where we all need to pay a share.  It also is an equal distribution – part of offset for social security cap removal which will to a greater degree impact the wealthiest.

*Already planned (but not implemented) is The Medicare-funding Hospital Insurance Tax, currently at 1.45 percent, will increase by 0.9 percentage point for higher earners, another provision of health reform. The increase will apply only to income that's in excess of $200,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for those married and filing jointly.

Currently, only wages and other labor income are subject to the Medicare tax. But under current law, unless changed, investment income will be subject to Medicare taxes starting next year. Yes, this needs to be implemented.

Continue the federal unemployment extension benefits:

In many parts of our country unemployment is still well above current median figure.  Implement a trigger that when the median figure is at 6.5% in state, the extension will cease for that state.

Allowing the top tier income tax cuts to expire:

Top tier tax rates will increase to 39.6 percent from 35 percent if the tax cuts expire on Dec. 31. But the end of the tax cuts also means the end of the low rates on investment income. The top rate on long-term capital gains will rise from 15 percent to 20 percent, and the top rate on dividends will rise from 15 percent to 39.6 percent, the same as ordinary income. (NYT -11/17/2012) 

Maintain primary home mortgage loan interest deductions:

This is mandatory.  We need to get healthy housing and building investments back. 

Maintain charitable deductions for most part:

The wealthiest make the most high end charitable contributions and as we close their loopholes, their donations economists project should only increase, which benefits all of us.

Implement new employee tax credit:

For the next two years, each additional hire for new positions (not for hiring to replace those who have retired or otherwise left existing positions within business), after first full year of employment employers will be awarded a tax credit equaling 1.5% of the new employee’s gross wages for up to three years.

Okay, now for mainly the 1%’s:

We must end the “carried interest” loophole.  Just like Romney (and many others in like positions) gets to claim that millions of dollars in compensation from his work at Bain Capital as capital gains rather than ordinary income; thus he pays only the extra-low capital gains rate instead of the higher ordinary rate. This is a break available only to the managers of investment partnerships like private equity and hedge fund managers.

The special low tax rates for investment income are among the largest tax breaks in the code. They allowed investors to pocket some $100 billion in 2012 alone compared with what those investors would have paid if investment income were taxed the same as regular income.

Of course, most Republicans are tethered to the stance that tax rates must never rise - this particular loophole would be untouched under their plan to broaden the base. In the end, for the sake of raising much-needed revenue efficiently and fairly, there is no substitute for letting all of the high-end tax rates expire, once and for all.  (NYT 11/2012)  I agree.

Tax credits for businesses for jobs returning here - no credits for sending jobs to other countries.

Review and amend the current corporate tax structure:

I do believe this is important. I haven’t acquired enough data, but currently leaning to endorsing a modest reduction.

I’ll leave it up to the CBO’s number crunchers to deliver the totals needed for final review. 

Okay, there will be more, and I realize I did not give much detail - but am interested in any additional data and your input.  I’m hoping many will add on and/or advise why what I’m endorsing is not ‘a good thing’.  Please share with us what you believe should and shouldn’t be supported. I'm hoping you will assist me in fine tuning my assessments and build awareness of potential additional 'fiscal cliff' issues.  So, in advance, thanks.

And of course, hoping this encourages all to send suggestions to the WH website as requested.  (Hey, just because we voted, that’s only the beginning of what we need to do to assist and support this administration; we’ve been asked to communicate so let’s do our part.)