I do not wish to make light of this discussion of one of the most serious political and economic issues of our times. My initial reaction to the 100B attachment to the bill was- Yeah, sweeten it up with some pork! etc etc.

I had heard a mention of the arrows thing, but didn't think anything much of it except through my very cynical filter until last night at a meeting where an old friend who is a resident summer youth camp Director mentioned, " We'll save 39 cents on each arrow we have to buy for summer camp!" Now, he is a very smart, political knowledgeble guy, who I'm sure was being ironic. After all, 800B, and well save 39 cents each on a couple hundred arrows! After reviewing Sec 503 of this bill vs sec 4161 of the tax code it amends, this appears to me to a technical correction, and these particular arrows which are exempted were never intended to be subject to the excise tax in the first place. (The excise tax was for bows and accessories of 30 lb draw weigh or more. Typically youth bows are in the under 30 lb class.)

Unfortunately in our politically toxic environment these issues cannot be addressed in the normal course of business and have to be attached to monumental bills. I think a review of many of these provisons would show them to be reasonable extentions of current law about to expire, or technical corrections, neither of which had been addressed otherwise in the current Congress.

Lay off the wooden arrows issue: it's not as ridiculous as it looks.

By the way I was unaware that there is a manufacturer's (federal) excise tax of 10-11% on all sporting goods, including fishing rod, tackle boxes etc. We argue about income and property taxes, but I guess they get us this way, too!

-CITE- 26 USC Sec. 4161 01/03/2007

-EXPCITE- TITLE 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

Subtitle D - Miscellaneous Excise Taxes

CHAPTER 32 - MANUFACTURERS EXCISE TAXES

Subchapter D - Recreational Equipment

PART I - SPORTING GOODS

Sec. 4161. Imposition of tax…

...2) Arrows

(A) In general

There is hereby imposed on the first sale by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of any shaft (whether sold separately or incorporated as part of a finished or unfinished product) of a type used in the manufacture of any arrow which after its assembly -

(i) measures 18 inches overall or more in length, or

(ii) measures less than 18 inches overall in length but is

suitable for use with a bow described in paragraph (1)(A),

(any bow which has a peak draw weight of 30 pounds or more)

a tax equal to 39 cents per shaft.

(B) Adjustment for inflation

(i) In general

In the case of any calendar year beginning after 2005, the 39-cent amount specified in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount equal to the product of –

(I) such amount, multiplied by

(II) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under

section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year, determined by

substituting "2004" for "1992" in subparagraph (B) thereof.

SEC. 503. EXEMPTION FROM EXCISE TAX FOR CERTAIN WOODEN ARROWS DESIGNED FOR USE BY CHILDREN.

(a) In General- Paragraph (2) of section 4161(b) is amended by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C) and by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:

`(B) EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN WOODEN ARROW SHAFTS- Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any shaft consisting of all natural wood with no laminations or artificial means of enhancing the spine of such shaft (whether sold separately or incorporated as part of a finished or unfinished product) of a type used in the manufacture of any arrow which after its assembly--

`(i) measures 5/16 of an inch or less in diameter, and

`(ii) is not suitable for use with a bow described in paragraph (1)(A).'.

(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to shafts first sold after the date of enactment of this Act.

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Coyote and Fox The duration of the coyote and fox hunting season is as follows: Bow and Arrow only— September 27 to November 7, 2003; and, Firearm or Bow and Arrow—November 8, 2003 to February 16, 2004. The hours of hunting coyote and fox are 8 a.m. to one half hour after sunset on November 8, 2003 and on other days from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. The use of dogs is not allowed during the fox and coyote season (bow and arrow only), dur- ing the six-day firearm season, or on the Wednesday of the shotgun permit deer season immediately following the six-day firearm season. Bows must have a minimum 35-lb draw (long and recurve bows) or 35-lb peak weight (compound bows). Arrows must be fitted with a well-sharpened broadhead with a minimum width of 3/4 inches. Coyote and Fox The duration of the coyote and fox hunting season is as follows: Bow and Arrow only— September 27 to November 7, 2003; and, Firearm or Bow and Arrow—November 8, 2003 to February 16, 2004. The hours of hunting coyote and fox are 8 a.m. to one half hour after sunset on November 8, 2003 and on other days from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. The use of dogs is not allowed during the fox and coyote season (bow and arrow only), dur- ing the six-day firearm season, or on the Wednesday of the shotgun permit deer season immediately following the six-day firearm season. Bows must have a minimum 35-lb draw (long and recurve bows) or 35-lb peak weight (compound bows). Arrows must be fitted with a well-sharpened broadhead with a minimum width of 3/4 inches.

not bad way to learn to hunt the fox and coyote!

City youth would prosper from such lessons and encouragments!

hmmm

wtf. "...over 18", or under 18"..."

Who writes these laws? It's almost as bad as listening to Sarah Palin.

Thank you so much for your reply. You have noted in your response that the hunting requirements are 35 lbs and up.

We spend a great deal of time in safety training for children of the preteen age who cannot handle a 30 or more lb bow, The IRS excise tax was intended for older teens and adults in hunting situations (practice or real) ang not for the little kids.

lilmacg, if you have ever seen an inner city kid who is transplanted to the wilderness ( he's scared to death) but has NEVER SEEN STARS BEFORE! he is awed and amazed, and sometimes, it changes his life.

thoth

yes! I was one of those fortunate ones who got to feel the good earth for a short spell in being shifted around after dad died and Uncle Al both Indy boys navy and Army bomdadiers who lost their lives . Correction dad was too short to enlist and so he took hormone shots for growthe. He shot up at 16 and got in. The aftereffects of the hormone grew his brain as well and passed into our DNA-- fine line between genius and insanity--

Well we grew up in NYC and lived-- I got out a bit more in that I got some formal education via GEd and then scrambling through undergrad in communications(easiest) film and tv and about anything else that interested me.

But none replaced the good earth and riding my horse to pick up the dialy supply of neighbor farmers milk while watching the nightstars as my horse always spooked after dusk-- :):)

a life saver leaving me just enough as eldest son of six-- Regretfully not enough VA paycheck to fund us so we scattered and made it best we could w/o guidence!

But the good earth was my grounding!

I must appreciated your taking the time to research and provide what was done in the bail out. How much would it have cost to spell out all such earmarks for us commoners to understand in details as an add on to the pork n sheep n moose??

hmm

Thanks again

Still think City kids might prosper from bow and arrows over ak 47s and 38 cal hand helds--

;)

Ps copied your post over in TP for the not so bright left v rights in ya facers who outcasted me for past 10 yrs--lol

I walked the higher blades of grass less traveled as a writer once printed-- learning to be with myself was challenging!

:)

With picture speak visions to carry me in upbringing-- and good old gut feelings etc--

One of the things I leanred in brief time in country was learning about the farmers almanac which I skimmed some and learned to use my nose to forecast-- Hey its works!

:)

teaching my own 4 yr old son now the basics in NYC while home schooling and protecting him from experts et al--

and by four he's a natural music learned IT kinda kid who likes to dance undefended from assaults which would occur from ill rasied and educated and imported pre k teachers on upwards in the big apple global places--

:)

;)

Thank you so much for your kind reply. You have given more of yourself in this brief reply than in any of your posts I have read and I do appreciate that. The road less traveled is difficult or not all depends, see could be harder but compared to what, taking the easy road? Take the easy road and your heart is broken? Spirit broken? Sometimes you take the path which you think will be harder, but because it is the right path it is no chore. And where do you end up? You're happy. You're blessed. I don't know about theology or religion, but I know there's got to be a God or something, because sheer dumb luck or karma couldn't explain why I am so fortunate after all my screwups.

I was sent to NYC for my job for 2 weeks in 1988 and a week in 1998. I enjoyed it very much and if I was starting out after college that might be a place I'd like to be, but it's no place for an old man from the country except for a visit. The last time I was there I went from my hotel to a little Greek diner to get some dinner and all the customers seemed to be so demanding and rude. I said please and thank you and the staff in the restaurant treated me like someone from another planet, but like royalty, took care of me like I was someone special. It was great. People are good and respond to respect and kindness. Sometimes.

I ramble. Thanks for replying. What is TP?

fact that Pelosi and Reid tacked on a 20% mark up on 700 billion in order to buy enough votes to Give Away 700 billion of our money...yes, I pay a Federal Income Tax on my retirement income and yes thanks to Bush I pay much less that Clinton would have made me pay.

Head for Canada, bring matches and drinking water.

<link>:

this is the link to the act, essentially a table of contents to the act with links. You are more than welcome to bitch Skeppy, but anyone who wants to read it here it is.

thoth

What is TP?

Today's Papers

lilmacg:

...I walked the higher blades of grass less traveled as a writer once printed-- learning to be with myself was challenging!

Great line!

Re: slowing down to answer in like kind--

As thoth saRAh Gods might say!

one good deed begets another as the scribes of communications!

All any have ever had to do to slow down my multiple streams of inferences to repeated breakdown posts and links verifiable by merely researching a connection!

ie: I offer fishing poles to the few who care to relearn aka think!

albeit my half empties in the written word could have and did prevent me from utilizing my half fulls to communicate in spite of Domestic Violence by legals of the courts harming women, children and relatives in juryless rooms and its State mother paid by the hour ss ABA memberships of institutional inferior interment cells of family fracturings

oopps there I go again!

Thanks fore asking!

And yes NYers can be and are rude crude and quick to filet others deemed vulnerable or different added to that new refugees hiding within our city walls who fled their own countries to capitalize here with their own none capital values brought with them!

I will move on from here as as not to get ya door stained by the groupie former Slate BOF star clones in here Crown beholden and employed in British English jobs----

hmm

That city kid you spoke of who might come to the country and be scared and see the great skies of stars tis true can be changed beringing along his her own set of values.

In this case I awoke, due to a family crisis, to find my country I grew up in had radically changed so much so that it would harm innocent children and families with calleous disregard ---Church bishops inclusive! I discovered in me once peeled off the pavements skills I nay knew I had-- like a flowering cactus with inner welathe I absorbed all in sight in research at a pace and photo ability that frightened even me over a period of 40K hours of geneoglogy research to get to the top of the heap of those who would harm me and mine!

I looked them square in their eyes and encouraged them to set mine free!

They did!

But it took its toll on me--- I was top heavy with nay the complimentary written skills and editing necessary to break it down into small pieces others could grasp w/o great effort!

To repeat I had lots PTSD stored within my brain(80K hrs of research photo pictured in brain celled slots!

Its drained now mostly as too am I as I go onwards ho leaving my fracmented parts for the Jimmy Olson Lois Lane cub reporters to build from left and rights!

I have little patience for condescending or single lens learned experts and liberals artists clone taught to repaet in one language only!

Human speak is universal!

best

lmg and clans!

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