Don’t Be Scammed by Fake Collection Agencies Claiming to Work for the IRS:

 Tax season is the perfect time to remind AARP members that the United States Internal Revenue Service is enlisting the help of two private collection agencies to assist them in collecting delinquent tax payments. The American Jobs Act of 2004 allows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to use private collection agencies (PCAs) as an additional resource to help collect delinquent federal taxes.

These agencies assist the Service in reducing the growing number of uncollected tax liabilities while allowing the IRS to better focus on the more complex tax cases and issues. Just like the IRS, these agencies are able to contact taxpayers directly to solicit payment of outstanding federal tax liabilities. The first accounts under this program were assigned to the PCAs on September 7, 2006.

Of course, fraudulent people are also out there pretending to be one of these private collection agencies in order to steal. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to be one of these agencies, be sure that they are who they say they are. Visit the IRS website by following the link below to read more.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=155136,00.html#2     

Governor’s budget protects services vital to aging Wisconsinites, AARP says

Governor’s budget protects services vital to aging Wisconsinites, AARP says

• Individuals can call 1-877-698-8068 to speak with a trained operator who can answer their DTV questions.
• Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST
• Spanish-language operators are available as well.
• The national DTV call center will be in operation through March 31, 2009.

Recovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going.

Visit AARP's government watch here to find out how your legislators voted.

http://capwiz.com/aarp/issues/votes/?votenum=64&chamber=S&congress=1111&alertid=12696816

Source - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Stacy Forster

Feb. 11, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- MADISON -- Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative leaders today announced a down payment on the $593 million deficit in the current state budget, but didn't specify what additional steps will be taken to cover the rest of the shortfall.

The state budget deal, which will fill about $167 million of the deficit for the budget ending June 30, raises taxes on businesses and hospitals and trims state government by $125 million.

"This bill is an investment in Wisconsin's economy and its workers and is what our families deserve," Doyle said in a statement. "It identifies expenditures that can be cut right now, and targets revenue we can begin raising today."

The plan includes:

--$125 million in cuts to state spending; highway construction activities would be exempt from those cuts.

--A tax on hospital revenue, which is expected to bring an additional $900 million in federal funds.

--Expanded eligibility for and access to business tax credits.

--Approval of $300 million in spending of federal stimulus dollars for transportation projects.

--$3.6 million for worker training programs, including green building.

--Increased oversight of child care programs, the administration of which was called into question in the recent Journal Sentinel investigation "Cashing in on Kids."

Lawmakers could act on the package as early as next week. On Tuesday, Doyle is expected to present his spending plan for the budget that runs from mid-2009 to mid-2011, which has a shortfall of more than $5 billion.

 This afternoon, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  AARP Wisconsin State Director D’Anna Bowman applauds the vote and urges the Senate to move swiftly to pass a similar bill.

AARP Wisconsin applauds Gov. Jim Doyle, Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, Reps. Paul Ryan and Tammy Baldwin, and other members of the Wisconsin's congressional delegation for working toward a bipartisan agreement that will result in expanded health care for childless adults in Wisconsin.

Gov. Doyle announced last week that his administration has reached an agreement in principle on the next important component of his BadgerCare Plus plan to expand health care in Wisconsin. Under the proposal, low-income uninsured Wisconsinites who do not have children under their care may now have access to primary and preventive care thanks to the five-year federal waiver proposal that builds upon Wisconsin's existing BadgerCare Plus program.

Wisconsin has a long and proud tradition of making sure all residents, young and old, are well cared for. We at AARP have been working with legislators from both parties the past several years to ensure access to quality affordable health care. AARP Wisconsin would like to thank Gov. Doyle and Wisconsin's congressional delegation for their bipartisan work to encourage the federal government to support this new health care plan.

D'Anna Bowman, state director

AARP Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. -- Young people might be getting out the vote this Election Day, but so are members of AARP.

VIDEO: Watch The Report

AARP members have spent the past several weeks touring more than four dozen cities across the state. On Monday, the group unfurled a giant "Voter Roll of Honor" scroll with the names of 3,500 Wisconsin residents who have pledged to vote on Tuesday.

AARP's main position is a push to end the partisan bickering in both Madison and Washington, D.C.

"It's a get-out-the-vote campaign, and learn the issues we've been handing out voter guides in which AARP asks questions and the candidates, supplied the answers," said AARP volunteer John George.

AARP isn't endorsing any candidate in the race for the White House.