October 2012 Newsletter
Issues Update
In recent weeks, Sen. Levin has called for closing offshore tax loopholes to help avoid the "fiscal cliff;" sought increased efforts to stop counterfeit air bags and other fake auto parts at U.S. borders; welcomed funding for projects to help control invasive species in the Great Lakes; and joined a colleague in calling for better coordination between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to do a better job of taking care of troops as they leave the military.
Closing loopholes can help avoid 'fiscal cliff'
Tax loopholes are one significant cause of the budget deficit and add to the tax burden that ordinary Americans bear. Recently, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which Sen. Levin chairs, held a hearing exposing how multinational corporations have taken advantage of loopholes in tax law and weaknesses in enforcement to shift their profits overseas and avoid paying taxes. Closing these loopholes is especially important now, as the "fiscal cliff" looms - a series of automatic spending cuts and tax increases on working families that could throw us back into recession. Seeking to help step back from the "fiscal cliff," Sen. Levin wrote to congressional and administration leaders on the need to address offshore tax abuses as part of a balanced deficit-reduction package.
Read Sen. Levin's letter on avoiding the fiscal cliff »
Upper Peninsula events
Sen. Levin spent several days in October in the Upper Peninsula, visiting students in Gladstone and Escanaba, speaking to the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, touring important environmental protection projects, and celebrating the 20th anniversary of Keweenaw National Historical Park, which was established by legislation he sponsored.
See a photo gallery of Sen. Levin's U.P. tour »
Read Sen. Levin's column on the 20th anniversary of Keweenaw National Historical Park »
More news from Senator Levin
- Sen. Levin urged the Department of Homeland Security to increase its efforts to intercept counterfeit air bags and other fake auto parts at U.S. borders.
- He joined Michigan's Sen. Debbie Stabenow in announcing funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for efforts to halt invasive species by the Great Lakes Commission in Ann Arbor and Wayne State University, the Grand Traverse Conservation District and Michigan State University.
- He joined Sen. Patty Murray of Washington in writing to the secretaries of defense and veterans affairs, calling for greater cooperation between the Pentagon and VA in improving the disability system for troops as they leave active service.
- He called for Congress to clarify the purpose of state and local intelligence fusion centers and to tie funding for the centers to their performance after the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations issued a report raising questions about the centers' effectiveness.
- He issued a statement making clear his his concern about the release of potentially sensitive diplomatic communications regarding Syria by a committee in the House of Representatives.