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Obama win boosts chances for tax hike on rich

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Thursday, November 8th, 2012, 9:49am
Obama win boosts chances for tax hike on rich

By Jeanne Sahadi

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — It won’t happen without a fight — potentially a really ugly fight. And it may even push the country over the fiscal cliff for a time.

But now that President Obamahas been re-elected, and Democrats have retained control of the Senate, there’s a far greater chance that high-income households will soon face higher tax bills.

“It seems likely,” said Republican tax lobbyist Ken Kies of the Federal Policy Group. “I can’t imagine President Obama will agree to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone.”

Indeed, senior administration officials have said that the president would veto any package that extends them for high-income taxpayers. (Related: California OKs tax hikes)

But that doesn’t mean House Republicans will back down on their insistence that no one’s tax rates go up.

On Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner held fast to the Republican line.

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Hampton Roads election highlights

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012, 12:39pm

In Hampton Roads, here are the results for several races.  

In Virginia Beach, Mayor Will Sessoms beat out two challengers – Wally Erb and Richard Kowalewitch. 

For the two Virginia Beach School Board at large seats, the race is very close.  With 94 of 95 precincts reporting, Beverly Anderson and Elizabeth Taylor have the most votes and appear to be the winners.  In the Rose Hall District, Joel McDonald, Jr. beat out Chris Arney.  Leonard Tengco won over Eric Wray, Jr. for the Centreville School Board seat.  Dan Edwards ran unopposed for the Kempsville School Board district. 

In Portsmouth, Kenneth Wright won a second term as mayor.  He beat out Vice-Mayor Charles Whitehurst, Sr.  For City Council, Curtis Edmonds, Sr., Danny Meeks, and Elizabeth Psimas won the three seats up for grabs.  Incumbent Steve Heretick lost his seat. 

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Voters approve eminent domain, General Assembly amendments

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012, 12:30pm

Virginia had two Constitutional Amendment questions on the ballot.  Both passed easily. 

The first has to do with the concept of eminent domain.  It asked, should any future Constitutional changes to this law be approved by voters first?  The ‘yes’ vote means voters want a chance to vote to approve future changes.  There is already a law in place to protect people from having their property taken from them.  The property owner usually has to come to some sort of financial agreement with the person or group that’s interested in the property.  But if the two cannot come to an agreement, the interested person must prove in court that the property will serve for *public use* – before it is handed over.

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Same-sex marriage wins first-ever ballot box approval

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012, 8:10am

By Ben Brumfield

(CNN) — For the first time, same-sex marriage has been approved by a popular vote in the United States.

Voters in Maryland and Maine passed referendums by narrow margins cementing the right for people to marry, regardless of gender.

The words man and woman “relating to the marital relationship or familial relationships must be construed to be gender-neutral for all purposes,” Maine’s act says. “Civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license,” reads Maryland’s.

Results of a vote on the same issue was still pending in Washington, as was a measure that would ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

“History was made tonight,” said Paul Guequierre, spokesman for Human Rights Campaign, which fought for the ballot box victories for same-sex couples.

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Wrong ballots accidentally delivered to Newport News polling place

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012, 1:27pm

Eric Levy reports that ballots from a different district were accidentally delivered to Yates Elementary School in Newport News.

Poll workers found and corrected the error after machines rejected the ballots and election workers were forced to count the wrong ballots by hand.

Election officials say if you voted on the wrong ballot at Yates and didn’t see the name of a specific candidate, you can return and vote on a provisional ballot that will be counted around noon tomorrow.

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Mitt Romney to campaign in Newport News on Sunday

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Friday, November 2nd, 2012, 3:28pm

Newport News, Va. – Mitt Romney will return to Hampton Roads on Sunday night with a campaign rally in Newport News.

Romney will appear at Smithfield Foods Flight Department on Providence Boulevard.

Doors open at 6:15 pm and the event begins at 8:15 pm.

Reserve tickets at www.mittromney.com/VA or pick them up in person at the following locations:

Chesapeake: 124 South Battlefield Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23322
Newport News: 12715 Warwick Blvd.
Virginia Beach: 911 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

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Rigell and Hirschbiel face off in debate

Submitted by WTKR_Web_Staff
Friday, October 26th, 2012, 1:48am

Representative Scott Rigell and Paul Hirschbiel faced off in a debate tonight.

They’re both running to represent the second congressional district.

Both men squared off in front of a crowd in Virginia Beach.

The event was hosted by the community relations council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

Many of the questions were geared toward the Middle East including Iran’s nuclear program.

Both men are competing to represent a district that includes Virginia Beach and parts of Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News.

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