Engineering Inc. - September/October 2016 - 10

HILLARY CLINTON "An Analysis of Hillary Clinton's Tax Proposals," by the Urban Institute & Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center, concludes that federal revenues would rise by $1 trillion in the first decade and add $2.1 trillion in new receipts the following decade. Contributing to the gains would be interest savings from a more than $1.2 trillion reduction in federal debt over 10 years as a result of Clinton's proposals, the center reports. Other revenues would come from increased taxes surcharges and exemption limits for the highest-income filers. The top 1 percent would contribute about 75 percent of the additional revenues, while those with incomes below $300,000 would see little change in their taxes, the center forecasts. Businesses won't see changes in corporate rates based on Clinton's proposals; however, certain corporations would pay more to the government as a result of related actions, such as adjustments to laws that multinational corporations use to avoid or lower their U.S. taxes. Other increased costs for some businesses would come from Clinton's plan to cut tax subsidies for fossil fuels, including the expense of intangible drilling costs and the deduction for domestic manufacturing for the production of oil, natural gas and coal, the center says. The flipside is tax breaks for businesses that participate in an apprentice program, create employee profit-sharing programs and invest in distressed communities and infrastructure. investments through business tax reform. Of these funds, she would allocate $250 billion to direct public investment. She would allocate the other $25 billion to a national infrastructure bank, dedicated to advancing our competitive advantage for the 21st century economy. The bank would leverage its $25 billion in funds to support up to an additional $225 billion in direct loans and loan guarantees for energy, water, broadband, transportation and multimodal projects for a total investment of $500 billion. The bank would also administer part of a renewed and expanded Build America Bonds program, and look for opportunities to partner with the private sector. Clinton says she would increase accountability, streamline permitting, support multimodal projects that extend beyond a single type of transportation, and encourage better design and technology. The Democratic challenger plans to upgrade aging rail tunnels and bridges, expand congested highway corridors, eliminate dangerous at-grade railway crossings, and build deeper port channels to accommodate the newest and largest cargo ships. She has promised to begin upgrades to at least 25 of the most costly U.S. freight bottlenecks by the end of her first term. Clinton says: "Investing in our infrastructure is about so much more than creating good-paying jobs; it's about maintaining our status as the world's economic superpower." Infrastructure Health Care Clinton would increase federal infrastructure funding by $275 billion over a five-year period, fully paying for these A bedrock of the Clinton campaign is support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including fighting attempts by opponents Tax Policy 10 ENGINEERING INC. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES Change Maker $ 275 billion in new federal infrastructure spending over five years to repeal the law. Clinton also promises to lower premiums and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for consumers who purchase insurance through Obamacare exchanges. The Democratic nominee would also let immigrants purchase insurance through ACA exchanges regardless of their official immigration status. Clinton also is calling for additional incentives for states to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income residents. Some of Clinton's policies evolved during the primary campaign in response to opponent Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for all" stance. In May, Clinton said she

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - September/October 2016