Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) got part of his Military Family Bill of Rights legislation in the Senate’s just passed emergency tax relief measure for persons affected by Hurricane Katrina. Kerry’s provision offers tax relief to employers of members of the National Guard and Reserve. The tax relief equates to an employee retention credit, providing a 40 percent tax credit for wages paid up to $6,000 after Aug. 28 and before Dec. 31. The Senate and House are in conference resolving differences of their respective bills.
An Air Force C-17 transport jet recently tested a new technology that could help aviators stay on course even if the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) that much of modern-day aviation relies on is compromised.