chance to increase council tax is, which has been flat for many years. capped. —— counciltaxes. social problem. when i see these things i think, we were saying earlier, if it isa think, we were saying earlier, if it is a council tax, in theory, it makes the money more accountable, look around your own local borough and parish and see if bus stops are lit at night, is litter being picked 7 lit at night, is litter being picked ty lit at night, is litter being picked 7 duty of lit at night, is litter being picked up? duty of care to your own neighbourhood, i think this is a good thing but it does mean one less thing for the government, palmed off... ready palmed off the licence fee. other channels are available(!) and taxes on businesses. looks like you have devolved power to local authorities but with it comes a big responsibility. also comes six years of slashing central government, the amount of money the central government pays to councils, they have been hit by both sides, they could not raise taxation, the government does not want council tax going up

recent decision of surrey county council to drop plans for a local referendum and a 15% rise in council tax, the labour leader had wanted to know if the county council had been given favourable treatment, in the form of a sweetheart deal by ministers, in order to drop the rise. he returned to the subject during the latest session of prime minister's questions. could the prime minister explain the difference between a sweetheart deal and a gentleman's agreement? i assume he is referring to surrey county council. he is making it as if it was a particular deal available to surrey county council and not to others. the ability to raise the social care precept is available for other councils. the labour leader believed he had unearthed some new evidence. evidence has emerged that the leader of the surrey county council... that it was a gentleman's agreement between the council and the government. the question is, what deal was done with surrey county council? he is asking me if there was a special deal available to them that was not available to other councils, the answer is no. if he is looking

taxation, the could not raise taxation, the government does not want council tax going up by10%, government does not want council tax going up by 10%, and the government is cutting back money, councils are in crisis. things that are really important, key services, it can't just always be about elderly care. the focus is there because that is where the headlines are. domestic violence. they are left with just that she too is stuff that they have two fun. shall we finish on something rather different, the metro. duty calls. tv‘s most compelling cop show is back with a 5—star review. three of the main characters. i was a bit late to this, which series is this? four. i picked it up at series three, did not matter, this is a fantastic show. recognised us by moving tonight, for the first time, to bbc one, expectations high, it has gone from being a midweek bbc two stuff to the blu—ray band slot of 9pm sunday evening viewing, but i think it has been built and they will come, it is by far, i am saying it, the finest television crime drama that we have in this country. —— blue riband. i have seen th

people will see that in the council tax bills which they will receive the next few weeks.hat impact. aside from that the local government association has said that is not enough. there will be this huge spending gap. the figure is something in the region of 2.6 by 2020, a spending gap and social care funding. they call the government to do something about that. we understand behind—the—scenes government departments have been looking at ways they can deal the shortfall in funding for social care. so we expect there to be something on that in the budget. that is a big issue for concern. in terms of business rates that is something particularly affect small businesses. a lot of small businesses. a lot of small businesses could be put out of businesses could be put out of business by the hike in business rates. the reason are going up is that properties are being revalued. that has meant that the cost has gone up for them. a lot of pressure on the chancellor to do something about that. we will see what happens on that issue. any swede knows that we know of? —— sweeteners? on t

most councils in and around the capital are planning to increase their share of council tax on top ofwill also add up to 2% more. that could mean an increase of around £60 a year on a band d property in some boroughs. it means that we have to find a lot of extra money. we built £2 million into our budget of an increase for elderly adults and four child services. this year, even with that, we overspent by £2 billion each. —— for. hertfordshire police are warning women to be vigilant following a spate of suspected drink spikings. several women have told officers they fell ill as a result of drinking in the town centre. symptoms of having a drink spiked can include confusion, drowsiness, paranoia and memory loss. let‘s have a look at the travel situation now. starting with the tubes and no reported problems there at the moment. minor delays on the district line which we‘ll talk about later. in enfield: there are queues on the a10 southbound from bullsmoor lane back to the m25. it‘s because of a broken down lorry earlier which has just been towed. in brondesbury park: the avenue is closed

the council had been considering holding a local referendum on raising the council tax.hority, david hodge, is heard telling colleagues that he'd secured a "gentleman's agreement" with ministers. there may come a time, if what i call a gentleman's agreement, as the conservative party often does, are not honoured, we will have to revisit this in nine months or a year's time. if we do, let me assure you, you will have to drag me, kicking and screaming, not to go for referendum next year. 0ur chief political correspondent, vicki young, is at westminster. potentially, how tricky is this for the government, vicki? in recent weeksjeremy the government, vicki? in recent weeks jeremy corbyn the government, vicki? in recent weeksjeremy corbyn laid into theresa may in all of this saying it shows a tory council being given a secret deal to stop it hiking council tax. they have upped the rhetoric tonight after the emergence of this secret recording saying theresa may and her ministers have been playing political games and conducting back room sweetheart deals for theirfriends conduc

cost and the council tax has just increased first referendum cost and the council tax hasjust increasedtheresa may has a point and we should be working together to get the best deal possible as a united front? we have already broken things up enough, zwe? do you think, though, haven't we? do you think, though, the argument is from the snp and the i725: government, that the argument is from the snp and the eaa ea government, that things % scottish government, that things have changed because of brexit and the vote on the 23rd ofjune, and although that was meant to be a once ina although that was meant to be a once in a generation referendum, there although that was meant to be a once in a g: to ration referendum, there although that was meant to be a once in a g: to be on referendum, there although that was meant to be a once in a g: to be anotherendum, there although that was meant to be a once in a g: to be another one? 1, there although that was meant to be a once in a g: to be another one? what re although that was meant to be a once in a g: to be another one? what do you needs to be

the express says that millions of families are facing major council tax increases from next month.es says britain risks signing worthless trade deals because ministers are failing to recognise the complexity of brexit. the mirror's lead features the missing girl madeline mccann as a former detective claims someone is shielding her abductor. and uber is the mail's top story. the paper says david cameron's downing street was part of a cover up to help the online taxi company. we'll look at some of the different coverage of this issue over whatsapp and why you can or shouldn't be able to access and why you can or shouldn't be able to a ccess m essa 9 es and why you can or shouldn't be able to access messages sent on that platform after what amber rudd said today. rudd unrealistic says the guardian to allow access to whatsapp, the home secretary refuses to rule out an encryption law after the attack but she wants to appeal to the companies to do the right thing and inshore messages can be accessed. yes, which as you can imagine is her preferred option because if they can that means you

pm may: i think to my honorable friend, of course he knows the decision on what to do about council tax is a matter for the directly elected commissioner for every area that has a release and crime commissioners. i would always encourage those commissioners to look at ways of introducing efficiencies into their forces before looking to increase local taxes. what we have seen over the last six years is that they can decreaseending and crime at the same time. >> mr. speaker, you will know that the royal college of physicians have found that 40,000 people die immaturely each year from diesel pollution at a cost of 20 billion pounds to the economy and that also was found 45% of diesel drivers are willing to switch them in the right tax incentive schemes. so will she today committed to a fiscal strategy and a new clean new,ct to put us on a cleaner, healthier trajectory rather than to be dragged into the courts into the basic e.u. air-quality standards to be met? >> the honorable gentleman will at thee are looking up measures we need to introduce air quality. there have been more measures in

. >> i say to my honorable friend, the decision on what to do about council tax is a matter or that directly elect their crime commissioner for strategies in every area with the commissioner. but i would always encourage those commissioners to look at ways of introducing efficient teeth before looking to increase local taxes. i think what we've seen over the last six years if they can find savings and can reduce crime at the same time. >> mr. speaker, you know they have found 40,000 people die prematurely each year from diesel pollution at a cost of 20 billion pounds to the economy and they found 45% of diesel drivers are willing to use give them the tax incentive schemes. so will she today commit to a fiscal strategy in the new clean air act to put us on, cleaner, healthier tree rather than be dragged into the court to the e.u. air quality standards. >> the honorable gentleman will know we are looking up the measures we need to introduce to improve air quality. there have been improvements that we need to go further and that is what the government is looking out across department and rural

authorities can we all know that they are cash—strapped and no local authority wants to put up its council taxng to see something radical, like the government saying, maybe we need to even think about that funding model. absolutely, we have called for a new settle m e nt absolutely, we have called for a new settlement both for social care funding and the nhs that recognises, the demands both on the nhs and the social care system. arising from the fa ct social care system. arising from the fact that we are living longer. there are more young and disabled people and we haven't really faced up people and we haven't really faced up to how we fund that. one of the positive things is that the government has recognised in relation to social care, it needs to find a longer term solution. one question, that i think we will not have the answer to today, is that the review which we think the chancellor announced, will announce, it reflects, successive governments over the last 20 years have tried to do something about this with very little success. can this government be the one that succeeds. it is such

to decide who they want to run their local services, care for the local environment and set the council taxns confident about thejob these important elections confident about the job we can do to serve local people and local communities. from cardiff to the cairngorms, to durham, people are looking dover to durham, people are looking for a party with a plan to secure a better future, a better future betterfuture, a betterfuture for their town or the city, the county under the country. and our task is clear, we must work to be that party. in local elections across the country that means being the party that sets out the credible and compelling case to keep council tax low for more effective and and low for more effective and efficient local services and more responsive representation. in the elections for a new metro mayors, our candidate that is, in the west midlands, james palmer in cambridgeshire, or candidate in cambridgeshire, q'fgqfiidgtgig— ., . ,. ,, ,, ‘ manchester, in liverpool, cambridgeshire, q'fgqfiidgtgig— ., . ,. ,, ,, ‘manchester, in liverpool, in greater manchester, in liverpo

labour policies would mean doubling national insurance, doubling council tax as well. that wouldn't help a low-paying or ordinary working family. [shouting] >> jeremy corbyn. >> mr. speaker, the difference is we want a good school and a good place for every child in every school in every community. elective education does not achieve that. we want a staircase for all, not a ladder for the few, which is what the conservative policy actually are. what she hasn't addressed also is the unfairness of a budget that cuts taxes at the top and, continues to reduce corporation tax, encourages bogus self employment. what she has to do is address the issue of injustice and inequality in our society, and a government that is dedicated towards widening the gap, not helping the harder or those who are workings self-employed to try and make into meat and not getting access to any benefit at the same time. >> prime minister. >> inequality has gone down under this government. this budget shows the top 1% of earners will be contributing 27% in terms of the income they are providing. let

the council here is putting up council tax, in part to raise money for social care. will the axe fall? the council is keeping its cards close to its chest ahead of elections in may. but not everyone agrees crisis point is upon them. when we were in control, we saved £55 million in cumbria and it was relatively easy. there was a lot of fat there to be cut. so it was doable. and this administration, this current administration has wasted millions upon millions of pounds worth of taxpayers' money. so there's still money out there to be found, but it is becoming more difficult. i think as we look forward to the next three years and possibly beyond, i think many of us are wondering really where this is all going to end. i think local government is experiencing an existential crisis. and it is difficult to see how some of the services are going to survive at all in the face of the ongoing cuts. we are briefly going to go back to the breaking news is that we mentioned earlier that michael heseltine has been sacked asa government adviser after rebelling on the brexit vote. wh

council tax of 1% will raise much more higher amount in surrey than a place like mine. it's a national priority, a national need, so the system should be national to fund that. if you think about 5 billion pounds taken out of social care since 2010. 1 billion across two years won't touch the sides. if you look at the bigger tax cut schedule for the parliament, big tax cuts to banks, big cut to capital gains tax, inheritance tax coming down, there's about 70 billion pounds between now and 2022. we have to see priorities change. >> it is all shadow boxing at the moment. i presume you agree until we get the enactment of article 50 and the nitty gritty negotiations, it's kind of all in never-never land. we don't know what's going on. >> the big question for the next ten years is what that brexit deal will look like. the scope for a good deal, hopefully the chancellor has an idea there is talk in the papers today of a war chest, a brexit fund being built up. the premise of that seems strange to me. if there are things that need to be done, and there are things that need to b

nine out of 10 local authorities in england are increasing their level of council tax from april, a newd. residents in some areas will see their bills rise by the maxiumum 5%, as councils use new powers to top up their charges with money ring—fenced for social care. only 22 councils out of 353 in england are freezing council tax in the next financial year according to the press association. the government is to respond to fears a police risk assessment form has been used in a "racist" way to target grime artists. promoters and licensees in many areas are asked to complete a form 696 before hosting some music events featuring "djs and mcs". culture minister matt hancock is set to raise concerns with mayor sadiq khan about the use of the form in london. the met police denies the voluntary form targets certain genres of music. we have a special report on that coming up. a man is seeking to take his case to the high court to change the law on assisted suicide which is currently unlawful in the uk. the 54—year—old father, who cannot be identified by name, was diagnosed in 2014 with a rare de

along with other benefits such as housing benefit and council tax benefit, you can get those.f big one is statutory maternity pay, which is a benefit because if companies —— companies then reclaim that from the government when they pay maternity p5y~ government when they pay maternity pay. as self—employed you can get something called maternity allowance but for the first six weeks if you are an employee you get 90% of your pay, and you don't get that if you are self—employed. there are a numberof are self—employed. there are a number of ways are self—employed. there are a numberof ways in are self—employed. there are a number of ways in which self—employed people miss out and that's why there is this grievance about having to pay more national insurance. another viewer has a grievance on this point, if the government wants to make the self—employed pay the same tax as an employee, why aren't they providing holiday pay and sick pay, what is the point of being self—employed? absolutely. i've always worked for myself, that's exactly what i say. my myself, that's exactly what i s

tax returns. that's where this is headed. we need a special council. >> the press has been calling to see those tax returns but let me play for you both, what jeff sessions said in a press conference yesterday. this was him explaining why he answered senator al franken the way he did. >> it was honest and correct as i understood it at the time. i appreciate that some have taken the view that this is a false comment. that is not my intent. that is not correct. i will write the judiciary committee soon, today or tomorrow to explain this testimony for the record. >> mr. whitaker he's going to submit this supplemental information by paper to the committee. so is that it? case closed? legally is that all that has to be done here? >> well, again i mean i appreciate my colleagues perspective but i will tell you that as you look at the testimony. it is not jeff sessions job to anticipate what senator franken was asking him or should have asked him. if he wanted to go outside of the context of the campaign, the trump for president campaign and it's contacts an

tax. not every local authority can just text neck and get the deal they won't! another councilosed as well. these painful decisions are being taken by councils not because they want to do it but because they don't enough money even to keep essential services running because of the slashing of their budgets year—on—year. and it goes on! it affect our communities and our lives in so many ways. last year, councils proposed a sell—off of school playing fields to the equivalent of 500 football pitches. 500 pitches not available for young people to indulge in sport. it is our duty as a community, surely, to ensure all our young people, wherever they live, have a decent chance to grow up live, have a decent chance to grow up with a library, with a playing field, with a sure start centre. it is not a lot to ask. the chancellor boasts, mr deputy speaker, of a strong economy, but abandons the target of the previous chancellor, so let's give a more realistic context to today's figures. the deficits that was going to be eradicated in 2015, you all remember the long—term economic plan? the

covering northern virginia this morning, the alexandria city council is considering a property tax ratencrease of 5.7 cents. that's according to "the washington post". >> this hike could cost the average homeowner $356 more than what they're currently paying. the council is considering higher fees for sewers and trash, any storm water utility fees. >>> et was one year ago today that metrorail system closed down. crews spent that day checking hundreds of cables. metro shut down certain stations making repairs in hopings of preventing a huge shutdown. the final surge is expected to happen in june this weekend on the green line, metro mans to close the green belt metro station. if that's your stop, you'll be able to take the green line. this will run on a regular weekend schedule between college park and branch avenue. >>> it's going to be safetory ride a bike and get around, but it could be harder for you to find a parking space. all three streets could get new bike lanes, new cross blocks. the meeting is 59 dogwood elementary school in re ston tonight. >>> this morning, there is a new pa

social care, both directly and enabling councils to increase the social care precept part of the council tax care because per head spending in the nhs is going down in coming years although pressures are going up because of the ageing population, and schools in my constituency face budget cuts. budget is determined the priorities of the government and by any measure, people across the country... spending in realterms measure, people across the country... spending in real terms on health and education are going down when they should be priorities. maybe the chancellor is being canny, brexit is down the road and we don't know what it will be like when we leave and the impact on the economy so leave and the impact on the economy so maybe he is playing it cautious and keeping money back. some of the cuts he is making now, particularly around health and social care act, will have longer term impacts the costis will have longer term impacts the cost is more. you are right to talk about the looming backdrop which is europe. just last week, the former conservative prime ministerjohn major argued the

that goes for all councils across the country. >> the tax mr. speaker said there was a memorandum of understanding to the prime minister said there was no deal. she now is unclear about it. did she actually know what arrangement was made with surrey county counsel? then she announced questions on that. there's another area of deep concern over the whole country. could the prime minister tell us how many new school places will be needed by 2020? >> that they say to the right honorable gentleman really he should listen to the answers ihs give before you ask the next question. he said with regards to this special deal and surrey i have answered him three times what i will do a fourth time. it's those special deals and surrey were not available toe other counsel.rime .. have class sizes soaring thanks to her government. so what is the answer in the number of school places prime minister? >> well, this government has a policy about increasing the number of school places, they doing more than >>y child has been. >> wide we have a crisis thanks to her

we are paying more council tax, but the roads are in a worse condition. so why is that?x that is already being paid, so when you fill up already being paid, so when you fill up yourcar, already being paid, so when you fill up your car, that fuel duty that you pay, if 2p of that could be redirected to our local road network we believe that we could really start to make a positive impact on the state of our roads. there is another way of looking at this, we talked about potholes a lot on brea kfast. talked about potholes a lot on breakfast. david is a research director, to do with bin lorries and potholes, what is this? we are being funded by the department for transport to look at how we can prevent potholes from forming in the first place and we have fitted cameras to a bin lorry and we will be taking images of the road as the bin lorry passers—by on its daily work. those bin lorries go on the same route every week? absolutely. so they will have a very exact view? very much. we are using high—definition imagery so we can build upa high—definition imagery so we can build

the daily express are talking about a possible big council tax rise.our stay where i was in a survey. was such an hour stay where i was in a survey. i think we'll get on pitches. —— where i was yesterday. there are a lot of things that you know that i do not. —— pictures. we want to know how you enjoyed the weather. if you've got any pictures summing up your sunny weekend, we'd like to see them. iam i am getting really confuses morning. did you look at the mail? you haven't done the mail, have you? the front page of the mail, their stories about david cameron at downing street, a cover—up over uber. they also tell you about prince harry and his girlfriend. are they setting up a home together? over here we have the boat race on sunday, that means that spring is officially here. oxford versus cambridge, it is very them and them. what do we have to do with this, most of us think but, apparently, this is ill feeling ahead of the boat race this year because one of the crew has swapped. he used to row for cambridge and now he swapped and roads for oxford whi

called a precept, additionalfunding from through what's called a precept, additional funding from council taxd, i agree, clients we have our local authority funded, iagree, it is clients we have our local authority funded, i agree, it is a decent amount, but not enough. a good start but the chancellor needs to know more is needed. you look after people who are elderly with dementia, how much do you get to look after somebody for a week? dementia, how much do you get to look after somebody for a week7m we're talking about local authority funded, just shy of £500 a week. sounds like a lot, but when you break it down, 24/7 care isjust around £5 an hour. staff need to be paid more than the living wage and so we paid more than the living wage and so we want to pay more to recruit more, we are caught in that difficulty. we want local authorities to get more funding but it has to come to the front line. it's all very well, the money, but we don't want it tied in bureaucracy. you face the reality day in, day out, your staff and their care needs. what would your message be to the chancellor about fund

council. talking about tax and the overhaul options. three people familiar with the meeting.ne of the proposals will be a order adjusted tax. the executive is editor for global business for bloomberg news. a big, i a ceo, i run business, what am i looking for in this meeting? >> it depends on what industry. if you're a big retailer, walmart, best buy, you are relying on important for supply chain you are pretty worried. this will put a 20% import levy on your goods. you will have to pass that on somehow. you are worried if you're a big retailer. high. good to see it. shortly there are companies in favor of this. there must be some companies that would win out with a order adjusted tax. >> those of the big net exporters. companies that are retailers but not as reliant on imported goods. home depot is a good example. walmart, companies that sell a lot of affordable products and they want to keep that going. heard we are going to get movement on the health care story. there is concern and we just heard from mark hubble the idea that reflation trade is broken. he trump administra

some time to celebrate the success the city experienced under the philly beverage tax in the past year. >> city council's courageous vote took our city's fight against poverty to a whole new level. the dates philly beverage tax 2,000 free quality pre k seats and nine community schools serving 4500 student. >> the mayor has also proposed a significant investment to reduce homelessness in the city. i hopes rapid re housing programs will keep families off the streets and out of the shelter system. >> the mayor continues to receive some push-back from business owners affected by the city beverage tax. >> "eyewitness news" outside city hall where small business owners explain how they've been hit hard by the tax. they claim since the tax went into effect in january, they've been forced to layoff employees due to a decrease in sales. >> everyone down here, just very concerned about their jobs, and their future, and the well-being of their families. people down here, this is how they make their living. >> now, response, mayor kenney said the soda industry is holding the jobs of hard working people hostage, just

tax continues. let's give you a live look at council chambers in city hall. we are live outside city hall with details on what the mayor is proposing. matt, what can you tell us? >> reporter: there are a number of issues and topics expected to be addressed this morning. it is a $4.4 million budget with a five-year plan. there are voices of opposition. demonstrators there protesting the city's beverage tax. some angry about the loss of revenue they have seen in local stores. mayor jim kenney is expected to talk about the beverage tax in his budget address, particularly how it has helped 4,000 students so far. he'll tackle drug abuse, housing, also the city's pension program, but the one getting the most attention is the soda tax. one gentleman, an accountant, says soda sales are more important than you might think. >> it brings people into stores, and then they buy what they really need. right now everything's down. it is just the very beginning. if we continue this for a few more months, the city will lose a tremendous amount of revenue. >> reporter: they spo

the alexandria city council is considering a property tax rate increase of 5.7 cents. according to the "washington post," the council is under pressure to raise money for school construction and maintenance. this hike could cost the average homeowner $356 more than what they currently play. the council is also considering higher fees for sewers and trash and new storm water >>> you have less than an hour to finish your brackets and tell us who you have winning it all? >> march madness gets under way in about an hour. we'll tell you your bracket is going to get busted but maybe one of the six times from our region will make it to the next round. check out all of the things that those teams are posting to get fans pumped up. virginia tech, v. cu, west virginia, uva and terps, university of maryland are all playing today. carol maloney was there to see both teams get the last practices in before today. not too many nerves. >> trying to cherish every moment with the team, playing college basketball. >> when you're on the court, you try to not think, got to be natural, been

the council members do agree marijuana commerce would increase tax revenue. the council will meet at 7:00 tonight. >>> we have some video from northstar showing you how much snow they're getting. the resort has received 618 inches of powder for the season and that is nearly double last season's total and it's not even over yet. new video shows the staggering amount of the white stuff, another 3 feet since sunday. squaw valley and mammoth mountain plan to stay open through july 4. >>> we're getting our first images of lightning storms thanks to a satellite from nasa. that is lightning and thunderstorms across the earth. the geostationary lighting mapper is the first of its kind, more than 22,000 miles above earth and watches the western hemisphere. nasa says it can help forecasters give better warnings when a storm is getting stronger. also help monitor areas where lightning causes wild fires. >>> and it's awesome eye candy too but it does serve a great purpose. good morning, everybody. let's check out the temperatures here in san francisco, some of our warmer

if pr >>> the alexandria city council is considering a property tax rate increase of 5. 7 cents. this hike could cost the average homeowner $356 more than what you currently pay. the council is considering higher fees for sewer and trash and a new storm water utility fee. >>> well, this dramatic vitd video is just in from alabama. take a look. it shows a woman rolling out of the trunk of a moving car. take a look here. the woman, you see the trunk opening and she rolls out and gets up and then starts to run up to the convenience store. the woman told police she was kidnapped at gun point as she walked to her apartment. no arrests have been made, but the suspects were caught on video. the store's owner tried to use the woman's credit card, but were declined. oh, so glad she made it out of that. >>> imagine you're on a plane trying to relax and all of a sudden your headphones explode. that happened to a woman in midair. this unidentified woman wassing going from china to australia this week when the batteries in her head phone caught fire. the lithium ion batteries have become a glo

council members called the payment a poor tax. >> it was children that made a mistake. we want to be supportive of children. at the end of the day, children make bonehead decisions. that doesn't mean they won't become something great. >> reporter: philadelphia is among the first cities in the country to stop making these collections. >>> president donald trump was in florida this afternoon promoting school choice. the president visited students and staff at st. andrews catholic school in orlando. along with secretary of education, betsy devos. the two were part of a listening session and made their pitch for school vouchers. many students attending the school use a voucher program from the state's credit scholarship program. >>> tomorrow, this bucks county park will play host to a pro trump rally. the grass roots activist group people for trump in southeast pennsylvania is hosting the event. it's part of a nationwide spirit of america rally, which are meant to show support for the country and the president. the rally will start at noon. >>> remembering two fallen office

taxes. earlier this month montgomery county council passed a bill to give small farmers a tax break.ounts to the better part of $20,000. way more than the farm itself was turning out. >> no, it wasn't making that much. you know what i mean? >> reporter: what it means is he'll be able to keep the farm. >> i do a little fishing in the spring. so between fishing and the gardening, that keeps me busy. so i'm just glad to be able to do it. >> in cosmo. >> that bill applies to farms that are between 3 to half an acre. and dc and the city of baltimore also have similar laws. >>> so things are going to be warming up on the farm. just not quick. >> not quick. and tonight we're kind of in that danger zone of damaging the cherry blossoms farther if we go below 27. let's start with a live look outside. our live michael and son weather cam. it is very dry outside. look at the humidity. only 17%. it's 48. dew points in in the single digits. what we're concerned about if all things are equal, the winds die down. we have clear skies and this kind of an air mass. the temperature can drop to as low as

tax council last time there was comprehensive tax reform. in 1986.way back mr. jenner is now a partner in a washington law firm. us.k you for joining good to have you here. so a lot of our audience, usiness leaders, people in the financial commune are anxious to know about, are we going to have year.tive tax reform this what's your simple answer, yes or no? >> not this year. year.t this why is that? you were there in '86 when it got done. complicated to do all at once. the tax reform act of 1986 took three years from start to finish. you just can't get it done that fast. so, as you look at the plans being circulated, the resident's meeting with steve mnuchin today to go over a plan. what is doable? constructive and say, if you were advising, say this is what done reasonably soon. >> it sort of depends on whether taxot you want this to be a cut or a revenue neutral tax reform effort. are easier because everybody loves them. tax reform, there are winners the losers nd usually yell a lot louder than the winners do. healthcare rom the issue the hill, particularly th

taxes to the school proffers. >> a group showed up in full smart mode at the city council meeting last night. surprise party with party hats, balloons, and the abatement cake of shame. it is the 70th tax break of his administration. >> i am hoping that humor can do this where hard work has failed. >> when you and i pay our property taxes, most of that goes to pay for local schools. the city takes all the money. they get zero. and these tax breaks are not designed to spur development. and it's getting harder and harder to justify it. i took a little tour of the area just to get a sense of this town and how it is struggling to attract private investment. >> here's something that you do not expect to see in a city so desperate for private investment. ♪ ♪ and here are some real estate listings in this area. three bedrooms, 4795 per month. and this apartment $3000 per month. >> it is really nice of starbucks to build a location here. >> is a free administration a bateman. >> they will pay $1.4 million per year in taxes. if they pay full property taxes, they pay more than $3 million per year. but y

taxes. >> reporter: city council president says council will tweet but approve the budget unscathed but heees trouble. >> because there's the likelihood of less resources coming from these federal and state administrations there will require that we do things a little differently. >> reporter: mayor kenney reminded city council members of the stark reality of philly. it is the poorest of the nation's top ten and the last in job creation. at city hall, jeff cole, fox 29 news. >>> fox 29 weather authority and the story today is the wind. check this out. hard to see but a huge tree crashed into house on mill street in clifton heights, delaware county. it smashed right through the second floor bedroom window 58-year-old tom foley slept much he's banked up but a amazingly nothing serious. >> live look at wilmington wind gusts there hit 44 miles an hour. still pretty cold out there because of that wind and listen to this, we could see some snow. >> it's about time. it's still winter. >> yeah. >> not that we have had any winter. >> kathy orr. >> this is just about it. look behind me. it's not muc

million-dollar of that is coming from the philadelphia beverage tax and that is proving to be very controversial. as mayor jim kenney presented city council with his budget for fiscal year 2018, a few dozen protested outside against the cities beverage tax. >> we're just here putting a face on the jobs being lost as a result of this terrible tax. >> reporter: although beverage tax income of 92 million-dollar represents a fraction on of the total $4.4 billion budget, the mayor says that money has already made a difference in the lives of many philadelphians. >> today philly beverage tax has funded 2,000 free quality prek seats and nine community schools, serving 4500 students >> reporter: mayor says that tax will continue to fund other programs, for years to come. >> all said philadelphia beverage tax will allow city to dedicate half billion dollars over the next five years to programs, specifically proven to reduce poverty. >> reporter: but not everyone is pleased with how the tax seems to target one industry. >> it is a question of, attacking one industry, as opposed to more broad based tax that wouldn't cost us jobs and targeted an indu

tax reform. what are we hoping to hear from the hill? to meet witheduled the council to lay out a broader vision on tax reform. >> here is where it gets interesting, this is a republican caucus divided. thethe key part of conference of tax reform is going to be whether or not there is revenue neutrality and whether or not the tax plan will reduce the deficit or at least not add to it. finding ways to pay for tax cuts, not only on international tax cuts, but on personal income taxes. that is where it gets tricky. -- has putas concert up the border tax. david: what did we hear about the white house about it? one source said they are looking at a variety of options. any more clarity? >> none, david. there's been no specifics on the theer tax to bring on -- in $1 trillion revenue offsets. representative dave is among the proposals that they are looking at. there's no question that the freedom caucus, some members feel a bit in bold and -- emb oldened. why should they vote on the border tax when so many of them are against it? they are going to need democrats. if they don'

tax reform. cohn is now the head of the national economic council. formerly goldman sachs. w other officials on options for tax reform. one of the key things that investors have been focusing on in the u.s.. evans rosenberg and williams all speaking today. stan fischer and yellen yesterday. that twoher believes more rate hikes this year are justified. bit higher in the state yesterday on the back of it. attention ton our tomorrow on the fiscal front. paul ryan wants to see this order tax. moment, the president is on the fence. if that were to go through, how significantly would it change your forecast surrounding the dollar? we do see this is one of the crucial issues for the dollar. how fiscal policy turns out i think there is our base case, the ones markets have expected. extend thehat will economic cycle in the u.s.. the dollar. markets were worried you do not get anything. there's this one that is a reform package. certainly what paul ryan has talked about. differenteard all the that ministrations talk about it in terms of reform. people have focused a lot on the border

council. all were pleased with the basic elements. >> there was no new taxes proposed in this budget and some additional spending opportunitieses for the city. and doing a better job collection of taxes that are out there currently. >> we see some real emphasis on infrastructure improvement. >> and it will not be released until midnight in advance of the player's formal address tomorrow. the council does not have to okay the new budget until late spring. >> residents will be pleased that the administration is putting a heavy focus on infrastructure investment. >> the mayor has a plan to get the pension in line to an 8% funding level that is huge. >> council members are emerging from the closed door briefings clearly delighted they don't have to make a choice between raising taxes or cutting is ofs. at city hall, i'm vernon odom, channel 6 "action news." >>> philadelphia police are looking for two men that stole mail from a home in northeast philadelphia. surveillance video captured the men walking up to the house last week on the 900 block of browse avenue. the men went through the mail and t

taxis repealed , and in the meantime mayor kenney's expected to address beverage tax in his budget proposal to city council later this morning. we are live from the far northeast i'm trang do for cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >> you will blow away, get inside. >> very windy northeast. >>> lawmakers want attorney general jeff sessions to re cues himself from the investigation into russian interference in the november election. >> sessions talked twice with russia's ambassador during the presidential campaign while still an alabama senator and advisor to the trump campaign. he did not disclose the communication during confirmation hearings, but the justice department says that there was nothing misleading about sessions response. >>> at the same time presidential aids received a letter from the white house lawyers this week, instructing them to preserve e-mails and other materials that could be connected to investigations of russian interference in the election. the fbi is looking into possible contacts between trump campaign aids and russian intelligence officials >>> time right now 5:36. in business news how in

philadelphia mayor jim kenney is presenting his budget to the city council $4 billion budget includes reductions in the city wage tax. it is falling to just under 3.9 percent for residents, it is also included in the budget proposal with more than 100 million-dollar for street resurfacing. there are increase increases to higher more paramedics. the cities fiscal year begins july 1st. >>> pepsi meanwhile is blaming philadelphia's new sweetened drink tax for cutting jobs in our area. beverage giant announced it will eliminate 80 to 100 jobs over next few months. pepsi says it recorded a 40 percent drop in sales, since the 1.5 cents per ounce tax, on sweetened drinks went into effect on january. "eyewitness news" reporter trang do will have more and the cities response in a live report at 5:30. >>> this morning top ranking democrats are demanding that attorney general jeff sessions , step down after allegation that is he met with russians during 2016 presidential campaign. "eyewitness news" reporter jan car way owe has the latest from the cbs-3 news center. >> good morning. >> reporter: two meetings happened while atto