European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday August 24, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 5 signs debated budget Hartford Conn. Up a gov. Lowell p. Weicker or. On thursday signed a $7.9 billion spending package with a 4.5 percent income tax and a 6 percent sales tax making Connecticut the last state in the country to adopt a budget. A god bless the legislature. God bless our state a Weicker said before signing the measure about 4 p.m., less than an hour after it finally passed by two Yotes a 53 Days into Connecticut a new fiscal year. The state had operated since july 1 on a series of temporary resolutions but Weicker was ready to shut Down All non essential state services indefinitely unless the general Assembly passed a budget thursday. The Independent governor praised legislators a whom he had earlier ridiculed As a the gang that  count straight while vetoing three non income tax budgets a and denied he had made any deals or intimidated House members. The state Senate had earlier passed the budget plan putting the limelight on the House. The income tax of up to 4.5 percent will take effect sept. 1 and be withheld from each paycheck. The various taxes and fees in the legislation Are expected to raise $1.1 billion during the current fiscal year ending  30, erasing a projected deficit of at least $3 billion. The actual income tax rate for each taxpayer will Range upward in a Complex formula that is based on income and includes exemptions and tax credits that will be phased out As income Levels Rise. No income tax will be paid by individuals earning up to $12,000 a year Heads of households earning up to $19,000 and joint filers earning up to $24,000. Families filing joint returns would pay 1.17 percent or $468, while earning $40,000 a year 2.14 percent or $1,071, at $50,000 3.24 percent or $1,944, at $60,000 and 3.93 percent or $2,754, at $70,000. The full 4.5 percent rate would apply to joint filers with incomes Over $100,000, while tax credits would Range from 75 percent at $24,001 to 10 percent at $96,000 and Zero above that level. Similar rates would apply to individuals and Heads of Connecticut gov. Lowell p. Weicker jr., applauded by lawmakers signs the controversial budget thursday. Households. The state sales tax a the nations highest at 8 percent a will be reduced to 6 percent on oct. 1, although the sales tax on new automobiles was reduced immediately in Hopes of boosting slumping sales. The sales tax will be extended to a Host of new items including car repairs Many Home improvements and repairs parking amusements and recreation Over the counter newspapers and 9 h and International Telephone Calls. Business and corporation taxes will be reduced substantially while state taxes on interest dividends and capital gains will be treated As regular income instead of being taxed at a higher rate. In thl stars and Stripe Sto years ago aug. 24,1981 a Eastern airlines announced that the drop in business since the Start of the air traffic controllers strike had forced the company to Lay off 1,500 employees and reduce the pay of Middle level managers. 20years ago aug. 24,1971 a after 17 months of negotiation the big four ambassadors announced the first agreement in 22 years governing the future of West Berlin. But details were withheld pending approval by the governments of the United states France England and the soviet union.30 years ago aug. 24,1961 a the East German government handed three Young West berliners jail sentences ranging from three to five years after they were caught in East Berlin trying to help friends escape to the West Over the Berlin Wall separating the city.40 years ago aug. 24,1951 a communist negotiators broke off korean armistice talks after alleging that a . Plane bombed the Kaeson Neutral zone. Allied officials denounced the complaint saying that no air activity had taken place in that area in the last month. Bill would Aid . Workers deployed to Gulf by the Washington Post Washington a the nearly 20,000 Federal government workers mobilized for the persian Gulf War would get the difference in any civil service pay they lost and be allowed to make catch up contributions to their savings plan under a Bill the House is expected to take up next month. The pay for Federal workers including Many in Washington called up with Reserve or National guard units was based on their military rank although most earn More As civilians. While on Active duty they could not make payroll investments to their tax deferred savings plan. For workers under the new Federal employees retirement system pension plan those contributions a 10 percent of pay plus a 5 percent government match in funds a represent thousands of dollars they  invest in the Stock Long term Bonds or Treasury securities funds of the Thrift savings plan tsp which is similar to the private sector 401 k plan. Workers in the old civil service retirement system Are allowed to invest 5 percent of their pay. However nobody can make tsp payroll contributions while on military duty. Rules also prevent returning reservists from making catch up contributions. New York democratic rep. Gary l. Ackermans Bill would let a worker on Active military duty for a year take up to four years to make catch up tsp contributions along with their regular payroll contributions. Those in uniform for six months would have two years to invest a a lost contributions. The program emphasizes the importance of a steady contribution flow to maximize earnings. The Bush administration does no to like the idea of paying Federal workers the difference Between their civilian and military pay. Officials think it could cause bad feelings in military units Between non Federal and Federal reservists and regular military personnel. Few private employers give their workers the pay differential. Ackerman would also provide government paid civil service life and health coverage As Long As workers Are on Active duty. Starting next month some of the Federal worker reservists will pass the cutoff Date which currently is one year. Airliner with engine fire forced to land Seattle apr an engine fire forced a Northwest airlines Boeing jumbo Jet with 385 people aboard to make an emergency Landing thursday at Seattle Tacoma International Airport an official said. All 366 passengers and 19 Crew members were evacuated from the Boeing 747-100 via emergency chutes after the plane landed safely said John Austin a Northwest spokesman in Minneapolis. Austin said 35 passengers reported slight injuries including 11 who were taken to hospitals for examination. Before the evacuation which took about five minutes foam was sprayed to extinguish the engine fire and a Small grass fire the flames had ignited said Dick Meyer of the Federal aviation administration in Seattle. Austin said airline personnel at the scene reported the engine was smoking but no flames were visible when the plane came to a Stop. Boy 5, takes Rescue of drowning toddler in stride a Hus ten apr Matthew Gordon is a modest 5-year-old, so he did no to see the big Deal about his Rescue of a 2-year-old girl from the Bottom of a swimming Pool. A when i went underwater i saw her and pulled her out a he said. Matthew found Doreal Johnson in about 3 feet of water at a neighbourhood Pool wednesday. He pushed Herr a and dragged her to the pools Steps. She Wasny to breathing and had no pulse until a lifeguard resuscitated her. She was treated at a Hospital and released thursday. The boys Mother said he was afraid of the water before he Learned to swim last year. The family celebrated the Rescue with a Spaghetti dinner Matthews favorite dish. A the Little kid had enough snap to realize something Wasny to right a said David Griffin of the Atascocita Volunteer fire department which plans to Honor the boy