The Last Word - March 2011

If you had the opportunity to meet with President Obama, what would you ask him?

“Can history repeat itself? What measures does our government have in place to ensure we do not end up like Argentina?”

Tom Naseef • President, Coldwell Banker Commercial

“One of your many campaign promises was to make government much more transparent.  I was encouraged, because it would hopefully eliminate some of the back-door deals and the people would finally be privy to this open government scenario.  Will this ever be implemented?”

Fabian M. Vincent • CEO, JFK Enterprises, LLC

“Because of the current debt-deflation taking place in the U.S. commercial real estate market, will your administration consider temporarily suspending the capital gains tax and depreciation recapture on commercial real estate burdened with over-encumbered debts of the last business cycle, thus unlocking trillions of dollars in frozen assets in our banking system?”

Gary Banner CCIM CRE • Vice President, Colliers International, President, Commercial Alliance

“During our continuous economic downturn, how do you plan on generating new job opportunities while lowering current government spending? Furthermore, with several tax credits and incentives already in place, do you plan on continuing green initiatives, work opportunity credits, and other tax reduction programs?”

Larry Taylor, CPA • Managing Partner, Gallina LLP

“As an entrepreneur and small business owner I know that 60 percent of the revenue that comes into the federal government is stimulated from small businesses, yet there’s no money, loans or any way of helping small businesses get back on their feet. What are you proposing specifically that can help these business owners get their lives back?”

Jeffrey Lowden, MBA, Broker • President, Sky West & Companies

“What specifically is his plan to not saddle states with additional mandated fundings?”

Terry McQuattie • District Manager, U.S. Bancorp