https://thinkprogress.org/taxes-schools-public-private-d89e5157d5bf/
"The new tax bill passed by Senate Republicans does away with crucial support for public schools while adding a provision beneficial to their private counterparts. That move would help wealthy parents pay for private schools, including religious schools, while hurting lower-income families. A similar provision is in the House version of the tax bill."
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
GOP tax plan is the worst jobs bill ever
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/26/1717485/-GOP-tax-plan-is-the-worst-jobs-bill-ever
"we know that Donald Trump was lying through his teeth when he said the GOP tax plan was “going to cost me a fortune” and that his own finances were “going to get killed in this bill.” So, neither the House nor the Senate versions of the GOP’s “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (TCJA) does a very good job of actually delivering tax cuts, except to corporations and the wealthiest people in America. But as it turns out, the TCJA doesn’t do much to create jobs, either."
"we know that Donald Trump was lying through his teeth when he said the GOP tax plan was “going to cost me a fortune” and that his own finances were “going to get killed in this bill.” So, neither the House nor the Senate versions of the GOP’s “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (TCJA) does a very good job of actually delivering tax cuts, except to corporations and the wealthiest people in America. But as it turns out, the TCJA doesn’t do much to create jobs, either."
Paul Krugman: The Entire Republican Party Is Rotten to the Core @alternet
Paul Krugman: The Entire Republican Party Is Rotten to the Core @alternet:
"The latest Republican tax bill is not just an unprecedented transfer of wealth from the bottom to the very top, but a fundamental restructuring of American society, from public education and health care to the separation of church and state. According to Quinnipiac, just 25 percent of the public approves of the legislation, yet it's expected to pass as early as Friday. Paul Krugman believes only a party as rotten to its core as the GOP would draft such a bill, much less sign it into law. The Nobel Prize-winning economist has been railing against the proposal for weeks, and uses his latest column to remind readers just how disgraceful its rollout has been. When Republicans attempted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) bleated about returning "regular order" to Congress. Apparently he's had a chance of heart, because the Senate is set to vote without holding a single public hearing. The Joint Committee on Taxation finds the GOP tax bill would do little to stimulate the economy and would add $1 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, but that hasn't stopped Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin from insisting its cuts will pay for themself. What's worse, he has repeatedly cited a Treasury report that simply doesn't exist; the department hasn't even been asked to study the legislation's long-term ramifications. "But aren’t politicians always cynical? Not to this degree," Krugman writes. "This whole process involves a level of bad faith we haven’t seen in U.S. politics since the days when defenders of slavery physically assaulted their political foes on the Senate floor." If you think the GOP would have behaved any differently with Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz in the White House, think again. The Trump family may profit handsomely from the tax cuts being proposed, but the president's entire party has proven itself desperate to appease the donor class. For Krugman, "the rot is wide as well as deep"."
"The latest Republican tax bill is not just an unprecedented transfer of wealth from the bottom to the very top, but a fundamental restructuring of American society, from public education and health care to the separation of church and state. According to Quinnipiac, just 25 percent of the public approves of the legislation, yet it's expected to pass as early as Friday. Paul Krugman believes only a party as rotten to its core as the GOP would draft such a bill, much less sign it into law. The Nobel Prize-winning economist has been railing against the proposal for weeks, and uses his latest column to remind readers just how disgraceful its rollout has been. When Republicans attempted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) bleated about returning "regular order" to Congress. Apparently he's had a chance of heart, because the Senate is set to vote without holding a single public hearing. The Joint Committee on Taxation finds the GOP tax bill would do little to stimulate the economy and would add $1 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, but that hasn't stopped Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin from insisting its cuts will pay for themself. What's worse, he has repeatedly cited a Treasury report that simply doesn't exist; the department hasn't even been asked to study the legislation's long-term ramifications. "But aren’t politicians always cynical? Not to this degree," Krugman writes. "This whole process involves a level of bad faith we haven’t seen in U.S. politics since the days when defenders of slavery physically assaulted their political foes on the Senate floor." If you think the GOP would have behaved any differently with Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz in the White House, think again. The Trump family may profit handsomely from the tax cuts being proposed, but the president's entire party has proven itself desperate to appease the donor class. For Krugman, "the rot is wide as well as deep"."
The Atrocious Big Pharma Record of the New HHS Nominee @alternet
The Atrocious Big Pharma Record of the New HHS Nominee @alternet:
"Does anyone believe an executive who enabled such profiteering, looting of tax dollars and unethical marketing of dangerous drugs should be health secretary?"
"Does anyone believe an executive who enabled such profiteering, looting of tax dollars and unethical marketing of dangerous drugs should be health secretary?"
Friday, December 1, 2017
GOP sneaks provision into tax bill to benefit one college favored by Republican billionaires
https://thinkprogress.org/gop-sneaks-provision-into-tax-bill-to-benefit-one-college-favored-by-republican-billionaires-15c57a2261c9/
"Late Friday night, Republicans released a 479-page amendment to their tax bill. Republican leaders are planning to vote on the bill on Friday or early Saturday morning, and it is expected to pass. Maybe someone should read it first. Tucked away on page 289 is a provision that would exempt certain colleges from a special tax on university endowments. It would only apply to colleges that: 1. Did not accept federal funds, and 2. Had an endowment of at least $500,000 per student. There appears to be only one educational institution in the entire country that would benefit: Hillsdale College. What’s so special about Hillsdale? The school has deep ties to Betsy DeVos, Trump’s education secretary, and her family. The DeVos clan founded Amway, which made them billionaires, and are large Republican donors. The Hillsdale student paper details the connections."
"Late Friday night, Republicans released a 479-page amendment to their tax bill. Republican leaders are planning to vote on the bill on Friday or early Saturday morning, and it is expected to pass. Maybe someone should read it first. Tucked away on page 289 is a provision that would exempt certain colleges from a special tax on university endowments. It would only apply to colleges that: 1. Did not accept federal funds, and 2. Had an endowment of at least $500,000 per student. There appears to be only one educational institution in the entire country that would benefit: Hillsdale College. What’s so special about Hillsdale? The school has deep ties to Betsy DeVos, Trump’s education secretary, and her family. The DeVos clan founded Amway, which made them billionaires, and are large Republican donors. The Hillsdale student paper details the connections."
Republicans Are Writing A Tax Cut For The Rich On The Senate Floor With A Pen And You Can’t Read It
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/12/01/republicans-writing-tax-cut-rich-senate-floor-pen-can.html
"Here is how crazy things have gotten in the Senate. Republicans are making changes to their tax cuts for the rich bill on the Senate floor in longhand with a pen. Even worse, they still won’t let the American people see the bill."
"Here is how crazy things have gotten in the Senate. Republicans are making changes to their tax cuts for the rich bill on the Senate floor in longhand with a pen. Even worse, they still won’t let the American people see the bill."
If you’re against the tax plan, you’re a) in the majority, and b) not a congressional Republican
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/11/30/if-youre-against-the-tax-plan-youre-a-in-the-majority-and-b-not-a-congressional-republican/?utm_term=.3d627701647c
"Most people recognize this as the old trickle-down economics snake-oil sales job they’ve been hearing about since Reagan. You simply can’t find someone with a whit of common sense, and who’s not being paid to believe otherwise, who will buy the story that the best way to help them is to give corporations a $2 trillion tax cut over the next decade. Then there are the facts of the case. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) claimed today that the Senate version of the tax bill will “directly benefit all Americans.” No, it won’t."
"Most people recognize this as the old trickle-down economics snake-oil sales job they’ve been hearing about since Reagan. You simply can’t find someone with a whit of common sense, and who’s not being paid to believe otherwise, who will buy the story that the best way to help them is to give corporations a $2 trillion tax cut over the next decade. Then there are the facts of the case. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) claimed today that the Senate version of the tax bill will “directly benefit all Americans.” No, it won’t."
The GOP Tax Scam Two-Step: Explode the Deficit With Cuts for Rich, Then Screw the Poor
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/12/01/gop-tax-scam-two-step-explode-deficit-cuts-rich-then-screw-poor
"the GOP is planning to use the massive deficit hole its plan would create to justify taking a sledgehammer to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—a ploy one group has termed the "tax two-step"."
"the GOP is planning to use the massive deficit hole its plan would create to justify taking a sledgehammer to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—a ploy one group has termed the "tax two-step"."
Senate Republicans' push for massive tax cuts bill has become surreal
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/1/1720339/-Senate-Republicans-push-for-massive-tax-cuts-bill-has-become-surreal
"Yep, hand-written scribbles that no one can read. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) tried to have that page inserted in the Congressional Record, but the staff said they couldn’t because they can’t read it. This is how Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans—including that great champion of “regular order” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)—think the biggest experiment in social engineering and redistribution of wealth from the bottom up in a generation is supposed to work." Keep on calling. Jam your senators' phone lines at (202) 224-3121. Tell them to vote "no" on the Republican tax bill.
"Yep, hand-written scribbles that no one can read. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) tried to have that page inserted in the Congressional Record, but the staff said they couldn’t because they can’t read it. This is how Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans—including that great champion of “regular order” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)—think the biggest experiment in social engineering and redistribution of wealth from the bottom up in a generation is supposed to work." Keep on calling. Jam your senators' phone lines at (202) 224-3121. Tell them to vote "no" on the Republican tax bill.
Republicans are handwriting their tax bill at the last minute
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/1/16726234/handwritten-republican-tax-bill
"Senate Republicans are down to the wire on their tax bill — so much so that the legislation, which would massively overhaul the nation’s tax code, has large portions that are handwritten."
"Senate Republicans are down to the wire on their tax bill — so much so that the legislation, which would massively overhaul the nation’s tax code, has large portions that are handwritten."
2400+ religious leaders sign letter condemning 'fundamentally unjust' Republican tax bill
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719903/-2400-religious-leaders-sign-letter-condemning-fundamentally-unjust-Republican-tax-bill
"More than 2,400 religious leaders just sent the Senate a letter condemning the Republican "tax plan" that the party intends to shove through, raising taxes on millions, cutting key services like Medicare, and making other tax changes in order to provide a windfall to the very richest Americans."
"More than 2,400 religious leaders just sent the Senate a letter condemning the Republican "tax plan" that the party intends to shove through, raising taxes on millions, cutting key services like Medicare, and making other tax changes in order to provide a windfall to the very richest Americans."
After Sen. Collins implied AARP would back tax cuts, AARP fires back with a resounding 'NO!'
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/1/1720166/-After-Sen-Collins-implied-AARP-would-back-tax-cuts-AARP-fires-back-with-a-resounding-NO
"Yesterday, she tried to float out a two-pronged excuse by both pretending the tax cuts wouldn’t obliterate Medicare, while attempting to pass the buck onto Sen. Mitch McConnell."
"Yesterday, she tried to float out a two-pronged excuse by both pretending the tax cuts wouldn’t obliterate Medicare, while attempting to pass the buck onto Sen. Mitch McConnell."
Republican tax plan will reduce American competitiveness
Republican tax plan will reduce American competitiveness
"This Robin Hood-in-reverse plan would be a disaster for most working families, and is nothing more than a payoff to the Trump family and the wealthy individuals and big business that helped put him in office. Worse yet, it is a slap in the face to the millions of working class voters that put him over the top in the 2016 election. Members of Congress should stop this bill before it is too late."
"This Robin Hood-in-reverse plan would be a disaster for most working families, and is nothing more than a payoff to the Trump family and the wealthy individuals and big business that helped put him in office. Worse yet, it is a slap in the face to the millions of working class voters that put him over the top in the 2016 election. Members of Congress should stop this bill before it is too late."
New York Times: The GOP Tax Bill Will Permanently Alter Americans' Lives—For The Worse.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/1/1719892/-NYT-The-GOP-Tax-Bill-Will-Permanently-Alter-Americans-Lives-For-The-Worse
"It’s probably safe to say that the average Trump voter did not vote to consign Social Security and Medicare to their graves. They probably did not vote to gut their healthcare or their own jobs and retirements. They probably did not vote for billionaires to buy new and improved Superyachts and ensconce their spoiled and undeserving children as a permanent overclass and aristocracy to rule over them. Because with every aristocracy there must also be a permanent class of peasants. Even the dullest of Republican voters probably senses this, however dimly. But that is exactly what they’re going to get this week, when the Republican Party votes in lockstep to gut what most of us know as the American way of life. The New York Times gets it, even though someone there probably realizes most who voted Republican aren’t listening but are too busy sharing a Facebook post about how pro football players are betraying the nation, while the rest of us recoil in horror at what is about to happen to the country. What we see being hastily rammed through by the Republican Congress against the wishes of the American people is the same rehash of failed policies that led to the worst and most crippling budget deficits in American history. Of course that has been the plan all along: following the irrepressible mantra that huge tax cuts for the wealthy—however unnecessary and not even asked for—will somehow trickle down to the working people in this country to improve their lives. It didn’t work before and it won’t work now"
"It’s probably safe to say that the average Trump voter did not vote to consign Social Security and Medicare to their graves. They probably did not vote to gut their healthcare or their own jobs and retirements. They probably did not vote for billionaires to buy new and improved Superyachts and ensconce their spoiled and undeserving children as a permanent overclass and aristocracy to rule over them. Because with every aristocracy there must also be a permanent class of peasants. Even the dullest of Republican voters probably senses this, however dimly. But that is exactly what they’re going to get this week, when the Republican Party votes in lockstep to gut what most of us know as the American way of life. The New York Times gets it, even though someone there probably realizes most who voted Republican aren’t listening but are too busy sharing a Facebook post about how pro football players are betraying the nation, while the rest of us recoil in horror at what is about to happen to the country. What we see being hastily rammed through by the Republican Congress against the wishes of the American people is the same rehash of failed policies that led to the worst and most crippling budget deficits in American history. Of course that has been the plan all along: following the irrepressible mantra that huge tax cuts for the wealthy—however unnecessary and not even asked for—will somehow trickle down to the working people in this country to improve their lives. It didn’t work before and it won’t work now"
With Nation's Eyes on Michael Flynn, McConnell Declares 'We Have the Votes' to Pass #GOPTaxScam
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/12/01/nations-eyes-michael-flynn-mcconnell-declares-we-have-votes-pass-goptaxscam
"Warnings that bombshell developments surrounding Trump's former national security advisor will provide smokescreen for Republican giveaway to corporations and wealthy donors"
"Warnings that bombshell developments surrounding Trump's former national security advisor will provide smokescreen for Republican giveaway to corporations and wealthy donors"
Cancer doctors make emergency trip to Washington, warn senators they're sentencing patients to death
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/1/1720176/-Cancer-doctors-make-emergency-trip-to-DC-to-warn-senators-on-tax-bill
"The only thing that's certain is that if this bill passes, the already devastating cuts that cancer patients on Medicare have been subjected to are going to get much, much worse. That's the only guarantee Republicans are making. It's what they are voting for. Jam your senators' phone lines at (202) 224-3121. Tell them to vote "no" on the Republican tax bill."
"The only thing that's certain is that if this bill passes, the already devastating cuts that cancer patients on Medicare have been subjected to are going to get much, much worse. That's the only guarantee Republicans are making. It's what they are voting for. Jam your senators' phone lines at (202) 224-3121. Tell them to vote "no" on the Republican tax bill."
Republicans will cut Social Security and Medicare next
Republicans will cut Social Security and Medicare next
"Florida Senator Marco Rubio admits that the Republican tax cut plan to aid corporations and the wealthy will require cuts to Social Security and Medicare to pay for it."
"Florida Senator Marco Rubio admits that the Republican tax cut plan to aid corporations and the wealthy will require cuts to Social Security and Medicare to pay for it."
During tax debate, Republican questions funding for children’s health
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/during-tax-debate-republican-questions-funding-childrens-health
"The context for the exchange between Hatch and Brown was quite extraordinary: this happened on the Senate floor during a debate over the Republican tax plan. In other words, Orrin Hatch was trying to pass a massive series of tax cuts, the vast majority of which will benefit large corporations and the wealthiest of the wealthy. What’s more, as the Washington Post’s Catherine Rampell recently explained, The Republican tax bill is often described as being weighted toward ‘the rich.’ But that’s not the full story. It’s actually weighted toward the loafer, the freeloader, the heir, the passive investor who spends his time yachting and charity-balling. In short: the idle rich.” The price tag for the GOP tax plan is roughly $1.5 trillion. Meanwhile, there’s the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which needs $15 billion. In other words, CHIP costs literally 1% of the overall cost of the Republican tax package. And yet, there was Orrin Hatch, a supporter of his party’s tax cuts, making the case on the Senate floor that CHIP’s “having trouble” because “we don’t have money anymore.” I feel like I’m stuck in a Dickensian nightmare."
"The context for the exchange between Hatch and Brown was quite extraordinary: this happened on the Senate floor during a debate over the Republican tax plan. In other words, Orrin Hatch was trying to pass a massive series of tax cuts, the vast majority of which will benefit large corporations and the wealthiest of the wealthy. What’s more, as the Washington Post’s Catherine Rampell recently explained, The Republican tax bill is often described as being weighted toward ‘the rich.’ But that’s not the full story. It’s actually weighted toward the loafer, the freeloader, the heir, the passive investor who spends his time yachting and charity-balling. In short: the idle rich.” The price tag for the GOP tax plan is roughly $1.5 trillion. Meanwhile, there’s the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which needs $15 billion. In other words, CHIP costs literally 1% of the overall cost of the Republican tax package. And yet, there was Orrin Hatch, a supporter of his party’s tax cuts, making the case on the Senate floor that CHIP’s “having trouble” because “we don’t have money anymore.” I feel like I’m stuck in a Dickensian nightmare."
Donald Trump's 21st Century Fake Populism @alternet
Donald Trump's 21st Century Fake Populism @alternet:
"Trump's economic nationalism is, of course, a con job. He did, however, effectively employ the demagogue’s artifice, which invariably lies in crafting simplistic answers to complicated questions and creating plausible scapegoats for complicated problems."
"Trump's economic nationalism is, of course, a con job. He did, however, effectively employ the demagogue’s artifice, which invariably lies in crafting simplistic answers to complicated questions and creating plausible scapegoats for complicated problems."
The GOP Tax Plan Is a Giant Middle Finger to Hundreds of Millions of Americans Who Aren't Rich @alternet
The GOP Tax Plan Is a Giant Middle Finger to Hundreds of Millions of Americans Who Aren't Rich @alternet:
"Nobody should have any illusions about what the GOP’s goals are and how they are doing it. As many analysts have noted, the tax bill is a giant giveaway to the richest in America who already are doing just fine. But as Krugman pointed out, the plundering of middle-class wealth is an intentional slow-motion tightening of fiscal pressures over the next decade; where no one provision jumps out but the totality hurts most Americans."
"Nobody should have any illusions about what the GOP’s goals are and how they are doing it. As many analysts have noted, the tax bill is a giant giveaway to the richest in America who already are doing just fine. But as Krugman pointed out, the plundering of middle-class wealth is an intentional slow-motion tightening of fiscal pressures over the next decade; where no one provision jumps out but the totality hurts most Americans."
The GOP Tax-Pocalypse: Trump Shows GOP That the Truth is Now Irrelevant to the Republican Base @alternet
The GOP Tax-Pocalypse: Trump Shows GOP That the Truth is Now Irrelevant to the Republican Base @alternet:
"these GOP officials watched Trump give a speech in Missouri on Wednesday, where the crowd cheered wildly while he claimed that his plan has wealthy people like himself complaining about having their taxes increased so ordinary people can have a big tax cut. Republican senators all know that's a brazen lie. It is literally the opposite of the truth."
"these GOP officials watched Trump give a speech in Missouri on Wednesday, where the crowd cheered wildly while he claimed that his plan has wealthy people like himself complaining about having their taxes increased so ordinary people can have a big tax cut. Republican senators all know that's a brazen lie. It is literally the opposite of the truth."
If Trump’s tax plan had merit, he wouldn’t have to lie about it
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/if-trumps-tax-plan-had-merit-he-wouldnt-have-lie-about-it
"the White House is helping negotiate additional changes to the Senate legislation that would further boost the president’s personal finances. It’s worth emphasizing that Trump has made this claim before, probably because it seems like a politically persuasive talking point: if our wealthy president is going to be worse off under the GOP proposal, it may be more in line with public attitudes that show broad support for higher taxes on the richest Americans. It’s precisely why it matters that Trump’s claims are the opposite of the truth. Indeed, every time the president has presented his bogus argument, it’s been smacked down by fact-checkers. The fact that he keeps repeating it anyway reinforces fears that he’s deliberately trying to deceive the nation ahead of the votes in Congress. All of which raises the question that should give the public pause: if the Republican tax plan has merit, why can’t Donald Trump tell the truth about it?"
"the White House is helping negotiate additional changes to the Senate legislation that would further boost the president’s personal finances. It’s worth emphasizing that Trump has made this claim before, probably because it seems like a politically persuasive talking point: if our wealthy president is going to be worse off under the GOP proposal, it may be more in line with public attitudes that show broad support for higher taxes on the richest Americans. It’s precisely why it matters that Trump’s claims are the opposite of the truth. Indeed, every time the president has presented his bogus argument, it’s been smacked down by fact-checkers. The fact that he keeps repeating it anyway reinforces fears that he’s deliberately trying to deceive the nation ahead of the votes in Congress. All of which raises the question that should give the public pause: if the Republican tax plan has merit, why can’t Donald Trump tell the truth about it?"
Republican tax plan remains ‘historically unpopular’
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republican-tax-plan-remains-historically-unpopular
"There’s no great mystery here: Americans generally believe the GOP plan will direct the bulk of the benefits to the rich, which happens to be true. There’s also ample polling that shows the public supporting higher taxes on big corporations, which is the polar opposite of what Republicans have in mind."
"There’s no great mystery here: Americans generally believe the GOP plan will direct the bulk of the benefits to the rich, which happens to be true. There’s also ample polling that shows the public supporting higher taxes on big corporations, which is the polar opposite of what Republicans have in mind."
Hatch, leading the fight for $1.5 trillion deficit-boosting tax cuts, says we can't afford CHIP
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719944/-Hatch-leading-the-fight-for-1-5-trillion-deficit-boosting-tax-cuts-says-we-can-t-afford-CHIP
"Get that? We can afford permanent tax cuts for the rich and corporations, but we can't afford to take care of 9 million children. Oh, but it gets much worse."
"Get that? We can afford permanent tax cuts for the rich and corporations, but we can't afford to take care of 9 million children. Oh, but it gets much worse."
Paul Krugman: The GOP Is Running the Biggest Tax Scam in History @alternet
Paul Krugman: The GOP Is Running the Biggest Tax Scam in History @alternet:
"The Republican Party is attempting to enact tax reform this week without holding a public hearing or conducting even a rudimentary analysis of its long-term economic impact, but a few things about the legislation are known: it provides a windfall for the wealthy, specifically those who draw an income from their collected assets, and hurts just about everbody else—especially the poor."
"The Republican Party is attempting to enact tax reform this week without holding a public hearing or conducting even a rudimentary analysis of its long-term economic impact, but a few things about the legislation are known: it provides a windfall for the wealthy, specifically those who draw an income from their collected assets, and hurts just about everbody else—especially the poor."
Sam Brownback Demolished the State of Kansas—Is America Next? @alternet
Sam Brownback Demolished the State of Kansas—Is America Next? @alternet:
"Republicans are telling the greatest lie in modern politics and they are getting away with it. Trickle-down is a Republican dream that has never worked in reality and never will. Not in Kansas, not in the Land of Oz, not anywhere."
"Republicans are telling the greatest lie in modern politics and they are getting away with it. Trickle-down is a Republican dream that has never worked in reality and never will. Not in Kansas, not in the Land of Oz, not anywhere."
McCain, undergoing cancer treatment, will vote to end cancer treatment for Medicare patients
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719833/-McCain-will-vote-for-tax-cuts-and-to-end-cancer-treatment-for-Medicare-patients
"We know the tax bill is going to take $25 billion from Medicare immediately, because it will trigger automatic spending cuts and only part of Medicare won't be shielded. The part that will be cut is the part that pays for expensive chemotherapy drugs. The last time these cuts were triggered, cancer patients were denied treatment. And it's going to happen again. The last time it was resolved when the government shutdown ended. This time it's permanent."
"We know the tax bill is going to take $25 billion from Medicare immediately, because it will trigger automatic spending cuts and only part of Medicare won't be shielded. The part that will be cut is the part that pays for expensive chemotherapy drugs. The last time these cuts were triggered, cancer patients were denied treatment. And it's going to happen again. The last time it was resolved when the government shutdown ended. This time it's permanent."
Rubio: Tax bill and resulting deficit is first step for destroying Social Security, Medicare
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719820/-Rubio-Tax-bill-and-resulting-deficit-is-first-step-for-destroying-Social-Security-Medicare
"Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio let the cat food out of the bag Wednesday, telling a group of lobbyists that hiking the deficit with this tax bill is the first step in dismantling Social Security and Medicare."
"Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio let the cat food out of the bag Wednesday, telling a group of lobbyists that hiking the deficit with this tax bill is the first step in dismantling Social Security and Medicare."
The Republican Tax Bill Is a Disaster for Public Schools @alternet
The Republican Tax Bill Is a Disaster for Public Schools @alternet:
"For a bill that the G.O.P. is trying to market as a “boon” to the middle class, the House bill does not just tax graduate student tuition waivers, but also it takes aim at tuition benefits for higher education employees and their children. The New York Times portrayed a 64 year old night custodian at Boston College who managed to send all five of his children to college using such a benefit and who would never have been able to do so under the House bill. Assurances from House leaders that their bill would grant most Americans so much tax relief that they would not need those benefits ring hollow as analyses show that various provisions in the bills could result in $1.6 trillion dollars of tax INCREASES on middle class earners over the next decade. So while the House and Senate bills are not friendly to higher education (the Senate bill somewhat less so), there has been little talk about the potential impact on K-12 education if the Senate bill passes, is reconciled with the House bill, and sent to the Oval Office for splashy signing ceremony. There are several provisions in both pieces of legislation that would take serious aim at K-12 education at the state and local funding levels."
"For a bill that the G.O.P. is trying to market as a “boon” to the middle class, the House bill does not just tax graduate student tuition waivers, but also it takes aim at tuition benefits for higher education employees and their children. The New York Times portrayed a 64 year old night custodian at Boston College who managed to send all five of his children to college using such a benefit and who would never have been able to do so under the House bill. Assurances from House leaders that their bill would grant most Americans so much tax relief that they would not need those benefits ring hollow as analyses show that various provisions in the bills could result in $1.6 trillion dollars of tax INCREASES on middle class earners over the next decade. So while the House and Senate bills are not friendly to higher education (the Senate bill somewhat less so), there has been little talk about the potential impact on K-12 education if the Senate bill passes, is reconciled with the House bill, and sent to the Oval Office for splashy signing ceremony. There are several provisions in both pieces of legislation that would take serious aim at K-12 education at the state and local funding levels."
Prepare yourself: Trump is lying about the tax cuts plan
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719906/-Prepare-yourself-Trump-is-lying-about-the-tax-cuts-plan
"Yes, a more shocking headline would be Donald Trump telling the truth about something, but still. In a speech so egregious that The New York Times had to fact-check it, Trump is selling a barge of goods on this bill that will personally reap him huge financial gain. Here's just the toplines from their work: He is wrong that “for years, they haven’t been able to get tax cuts, many, many years since Reagan.” […] He inaccurately suggested the plan wouldn’t help the wealthy. […] He falsely called the current plan the “biggest tax cut in the history of our country, bigger than Reagan.” […] He falsely suggested that the stock market was previously flat. [..] He exaggerated when he said a 3.3 percent growth was the “largest increase in many years.” Maybe Reagan is the only president besides President Obama whom he's capable of remembering. Because there were those Bush tax cuts that Obama had to spend eight years cleaning up after to facilitate a robust stock market and growth as high as 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2014. But even if these facts managed to lodge themselves in Trump's damaged brain, his hate filter would block them from his conscious life. This bill is so much more than just tax cuts. It's a radically dangerous exercise in social engineering. It's widely recognized by everyone but congressional Republicans and Trump as a deeply irresponsible plan that will do everything from preventing states and local government from levying taxes to try to make up for what they're losing from the federal government, to cutting health care and education and public transportation and the safety net. It would probably even result in far fewer individuals giving to charity. It's so much worse than the Bush tax cuts because it reaches into every aspect of our lives."
"Yes, a more shocking headline would be Donald Trump telling the truth about something, but still. In a speech so egregious that The New York Times had to fact-check it, Trump is selling a barge of goods on this bill that will personally reap him huge financial gain. Here's just the toplines from their work: He is wrong that “for years, they haven’t been able to get tax cuts, many, many years since Reagan.” […] He inaccurately suggested the plan wouldn’t help the wealthy. […] He falsely called the current plan the “biggest tax cut in the history of our country, bigger than Reagan.” […] He falsely suggested that the stock market was previously flat. [..] He exaggerated when he said a 3.3 percent growth was the “largest increase in many years.” Maybe Reagan is the only president besides President Obama whom he's capable of remembering. Because there were those Bush tax cuts that Obama had to spend eight years cleaning up after to facilitate a robust stock market and growth as high as 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2014. But even if these facts managed to lodge themselves in Trump's damaged brain, his hate filter would block them from his conscious life. This bill is so much more than just tax cuts. It's a radically dangerous exercise in social engineering. It's widely recognized by everyone but congressional Republicans and Trump as a deeply irresponsible plan that will do everything from preventing states and local government from levying taxes to try to make up for what they're losing from the federal government, to cutting health care and education and public transportation and the safety net. It would probably even result in far fewer individuals giving to charity. It's so much worse than the Bush tax cuts because it reaches into every aspect of our lives."
Donald Trump: A “populist” who wages class war on behalf of the rich
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/25/donald-trump-a-populist-who-wages-class-war-on-behalf-of-the-rich/
"As a candidate, the billionaire promised voters that he would take on the elite and fight for the “forgotten men and women” of America, and promoted himself as a man of the people. Yet since becoming president Trump has done virtually nothing to improve the lot of ordinary Americans who work for a living. In fact, his administration’s policies have, for the most part, benefited people like President Trump — i.e., the super-rich — while hurting working class Americans. Instead of governing like a man of the people, Trump has governed like a man of the billionaire class. The latest instance of this comes with the Republican attempt at tax reform."
"As a candidate, the billionaire promised voters that he would take on the elite and fight for the “forgotten men and women” of America, and promoted himself as a man of the people. Yet since becoming president Trump has done virtually nothing to improve the lot of ordinary Americans who work for a living. In fact, his administration’s policies have, for the most part, benefited people like President Trump — i.e., the super-rich — while hurting working class Americans. Instead of governing like a man of the people, Trump has governed like a man of the billionaire class. The latest instance of this comes with the Republican attempt at tax reform."
Closing malls and bankrupt stores: blame Wall Street predation for the 'retail apocalypse'
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/23/1716328/-Closing-malls-and-bankrupt-stores-blame-Wall-Street-predation-for-the-retail-apocalypse
"Killing off a well-regarded retail chain by purchasing it, loading it with debt, and sticking others with the bill"
"Killing off a well-regarded retail chain by purchasing it, loading it with debt, and sticking others with the bill"
FCC will block states from passing their own net neutrality laws
https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/22/16691344/fcc-preempt-block-state-local-net-neutrality-laws
"After the FCC began its assault on net neutrality earlier this year, several cities and states began looking into ways to protect consumers on their own. Unfortunately, the FCC has decided that it won’t allow that to happen: as part of its proposal to repeal net neutrality, the commission is trying to use its authority to preempt any and all state and local net neutrality regulations."
"After the FCC began its assault on net neutrality earlier this year, several cities and states began looking into ways to protect consumers on their own. Unfortunately, the FCC has decided that it won’t allow that to happen: as part of its proposal to repeal net neutrality, the commission is trying to use its authority to preempt any and all state and local net neutrality regulations."
FCC Commissioner Begs Nation to Stop GOP Colleagues From Killing Net Neutrality
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/11/23/fcc-commissioner-begs-nation-stop-gop-colleagues-killing-net-neutrality
"After one commissioner called the FCC's newly-released plan to roll back net neutrality "worse than one could imagine," a second commissioner is now calling voters to make sure the proposal by Republican Chairman Ajit Pai does not go through. In a Los Angeles Times op-ed published Thursday—entitled "I'm on the FCC. Please stop us from killing net neutrality"—Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel points to the overwhelming public support for net neutrality and the ongoing questions about validity of anti-net neutrality public comments submitted to FCC, as well as what appear to be tens of thousands of missing comments. "If the idea behind the plan is bad, the process for commenting on it has been even worse," she writes. Rosenworcel decries Pai's plan as "a lousy idea. And it deserves a heated response from the millions of Americans who work and create online every day"."
"After one commissioner called the FCC's newly-released plan to roll back net neutrality "worse than one could imagine," a second commissioner is now calling voters to make sure the proposal by Republican Chairman Ajit Pai does not go through. In a Los Angeles Times op-ed published Thursday—entitled "I'm on the FCC. Please stop us from killing net neutrality"—Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel points to the overwhelming public support for net neutrality and the ongoing questions about validity of anti-net neutrality public comments submitted to FCC, as well as what appear to be tens of thousands of missing comments. "If the idea behind the plan is bad, the process for commenting on it has been even worse," she writes. Rosenworcel decries Pai's plan as "a lousy idea. And it deserves a heated response from the millions of Americans who work and create online every day"."
How Trump turned Sean Hannity into a conspiracy theorist
https://www.vox.com/videos/2017/11/22/16692190/strikethrough-trump-sean-hannity-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones
"Sean Hannity was a reliable pro-Trump voice on Fox News throughout the 2016 presidential race, frequently touting Donald Trump’s campaign and inviting the candidate onto his show for softball interviews. Since the election, however, Hannity has taken on a new role in the pro-Trump ecosystem: conspiracy theorist in chief."
"Sean Hannity was a reliable pro-Trump voice on Fox News throughout the 2016 presidential race, frequently touting Donald Trump’s campaign and inviting the candidate onto his show for softball interviews. Since the election, however, Hannity has taken on a new role in the pro-Trump ecosystem: conspiracy theorist in chief."
Interactive Timeline: Everything We Know About Russia and President Trump
http://billmoyers.com/story/trump-russia-timeline/
"Since first launched in February 2017, the Trump-Russia Timeline has grown to more than 600 entries"
"Since first launched in February 2017, the Trump-Russia Timeline has grown to more than 600 entries"
List of Trump campaign Russia contacts continues to grow
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/list-of-trump-campaign-russia-contacts-continues-to-grow-1105642563953
"the Russians who are reported to have had contact with various members of the Donald Trump campaign ahead of the election, a list that is still growing as new interactions come to light."
"the Russians who are reported to have had contact with various members of the Donald Trump campaign ahead of the election, a list that is still growing as new interactions come to light."
Manafort’s business associates summoned by Manhattan prosecutors as Trump campaign probe widens
Manafort’s business associates summoned by Manhattan prosecutors as Trump campaign probe widens
"Manafort and his longtime business associate Rick Gates, who also served on the Trump campaign, were indicted last month on money laundering and other charges as part of the special counsel probe into Russian election interference. They’re also under investigation by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, whose office is investigating money laundering in a separate probe."
"Manafort and his longtime business associate Rick Gates, who also served on the Trump campaign, were indicted last month on money laundering and other charges as part of the special counsel probe into Russian election interference. They’re also under investigation by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, whose office is investigating money laundering in a separate probe."
Jefferson Sessions won't say if Trump asked him to obstruct the Russia investigation
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719909/-Jefferson-Sessions-won-t-say-if-Trump-asked-him-to-obstruct-the-Russia-investigation
"no matter how many times Sessions lies, it never seems to be enough to generate any response, or even concern, from Republicans in Congress. That includes failing to tell Congress that he had personally discussed the Trump campaign face-to-face with the Russian ambassador. However, in this case, it may be more than “memory problems” that keep Sessions from answering the question. Sessions is well aware that the reason Trump wanted former FBI director James Comey fired is because Comey refused to drop the Russia investigation. Sessions was in that up to his elfin ears."
"no matter how many times Sessions lies, it never seems to be enough to generate any response, or even concern, from Republicans in Congress. That includes failing to tell Congress that he had personally discussed the Trump campaign face-to-face with the Russian ambassador. However, in this case, it may be more than “memory problems” that keep Sessions from answering the question. Sessions is well aware that the reason Trump wanted former FBI director James Comey fired is because Comey refused to drop the Russia investigation. Sessions was in that up to his elfin ears."
Mueller postpones planned grand jury testimony in yet another sign he’s flipped Flynn: report
Mueller postpones planned grand jury testimony in yet another sign he’s flipped Flynn: report
"White House aides have sought to distance Trump from Flynn’s actions, but Trump himself once asked former FBI director James Comey to make the department’s investigation into Flynn go away."
"White House aides have sought to distance Trump from Flynn’s actions, but Trump himself once asked former FBI director James Comey to make the department’s investigation into Flynn go away."
Jared gets more time to produce Russia documents ... including those connected to dossier 'Source D'
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/27/1718867/-Jared-gets-more-time-to-produce-Russia-documents-including-those-connected-to-dossier-Source-D
"After forgetting to mention doing White House business on a personal email account, and forgetting to mention his personal contacts with a Russian Mafia ‘godfather,’ forgetting to mention his knowledge of contacts between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks, forgetting to mention a ‘Russian backdoor overture,’ and producing a background check document with a level of mistakes no one had ever seen before … maybe it’s a good thing that Trump son-in-law/adviser Jared Kushner is getting a little more time to produce documents on his contacts with Russia."
"After forgetting to mention doing White House business on a personal email account, and forgetting to mention his personal contacts with a Russian Mafia ‘godfather,’ forgetting to mention his knowledge of contacts between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks, forgetting to mention a ‘Russian backdoor overture,’ and producing a background check document with a level of mistakes no one had ever seen before … maybe it’s a good thing that Trump son-in-law/adviser Jared Kushner is getting a little more time to produce documents on his contacts with Russia."
Everything Trump Campaign Told About Us About Campaign Connections with Russia Is a Lie @alternet
Everything Trump Campaign Told About Us About Campaign Connections with Russia Is a Lie @alternet:
"Trump did everything he could to try to shut down, slow down or stop the investigation. First, he tried to shut down the investigation of Mike Flynn. Then it turned out that Mike Flynn is probably just a piece of a much larger problem, which is Russia. Trump admitted to the Russian ambassador and to the Russian foreign minister shortly after he fired Comey that now he’s got some relief from the Russia problem — in other words, Comey’s gone! But what’s happened since then is the continuing effort to interfere with the investigation, even in the form of tweets — all of which sure look a lot to me like witness intimidation for some of the key players in the saga. And then there’s a third component, which is in a way the most insidious — the willingness of the congressional GOP to be complicit in all of this. We’re talking now about a prescription for disaster for democracy. It’s all part of the same story. If you think about it, every single person who has said something about there being no connection between Trump and Russia during the campaign has been caught in a lie about it. Even with this fellow George Papadopoulos, the talking point immediately became, “Well, he didn’t get in trouble for anything that he did, he got in trouble for lying to federal investigators.” Sure, and what was he lying to federal investigators about? About whether or not there were any contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia."
"Trump did everything he could to try to shut down, slow down or stop the investigation. First, he tried to shut down the investigation of Mike Flynn. Then it turned out that Mike Flynn is probably just a piece of a much larger problem, which is Russia. Trump admitted to the Russian ambassador and to the Russian foreign minister shortly after he fired Comey that now he’s got some relief from the Russia problem — in other words, Comey’s gone! But what’s happened since then is the continuing effort to interfere with the investigation, even in the form of tweets — all of which sure look a lot to me like witness intimidation for some of the key players in the saga. And then there’s a third component, which is in a way the most insidious — the willingness of the congressional GOP to be complicit in all of this. We’re talking now about a prescription for disaster for democracy. It’s all part of the same story. If you think about it, every single person who has said something about there being no connection between Trump and Russia during the campaign has been caught in a lie about it. Even with this fellow George Papadopoulos, the talking point immediately became, “Well, he didn’t get in trouble for anything that he did, he got in trouble for lying to federal investigators.” Sure, and what was he lying to federal investigators about? About whether or not there were any contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia."
Two ex-Watergate prosecutors agree ‘there’s enough evidence right now to indict Donald Trump’
Two ex-Watergate prosecutors agree ‘there’s enough evidence right now to indict Donald Trump’
"Former Watergate prosecutors Jill Wine-Banks and Nick Akerman joined MSNBC host Chris Hayes on Friday night to discuss the latest revelations about Michael Flynn potentially flipping and testifying against President Donald Trump."
"Former Watergate prosecutors Jill Wine-Banks and Nick Akerman joined MSNBC host Chris Hayes on Friday night to discuss the latest revelations about Michael Flynn potentially flipping and testifying against President Donald Trump."
Exclusive: What Trump Really Told Kislyak After Comey Was Canned
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/11/trump-intel-slip
"During a May 10 meeting in the Oval Office, the president betrayed his intelligence community by leaking the content of a classified, and highly sensitive, Israeli intelligence operation to two high-ranking Russian envoys, Sergey Kislyak and Sergey Lavrov. This is what he told them—and the ramifications."
"During a May 10 meeting in the Oval Office, the president betrayed his intelligence community by leaking the content of a classified, and highly sensitive, Israeli intelligence operation to two high-ranking Russian envoys, Sergey Kislyak and Sergey Lavrov. This is what he told them—and the ramifications."
‘Trump is our president’: Russian politicians ‘arranged a champagne party celebrating’ the 2016 election outcome
‘Trump is our president’: Russian politicians ‘arranged a champagne party celebrating’ the 2016 election outcome
"In 2016, Russian political figures had a slogan saying, ‘[Donald] Trump is our president,’ and “arranged a champagne party celebrating” the outcome of the election, a former editor at Russia’s largest state media company claimed this month. The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza reports that Dimitri Skorobutov, who worked at a Russian state TV throughout 2016, kept planning guides detailing how Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted the U.S. presidential election covered. “Aside from Fox News, no network worked as hard as Rossiya, as Russian state TV is called, to boost Donald Trump and denigrate Hillary Clinton,” Lizza reports. Contained in Skorobutov’s documents, for example, were directives from the Kremlin to play up an August 2016 story about Clinton falling while walking up steps. “Me and my colleagues, we were given a clear instruction: to show Donald Trump in a positive way, and his opponent, Hillary Clinton, in a negative way,” Skorobutov said in a speech, according to Lizza. “If Donald Trump has a successful press conference, we broadcast it for sure,” Skorobutov explained. “And if something goes wrong with Clinton, we underline it.” “There was even a slogan among Russian political élite,” the former editor said. “‘Trump is our president.’ And, when he won the elections, on 9th November, 2016, Russian Parliament or State Duma even applauded him and arranged a champagne party celebrating the victory of Donald Trump.”
"In 2016, Russian political figures had a slogan saying, ‘[Donald] Trump is our president,’ and “arranged a champagne party celebrating” the outcome of the election, a former editor at Russia’s largest state media company claimed this month. The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza reports that Dimitri Skorobutov, who worked at a Russian state TV throughout 2016, kept planning guides detailing how Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted the U.S. presidential election covered. “Aside from Fox News, no network worked as hard as Rossiya, as Russian state TV is called, to boost Donald Trump and denigrate Hillary Clinton,” Lizza reports. Contained in Skorobutov’s documents, for example, were directives from the Kremlin to play up an August 2016 story about Clinton falling while walking up steps. “Me and my colleagues, we were given a clear instruction: to show Donald Trump in a positive way, and his opponent, Hillary Clinton, in a negative way,” Skorobutov said in a speech, according to Lizza. “If Donald Trump has a successful press conference, we broadcast it for sure,” Skorobutov explained. “And if something goes wrong with Clinton, we underline it.” “There was even a slogan among Russian political élite,” the former editor said. “‘Trump is our president.’ And, when he won the elections, on 9th November, 2016, Russian Parliament or State Duma even applauded him and arranged a champagne party celebrating the victory of Donald Trump.”
As Oceans Warm, the World’s Kelp Forests Begin to Disappear
http://e360.yale.edu/features/as-oceans-warm-the-worlds-giant-kelp-forests-begin-to-disappear
"Kelp forests — luxuriant coastal ecosystems that are home to a wide variety of marine biodiversity — are being wiped out from Tasmania to California, replaced by sea urchin barrens that are nearly devoid of life."
"Kelp forests — luxuriant coastal ecosystems that are home to a wide variety of marine biodiversity — are being wiped out from Tasmania to California, replaced by sea urchin barrens that are nearly devoid of life."
The Congressional Anti-Parks Caucus in Power
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2017/11/20/443087/congressional-anti-parks-caucus-power/
"The positions of the anti-parks caucus members vary greatly from those of the public, fellow members of Congress, and even other congressional Republicans."
"The positions of the anti-parks caucus members vary greatly from those of the public, fellow members of Congress, and even other congressional Republicans."
Robert Reich: Jim Crow Is Making a Furious Comeback @alternet
Robert Reich: Jim Crow Is Making a Furious Comeback @alternet:
"In nine states, Republican legislators have enacted laws that disenfranchise anyone with outstanding legal fees or court fines. For example, in Alabama more than 100,000 people who owe money – roughly 3 percent of the state’s voting-age population – have been struck from voting rolls. This is unconstitutional. In 1964, the 24th amendment abolished the poll tax, a Jim Crow tactic used to bar poor blacks from voting. These new laws are a modern reincarnation of that unconstitutional system, disproportionately disenfranchising people of color. Income and wealth should have no bearing on the right to vote. Many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. But they still have a constitutional right to make their voices heard. Preventing people from voting because they owe legal fees or court fines muzzle low-income Americans at a time in our nation’s history when the rich have more political power than ever."
"In nine states, Republican legislators have enacted laws that disenfranchise anyone with outstanding legal fees or court fines. For example, in Alabama more than 100,000 people who owe money – roughly 3 percent of the state’s voting-age population – have been struck from voting rolls. This is unconstitutional. In 1964, the 24th amendment abolished the poll tax, a Jim Crow tactic used to bar poor blacks from voting. These new laws are a modern reincarnation of that unconstitutional system, disproportionately disenfranchising people of color. Income and wealth should have no bearing on the right to vote. Many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. But they still have a constitutional right to make their voices heard. Preventing people from voting because they owe legal fees or court fines muzzle low-income Americans at a time in our nation’s history when the rich have more political power than ever."
Worker rights preemption in the US
http://www.epi.org/preemption-map/
"Cities, counties, and other local governments are enacting policies that raise standards for working people, but state legislatures are lowering those standards back down with preemption—the use of state law to void local ordinances. Twenty-six states have preemption laws that target five key worker rights."
"Cities, counties, and other local governments are enacting policies that raise standards for working people, but state legislatures are lowering those standards back down with preemption—the use of state law to void local ordinances. Twenty-six states have preemption laws that target five key worker rights."
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