Category: US Senate

Democrats Push GOP to Delay Tax Talks After Alabama

The following article by Niels Lesniewski was posted on the Roll Call website December 13, 2017:

But Republican tax conference committee is full speed ahead

Alabama Democrat Doug Jones’s victory in the Senate race to replace Jeff Sessions could scramble the legislative calculus. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Democrats were quick to call on Republicans to delay their efforts to rewrite the tax code, saying Doug Jones’ victory in Tuesday’s special Senate election in Alabama is a sign from voters that needs to be heeded.

“The vote on the tax bill should be postponed. The voice of Alabamians should be heard on this and Doug Jones should have a chance to weigh in,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez told reporters Wednesday.

Perez spoke before Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, who had much the same message. Flanked by a chart with quotes from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dating to the aftermath of the election of Republican Scott P. Brown in Massachusetts, the New York Democrat highlighted concerns about the bill among suburban voters. Continue reading “Democrats Push GOP to Delay Tax Talks After Alabama”

Religious leaders question why Republican tax plan would allow churches to endorse candidates

The following article by Hailey Branson-Potts was posted on the Los Angeles Times website December 12, 2017:

Parishioners chat near the Action Table outside of All Saints Church in Pasadena after a service on Sunday, Dec. 3. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

An antiwar sermon at All Saints Church in Pasadena two days before the 2004 presidential election triggered an Internal Revenue Service investigation that threatened the church’s tax-exempt status.

But that hasn’t stopped All Saints from taking on contentious issues, as it did on a recent Sunday when the Rev. Mike Kinman preached about sexual assault against women. He also spoke of another hot-button issue: the Republican tax plans.

Tucked within the House version of the tax bill — which still must be reconciled with the separate Senate version — is a proposal that likely would have kept the feds away from All Saints 13 years ago. Continue reading “Religious leaders question why Republican tax plan would allow churches to endorse candidates”

Following Smith appointment to US Senate, Minnesota Senate will be up for grabs

St. Paul, Minn.—Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith’s appointment to U.S. Senate by Governor Mark Dayton, announced today, has set in motion a number of rarely used mechanisms. The Minnesota State Senate President, Sen. Michelle Fischbach (GOP-Paynesville), will become the Lieutenant Governor according to the line of succession outlined in the Minnesota Constitution (Article 5, Section 5). Sen. Fischbach confirmed her intention to do so in a press conference this afternoon.

In 1972 Minnesotans approved a constitutional amendment removing the duties of the Senate President from the Lieutenant Governor. This amendment, which became the modern Article 4, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution prohibits Sen. Fischbach from serving in both the Minnesota Senate and as the Lieutenant Governor. Because the succession cannot be declined, this forthcoming appointment will trigger a special election for the senate seat, once Sen. Al Franken’s resignation is official. Senate District 13, currently represented by Sen. Fischbach, includes the communities of Sauk Rapids, Sartell, and St. Joseph, Paynesville, Kimball, Cold Spring Rockville, Holdingford and others. Continue reading “Following Smith appointment to US Senate, Minnesota Senate will be up for grabs”

Nonprofits Band Together to Oppose Tax Bill

The following article was posted on the KSTP.com website December 12, 2017:

Click the image above to go to KSTP’s video

A wide range of Minnesota nonprofits concerned about the impact of the tax bill currently being negotiated between the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives banded together to stage a media and social media blitz Tuesday.

About 30 nonprofits all sent out press releases stating each’s opposition to the bill being worked out by the Republican Congress. And many more took part in a Twitter thunderclap by sending out tweets at the same time. Continue reading “Nonprofits Band Together to Oppose Tax Bill”

10 Thoughts After the Alabama Senate Election

The following article by Nathan L. Gonzales was posted on the Roll Call website December 13, 2017:

Supporters of Democrat Doug Jones celebrate his victory over Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate special election Tuesday night in Birmingham, Ala. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

One of the best parts about covering elections is that there is always a result. After all the prognosticating, projecting, discussing and arguing, there’s a winner. But determining the true meaning of victory and loss can be difficult.

There will be plenty of time to analyze the Alabama Senate special election (at least until the next special election on March 13 in Pennsylvania’s 18th District), but here are some initial postelection thoughts:

This was a historic victory for Doug Jones. Of course, Roy Moore had some unparalleled flaws as a candidate, but Jones overcame a 20-point deficit in partisan performance to win. The last Democrat to win a Senate race in Alabama was Sen. Richard C. Shelby in 1992, and he’s now the state’s senior senator as a Republican. Tonight’s upset will be talked about for years to come. Continue reading “10 Thoughts After the Alabama Senate Election”

GOP’s fear and loathing of Hillary Clinton cost you $100 million

NOTE:  With the increasing chorus of Republican congress members calling for Special Prosecutor Mueller to be fired, we’re looking back at their investigations into Hillary Clinton, which ran on and on and on and cost the American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and resulted in absolutely nothing.

The following article by James Williams was posted on the Newstalk Florida website July 29, 2016:

Republican’s hate Hillary Clinton because she is smarter than they are

PHILADELPHIA — The conventions are over and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton watched as her party did a wonderful job of showing her to be human. A wife, mother, grandmother, someone who loves life and doesn’t mind that she has a boisterous laugh.

Clinton is smart, and likes to play hard ball with the boys and that is something the Republican’s in and out of Washington hate. Let me say that Hillary Clinton is not a saint, nor has she always made the wisest choices, but she is a political survivor in a man’s world.

Truth is that the Republican’s in the House and the Senate have had two decades of defining Hillary Clinton as un trustworthy and un truthful. They have done it spending more taxpayers money on battling her than any other political figure in history. Continue reading “GOP’s fear and loathing of Hillary Clinton cost you $100 million”

FBI agent becomes GOP public enemy No. 1

The following article by Katie Bo WIlliams was posted on the Hill website December 12, 2017:

© Getty Images

Republicans have a new public enemy No. 1: Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who was reassigned from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigative team over allegedly anti-Trump text messages he sent during the presidential race.

A slate of reports from multiple outlets have catapulted the once-anonymous intelligence agent into the political maelstrom over what Republicans say is a woeful double standard of political bias at the FBI. Continue reading “FBI agent becomes GOP public enemy No. 1”

Congressional Republicans in advanced talks to reduce the tax rate for top earners to 37 percent as part of final tax bill

The following article by Erica Werner and Damian Paletta was posted on the Washington Post website December 12, 2017:

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) talks with reporters on Capitol Hill this month. Credit:
Katherine Frey/The Washington Post

Congressional Republicans are in advanced talks to lower the top tax rate for individuals from 39.6 percent to 37 percent as they finalize a massive $1.5 trillion tax package, said three people familiar with the negotiations.

The move follows complaints from wealthy taxpayers in New York and elsewhere that their taxes could go up under the legislation because of other changes it makes to the code.

The change, if finalized, would amount to a major tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. And it would be certain to spark a furious response from Democrats who are unanimously opposed to the legislation which they already have been casting as a giveaway to corporations and the rich. Continue reading “Congressional Republicans in advanced talks to reduce the tax rate for top earners to 37 percent as part of final tax bill”

Democrats Won’t Support Another Stopgap, Hoyer Says

The following article by Lindsay McPherson was posted on the Roll Call website December 12, 2017:

House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer cited several bills that Republicans have yet to get through Congress. Credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo

Democrats will not support another clean continuing resolution that would allow Republicans to continue shirking their governing responsibilities, House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer said Tuesday.

The Maryland Democrat named several “must pass” bills Republicans have yet to get through Congress, including reauthorizations of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as the next disaster supplemental and legislation providing a path to legal status for immigrants brought illegally into the country as children. Continue reading “Democrats Won’t Support Another Stopgap, Hoyer Says”

Six Things to Watch as Tax Overhaul Endgame Nears

The following article by Ryan McCrimmon was posted on the Roll Call website December 11, 2017:

House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady says both Senate and House tax plans have “strengths” when it comes to the treatment of income of pass-through entities. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

A number of sticking points emerged last week as Republican lawmakers began jockeying for their favorite parts of the House and Senate tax plans.

Top tax writers from each chamber will formally meet Wednesday at 2 p.m. to discuss their differences, but the real negotiations have already begun behind the scenes.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthysaid last week a finished tax bill likely wouldn’t be ready this week, so final votes could come just before lawmakers leave for the holidays. Congress is scheduled to remain in town until at least Dec. 22, when a stopgap government spending measure expires. Continue reading “Six Things to Watch as Tax Overhaul Endgame Nears”