Tag: Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell Calls for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid Cuts After Passing Tax Cuts, Massive Defense Spending

After instituting a $1.5 trillion tax cut and signing off on a $675 billion budget for the Department of Defense, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the only way to lower the record-high federal deficit would be to cut entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s not a Republican problem,” McConnell said of the deficit, which grew 17 percent to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018. McConnell explained to Bloomberg that “it’s a bipartisan problem: Unwillingness to address the real drivers of the debt by doing anything to adjust those programs to the demographics of America in the future.” The deficit has increased 77 percent since McConnell became majority leader in 2015.

New Treasury Department analysis on Monday revealed that corporate tax cuts had a significant impact on the deficit this year. Federal revenue rose by 0.04 percent in 2018, a nearly 100 percent decrease on last year’s 1.5 percent. In fiscal year 2018, tax receipts on corporate income fell to $205 billion from $297 billion in 2017.

View the complete October 16 article by Nicole Goodkind on the Newsweek website here.

McConnell actually helped cover up Russia’s interference for Trump

A new book reveals how Sen. Mitch McConnell sought to undermine the CIA as it tried to address Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election.

Mitch McConnell, R-KY., 2018. Credit: J. Scott Applewhite, AP

A new book reveals further details of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) attempts to undermine the CIA as it raised alarms about Russian attempts to help Trump in the 2016 election.

Russia directly interfered in the 2016 election to influence the outcome. The Russian regime, at the direction of leader Vladimir Putin, sought to help Trump’s campaign and deny Hillary Clinton the presidency.

And the Trump campaign, at its highest levels, met with Russian operatives as it sought dirt on Clinton.

View the complete October 2 article by Oliver Willis on the ShareBlue.com website here.

Want to Know More About: The Supreme Court Nomination Effect on the Midterm Election

Erica Hill: “President Trump And Republicans Taking A Victory Lap, Casting Democrats As An Angry Mob, In Hopes That The Kavanaugh Fight Will Pay Dividends In The Midterm Election, Which Are Now By The Way Only Twenty-Nine Days Away.” ERICA HILL: “Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh beginning his first week on the high court, after that bruising confirmation battle. President Trump and republicans taking a victory lap, casting democrats as an angry mob, in hopes that the Kavanaugh fight will pay dividends in the midterm election, which are now by the way only twenty-nine days away.”   [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

Abby Phillip: “Now The Attention Is Shifting To The Campaign Trail Where Democrats And Republicans Are Hoping To Use The Treatment Of Kavanaugh And His Accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, To Galvanize Their Voters.” ABBY PHILLIP: “Republicans are taking a victory lap over the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh but now the attention is shifting to the campaign trail where Democrats and Republicans are hoping to use the treatment of Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, to galvanize their voters.” [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

David Gregory: “I Think There Is A Renewed Realization That If You Care About These Issues, If You Care About The Future Of The Court, Among Other Issues, You Need To Get Out And Vote. So I Think The Democrats Have A Lot Of Energy.” DAVID GREGORY: “The recent history I have seen and covered, anger you see among democrats is very strong and a big motivator to get to the polls. I think there is a renewed realization that if you care about these issues, if you care about the future of the Court, among other issues, you need to get out and vote. So I think the democrats have a lot of energy.” [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

Abby Phillip: “Democrats Also Hoping That Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Will Drive Frustrated Voters To The Polls.” [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

Want to Know More About: Brett Kavanaugh and the Supreme Court?

John Dickerson: “The Senate Voted For Kavanaugh 50-48. The Closest Margin For Any High Court Nominee In 137 Years.” JOHN DICKERSON: “Newly confirmed Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh will go to the White House later today for a swearing in ceremony with president Trump. The senate voted for Kavanaugh 50-48. The closest margin for any high court nominee in 137 years.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 10/8/18; Video]

Major Garrett: “The Kavanaugh Saga Was The Trump Presidency In Miniature, Polarizing, Loud, Traumatic, With Hardball Republican Tactics, Democratic Resistance And In The End A Very Narrow Vote That Produced A Lasting Result.” MAJOR GARRETT: “The Kavanaugh saga was the Trump presidency in miniature, polarizing, loud, traumatic, with hardball republican tactics, democratic resistance and in the end a very narrow vote that produced a lasting result. The saga, this clash polls tell us, has energized Republicans, but defeated Democrats have energy too born by anger and a sense of powerlessness of a war they were unable to stop.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 10/8/18;Video]

Pete Williams: “Kavanaugh’s Influence Will Be Felt In A Few Ways, In Future Years, He’ll Vote On Issues Like Abortion, Affirmative Action, Presidential Power And The Limit Of Money And Politics.” WILLIAMS: “Kennedy in his later years sometimes voted with the liberals in some landmark cases, Canada’s influence will be felt in a few ways, in future years, he’ll vote on issues like abortion, affirmative action, presidential power and the limit of money and politics.” [Today, NBC, 10/8/18; VIDEO] Continue reading “Want to Know More About: Brett Kavanaugh and the Supreme Court?”

Housley and McConnell: A Pattern of Listening to Special Interests and Party Leaders, not Minnesotans

These last two weeks we have outlined for you Karin Housley’s record of siding with special interests and her party leaders. On issue after issue – whether it’s health care, opioids, equal pay, workforce development – she has proven she will listen to them, not Minnesotans.

There is no better example of this than when Housley was unable to name a single issue or area where she would differ with Senate Republicans because no one had told her where she should differ from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

On a recent WCCO Radio interview, Chad Hartman asked Housley to name “an example or two where you disagree with the Republican ideas in the Senate.” Housley, unable to give a specific example, ended her answer by saying: “no one has said anything to me that I want you to differ from Mitch McConnell or President Trump on.”

This is why it is unsurprising that Housley supported the Republican health care plan that failed in Congress last year—which would have gutted protections for people with pre-existing conditions—or that she supported the Republican tax plan that gives 83% of tax cuts to the richest and big corporations, including prescription drug companies, big oil and Wall Street. It’s what special interests and Mitch McConnell would have asked her to do.

Bottom Line: Karin Housley continues to prove through her actions and her words that she listens to special interests and her party leaders, not Minnesotans.

GOP eyes another shot at ObamaCare repeal after McCain’s death

The following article by Alexander Bolton was posted on the Hill website August 29, 2018:

Senate Republicans say they would like Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) to appoint a successor to the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who, unlike McCain, would support GOP legislation to repeal ObamaCare.

Republican lawmakers say they won’t have time to hold another vote to repeal the law in 2018 but vow to try again next year if they manage to keep their Senate and House majorities.

“If we re-engage in that discussion in some point in the future, it would be nice to have members who enable us to pass it,” Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (S.D.) said when asked about the possibility of ObamaCare repeal legislation coming up for a future vote.

View the complete article here.

IRS Ruling on Political Donation Reporting Sets Off Campaign Finance Fight

The following article by Niels Lesniewski was posted on the Roll Call website July 17, 2018:

McConnell cheers, but Democrats blast decision, arguing it reduces transparency

Sen. Majority Leader McConnell praised the new IRS policy in a Tuesday speech. Credit: Bill Clark, CQ Roll Call, file photo

Monday’s announcement by the Treasury Department that it will no longer collect information about donors to some political nonprofits was met with applause from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, perhaps the leading advocate for unrestricted campaign donations. At the same time, it ignited a campaign finance fight with the midterm elections less than four months away.

“It’s bad enough to wield government power to chill political speech and invite harassment of citizens — based on what an angry mob might assume their opinions are, based on their private financial records,” the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor Monday. “It’s even more egregious to pursue that nakedly political goal while calling it ‘good government.’ In this country, good government means protecting citizens’ First Amendment rights to participate in the competition of ideas — not trying to shut down that competition.”

For McConnell, campaign spending is key to his expansive interpretation of the First Amendment. Senate Democrats, led by Finance ranking member Ron Wyden of Oregon, criticized the announcement.

View the following article on the Roll Call site here.

Mitch McConnell’s Official Twitter Account Brazenly Celebrates His Supreme Court Heist After Judges Side with Trump

The following article by Elizabeth Preza was posted on the AlterNet.org website June 26, 2018:

A reminder that elections have consequences.

It’s no secret Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is obsessed with judges. He’s called the decision not to fill a Supreme Court vacancy under former President Barack Obama “the most consequential decision I’ve ever made in my entire public career” and declared the judiciary his “top priority” in the Senate. And on Tuesday, following a series of Supreme Court rulings that sided with the Trump administration, he straight-up gloated about his judicial heist.

To review: in March 2016, McConnell cited “principle” as the motivating factor in his refusal to take action on Merrick Garland, whom Obama had nominated to the Supreme Court after the death of Antonin Scalia. The decision was so integral in the appointment of Neil Gorsuch that the president thanked McConnell during Gorsuch’s swearing-in ceremony for “all he did to make this achievement possible” Continue reading “Mitch McConnell’s Official Twitter Account Brazenly Celebrates His Supreme Court Heist After Judges Side with Trump”

Abortion and Travel Ban Rulings Are Victory for GOP Tactics on Gorsuch Image

The following article by Elizabeth Dias and Sydney Ember was posted on the New York Times website June 26, 2018:

Justice Neil Gorsuch Credit: J. Scott Applewhite, AP

WASHINGTON — The consequences of President Trump’s nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court — and the Republican blockade of President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick B. Garland in 2016 for that seat — became powerfully clear on Tuesday after the court’s conservative majority handed down major decisions to uphold Mr. Trump’s travel ban and in favor of abortion rights opponents.

Social conservatives cheered the court’s ruling that a California lawrequiring “crisis pregnancy centers” to provide abortion information likely violates the First Amendment. Some conservatives also viewed the ruling — their latest win to advance their anti-abortion cause since Mr. Trump has taken office — as another opportunity to energize their base ahead of the November elections. Continue reading “Abortion and Travel Ban Rulings Are Victory for GOP Tactics on Gorsuch Image”

Desperate McConnell plots to stop red-state Democrats from campaigning

The following article by Matthew Chapman was posted on the ShareBlue.com website April 19, 2018:

Sources report McConnell is using a shady new strategy to keep his Senate majority: block red-state Democrats from going home to campaign.

Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is no longer confident he can keep his GOP majority this fall. It’s apparently so bad, he’s resorting a desperate Hail Mary tactic: keeping the Senate open so long that red-state Democrats will be trapped in Washington and unable to go home to campaign for re-election.

At least, that’s what sources tell the conservative Washington Examiner.

According to the new report, White House legislative liaison Marc Short told a private gathering of GOP donors that McConnell wants to extend the workweek so vulnerable Democratic senators in states Trump won are “tied up from campaigning.” Continue reading “Desperate McConnell plots to stop red-state Democrats from campaigning”