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I give up... the country is lost...
Drudge Put It Perfectly: Congressional Republicans Flail and Fail
http://observer.com/2017/02/republicans-incompetence-donald-trump-obamacare-tax-cuts/
On February 8, 2017, Matt Drudge tweeted, “No Obamacare repeal, tax cuts!” and “Republican party should be sued for fraud. NO discussion of tax cuts now.” Drudge was spot on.
This week, Sen. Rand Paul (my former boss, it should be pointed out) stormed out of a meeting with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan when he heard talk of keeping Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion intact and creating tax credits. Paul worried these tax credits would be a Republican-created entitlement program.
Unfortunately, the leadership and establishment in the Republican party is incompetent. When you compare the accomplishments of President Barack Obama at the same point in his presidency as President Donald Trump, it shows that Republicans are not doing their job.
Jonathan Weisman, deputy Washington editor at The New York Times, encapsulated Republicans’ lack of accomplishment in one tweet.
Weisman points out that at this point in the Obama administration, the Democratic-controlled Congress had passed his stimulus package, the Lilly Ledbetter bill, and started serious talks about healthcare reform. Right now, House and Senate Republicans have passed a budget that sets the table for Obamacare partial repeal, yet they don’t seem to have the stomach to pass the partial repeal measure that they passed last year. That bill gutted some of the core elements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by repealing Medicaid expansion, exchange subsidies and most of the healthcare related tax hikes.
Conservatives, including The Heritage Foundation, are pushing Congress to use this measure as the basis for reconciliation this year, yet moderate senators Lamar Alexander, Bill Cassidy, and Susan Collins are pushing ideas that will save the core of Obamacare.
Now that Republicans have control of Congress, they seem to have lost focus. On February 16, The New York Times reported, “After moving to start rolling back the Affordable Care Act just days after President Trump was sworn in last month, Republican lawmakers and Mr. Trump have yet to deliver on any of the sweeping legislation they promised. Efforts to come up with a replacement for the healthcare law have been stymied by disagreements among Republicans about how to proceed. The same is true for a proposed overhaul of the tax code.”
The large infrastructure bill that both Democrats and Trump were eager to pursue has barely been mentioned, other than a general hearing to discuss well-documented needs for infrastructure improvements. Even a simple emergency spending bill that the Trump administration promised weeks ago—which was expected to include a proposal for his wall on the Mexican border—has not materialized, leaving appropriators idle.
Implementing the Trump agenda is impossible if Republicans don’t try. One of my favorite quotes is Wayne Gretzky’s “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Republicans are not taking any shots right now.
Republicans know that it would be easy to roll out and pass a massive $1 trillion infrastructure bill that would have bipartisan support. Members love roads and bridges, and Congressional pork is proven to create bipartisan support. Yet, Congress hasn’t started the process of passing Trump’s version of a stimulus bill.
Republicans ran on promising to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, and they are falling flat on their faces trying to figure out the “replace” part. Sen. Rand Paul has teamed up with forces in the House Freedom Caucus to introduce a bill to repeal Obamacare and replace with healthcare freedom, including a massive expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and the freedom to purchase healthcare plans across state lines. This is a good option if Republicans feel the need to “replace” Obamacare.
Additionally, Congress has done nothing to forward the ball on Trump’s plan for a historic reform of the tax code that would include massive tax cuts for average Americans.
Republican leadership in the House and Senate are thwarting the Trump agenda with their gross incompetence. Drudge was spot on to accuse them of fraud, and Sen. Rand Paul is correct to team up with freedom loving members of the House and Senate to jump start the process of repealing Obamacare. At some point, establishment Republicans need to understand that if they continue to break promises to right-leaning Trump voters, they will hand over power to the Democrats.
Originally posted by checkbaiterMaybe you'd better look at the math before you start worshiping at the "tax cut" alter. America can barely fund government operations such as courts, defense, transportation, as well as those all important corporate welfare handouts with the tax revenue we have now. How do you think we'll pay for them with less revenue than before?? Just look at Kansas, a fine example of the conservative agenda in action, they've cut taxes to the bone, and their swimming in red ink. Do The Math!
I give up... the country is lost...
Drudge Put It Perfectly: Congressional Republicans Flail and Fail
http://observer.com/2017/02/republicans-incompetence-donald-trump-obamacare-tax-cuts/
On February 8, 2017, Matt Drudge tweeted, “No Obamacare repeal, tax cuts!” and “Republican party should be sued for fraud. NO discussion of tax cuts now.” Drud ...[text shortened]... nue to break promises to right-leaning Trump voters, they will hand over power to the Democrats.
It was so nice to sit on the sidelines and criticize those dirty old Liberals when they were in power. Now you're going to find that "The Donald" and his little band of GOP minions can't deliver on even 10% of all those lofty campaign promises. Buckel up Buttercup, it's doesn't get any easier. 😀
- Joined
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Originally posted by mchill$1.48 Trillion: Government Collects Record-High Taxes in First Half of FY 2016
Maybe you'd better look at the math before you start worshiping at the "tax cut" alter. America can barely fund government operations such as courts, defense, transportation, as well as those all important corporate welfare handouts with the tax revenue we have now. How do you think we'll pay for them with less revenue than before?? Just look at Kansas, a fin ...[text shortened]... 10% of all those lofty campaign promises. Buckel up Buttercup, it's doesn't get any easier. 😀
That is just the first half of 2016. Do you think there just might be a little problem with waste and fraud?
Originally posted by checkbaiterDo you think there just might be a little problem with waste and fraud?
$1.48 Trillion: Government Collects Record-High Taxes in First Half of FY 2016
That is just the first half of 2016. Do you think there just might be a little problem with waste and fraud?
No, there is a BIG problem with waste and fraud. Let's look at a few as a result of the GOP shut down of our government:
About $3.1 billion in lost government services, according to the research firm IHS.
$152 million per day in lost travel spending, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
$76 million per day lost because of National Parks being shut down, according to the National Park Service.
$217 million per day in lost federal and contractor wages in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area alone.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers bore the economic brunt of the shutdown. But small businesses also suffered from stalled business loans. Tourism suffered from closed national parks, and military families had to cope without childcare and other services.
TOTAL: $25,000,650,000
Then add on costs of corporate welfare, taxpayer supported healthcare for our beloved lawmakers, and sweetheart defense contracts to corporate buddies in the private sector and the price tag get much larger. You want to start cutting??? I will if you will!
Originally posted by checkbaiterI encourage all conservatives to abandon the US federal government and pursue the Article V movement.
I give up... the country is lost...
Drudge Put It Perfectly: Congressional Republicans Flail and Fail
http://observer.com/2017/02/republicans-incompetence-donald-trump-obamacare-tax-cuts/
On February 8, 2017, Matt Drudge tweeted, “No Obamacare repeal, tax cuts!” and “Republican party should be sued for fraud. NO discussion of tax cuts now.” Drud ...[text shortened]... nue to break promises to right-leaning Trump voters, they will hand over power to the Democrats.
The GOP is not losing its focus because their focus is the status quo.
Refuse to be appeased because the "R"'s in office.
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- 08 Dec 04
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- 100919
Originally posted by whodeyAt my age I don't think I will be in the mix, but should the rest get their "prayer mats" ready?
I encourage all conservatives to abandon the US federal government and pursue the Article V movement.
The GOP is not losing its focus because their focus is the status quo.
Refuse to be appeased because the "R"'s in office.
Because there is strong probability that is where we are headed. What is it 5 times a day?
Originally posted by checkbaiterTax rates are low enough. Capital gains and dividend tax are probably too low. Same for transfer tax.
I give up... the country is lost...
Drudge Put It Perfectly: Congressional Republicans Flail and Fail
http://observer.com/2017/02/republicans-incompetence-donald-trump-obamacare-tax-cuts/
On February 8, 2017, Matt Drudge tweeted, “No Obamacare repeal, tax cuts!” and “Republican party should be sued for fraud. NO discussion of tax cuts now.” Drud ...[text shortened]... nue to break promises to right-leaning Trump voters, they will hand over power to the Democrats.
===Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and the freedom to purchase healthcare plans across state lines===
Both of these are good ideas. Repealing the regulatory components of the ACA, keeping the Medicaid expansion, and throwing in expanded HSAs seems like a good basis to work off of.
- Joined
- 08 Dec 04
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- 100919
Originally posted by sh76Yes I agree, but Trump will have to go to the public and appeal to them, because his own party is against him.
Tax rates are low enough. Capital gains and dividend tax are probably too low. Same for transfer tax.
===Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and the freedom to purchase healthcare plans across state lines===
Both of these are good ideas. Repealing the regulatory components of the ACA, keeping the Medicaid expansion, and throwing in expanded HSAs seems like a good basis to work off of.
Originally posted by checkbaiterYou do know that the Observer is another Trump mouthpiece, yes?
I give up... the country is lost...
Drudge Put It Perfectly: Congressional Republicans Flail and Fail
http://observer.com/2017/02/republicans-incompetence-donald-trump-obamacare-tax-cuts/
On February 8, 2017, Matt Drudge tweeted, “No Obamacare repeal, tax cuts!” and “Republican party should be sued for fraud. NO discussion of tax cuts now.” Drud ...[text shortened]... nue to break promises to right-leaning Trump voters, they will hand over power to the Democrats.
Originally posted by checkbaiter"When you compare the accomplishments of President Barack Obama at the same point in his presidency as President Donald Trump, it shows that Republicans are not doing their job."
I give up... the country is lost...
Drudge Put It Perfectly: Congressional Republicans Flail and Fail
http://observer.com/2017/02/republicans-incompetence-donald-trump-obamacare-tax-cuts/
On February 8, 2017, Matt Drudge tweeted, “No Obamacare repeal, tax cuts!” and “Republican party should be sued for fraud. NO discussion of tax cuts now.” Drud ...[text shortened]... nue to break promises to right-leaning Trump voters, they will hand over power to the Democrats.
Their job, presumably, is to frustrate the executive and ensure the country is ungovernable, benefitting the wealthy and the corporations while wrecking the middle class and the skilled working class.