The Democrat cartel

[Unforgiven]

 

[Unforgiven]

'Covid relief Bill'

 

Here are 10 crazy examples of waste and partisan kick-backs that have nothing to do with COVID-19 but are in the new bill.

1. $1 Billion for ‘Racial Justice’ for Farmers

“The $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package being pushed by President Biden puts more than $1 billion toward ‘socially disadvantaged’ farmers and related groups — including an equity commission, agricultural training and other assistance to advance racial justice in farming,” Fox News reports.

2. $50 Million for ‘Environmental Justice’ Grants

The legislation allocates $50 million for “environmental justice” grants via the Environmental Protection Agency. The Republican Study Committee decried these grants as a “thinly-veiled kickback” because much of this money will end up going to left-wing political groups.

3. $112 Million for California Transit Project

In an expenditure with zero apparent connection to COVID-19, the new bill allocates $112 million for the “Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion” program. The money would largely go to a specific “underground rail project in Silicon Valley for which planning has been going on for several years but hasn’t yet broken ground,” Fox Business reports.

4. $10 Million for Native American Language Preservation

Slipped into the seemingly endless bill text is a $10 million appropriation to “ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages during and after the public health emergency.”

5. $200 Million for Museum and Library Services

Museums and libraries are, for the most part, closed across the country. Yet under this bill, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (did you even know that was a thing?) would be allocated $200 million in taxpayer money.

6. $750 Million for ‘Global Health’

One might expect the U.S. Congress’s COVID-19 legislation to focus on, well, the U.S. But the new legislation allocates a whopping $750 million for the Centers for Disease Control to spend on global health problems and vaccination efforts in other countries.

7. $750 Million for Native American Housing

The bill also allocates $750 million — on top of existing and prior funding — for “housing assistance and supportive services programs for Native Americans.”

8. Expansion of Obamacare Subsidies

House Democrats have long sought to expand Obamacare subsidies and eliminate caps that prohibit them from going to high-income individuals. Unable to find the votes to do so via the normal legislative process, they’ve simply slipped this partisan priority into their “COVID” relief legislation.

9. Billions for Public Schools Whether They Reopen or Not

The behemoth legislation doles out $129 billion for K-12 schools, ostensibly earmarked for helping them reopen. But it’s actually just a handout for teachers’ unions and public schools. They get the money regardless of whether they reopen or not, and much of it is allocated for spending in 2022 through 2028, long after the pandemic.

10. Countless Pet Projects for Powerful Lawmakers

There are too many in the bill to count, but one glaring example of the corruption and cronyism peppered throughout this bill comes courtesy of the $1.5 million it allocates for the Seaway International Bridge. The bridge “connects New York to Canada and is a priority for New York Sen. Chuck Schumer,” the Wall Street Journal notes.

Rampant Corruption is a Feature of Big Government, Not a Bug

One would like to think that this bill and its untold billions in waste, corruption, and pork are an unusually egregious example of Congressional dereliction. Unfortunately, this kind of dysfunction is par for the course.

 

https://stream.org/10-crazy-examples-of-unrelated-waste-and-partisan-kick-backs-in-new-covid-bill/

 

Edited March 10, 2021 by Unforgiven

[US Egg]

It's all good to the Left as long as Trump is isn't President.

[T master]

Back to the Future ! We have taken a step back to 2015 when all was good in the swamp and the spending on BS pet projects and pork plus the fact that gas prices have all but raised to almost exactly where they were then is proof that we have stepped back in time and not forward .

 

And the smile on Gonzalez face shows how happy he is that China is now back in the good graces of the American gov't despite the fact that they basically invented this virus and caused the world economy to go in the toilet which was probably all part of the plan .

 

But now that the vaccine is now showing a positive impact thanks action of the prior administration for fast tracking money to those companies to get the vaccine (which there is and will be no thanks for) and this administration will make it look like it's all their doing .

 

So once again as the great song by Head East says "Same as it ever was" !! 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

4 hours ago, Unforgiven said:

 

Isn’t this the democrat that was challenging the Biden administration for creating a border catastrophe 9 days ago? 🤔 

 

what a coincidence the past 3 years of filings were ‘just noticed’ 

Edited March 10, 2021 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[All_Pro_Bills]

4 hours ago, Unforgiven said:

'Covid relief Bill'

 

Here are 10 crazy examples of waste and partisan kick-backs that have nothing to do with COVID-19 but are in the new bill.

1. $1 Billion for ‘Racial Justice’ for Farmers

“The $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package being pushed by President Biden puts more than $1 billion toward ‘socially disadvantaged’ farmers and related groups — including an equity commission, agricultural training and other assistance to advance racial justice in farming,” Fox News reports.

2. $50 Million for ‘Environmental Justice’ Grants

The legislation allocates $50 million for “environmental justice” grants via the Environmental Protection Agency. The Republican Study Committee decried these grants as a “thinly-veiled kickback” because much of this money will end up going to left-wing political groups.

3. $112 Million for California Transit Project

In an expenditure with zero apparent connection to COVID-19, the new bill allocates $112 million for the “Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion” program. The money would largely go to a specific “underground rail project in Silicon Valley for which planning has been going on for several years but hasn’t yet broken ground,” Fox Business reports.

4. $10 Million for Native American Language Preservation

Slipped into the seemingly endless bill text is a $10 million appropriation to “ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages during and after the public health emergency.”

5. $200 Million for Museum and Library Services

Museums and libraries are, for the most part, closed across the country. Yet under this bill, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (did you even know that was a thing?) would be allocated $200 million in taxpayer money.

6. $750 Million for ‘Global Health’

One might expect the U.S. Congress’s COVID-19 legislation to focus on, well, the U.S. But the new legislation allocates a whopping $750 million for the Centers for Disease Control to spend on global health problems and vaccination efforts in other countries.

7. $750 Million for Native American Housing

The bill also allocates $750 million — on top of existing and prior funding — for “housing assistance and supportive services programs for Native Americans.”

8. Expansion of Obamacare Subsidies

House Democrats have long sought to expand Obamacare subsidies and eliminate caps that prohibit them from going to high-income individuals. Unable to find the votes to do so via the normal legislative process, they’ve simply slipped this partisan priority into their “COVID” relief legislation.

9. Billions for Public Schools Whether They Reopen or Not

The behemoth legislation doles out $129 billion for K-12 schools, ostensibly earmarked for helping them reopen. But it’s actually just a handout for teachers’ unions and public schools. They get the money regardless of whether they reopen or not, and much of it is allocated for spending in 2022 through 2028, long after the pandemic.

10. Countless Pet Projects for Powerful Lawmakers

There are too many in the bill to count, but one glaring example of the corruption and cronyism peppered throughout this bill comes courtesy of the $1.5 million it allocates for the Seaway International Bridge. The bridge “connects New York to Canada and is a priority for New York Sen. Chuck Schumer,” the Wall Street Journal notes.

Rampant Corruption is a Feature of Big Government, Not a Bug

One would like to think that this bill and its untold billions in waste, corruption, and pork are an unusually egregious example of Congressional dereliction. Unfortunately, this kind of dysfunction is par for the course.

 

https://stream.org/10-crazy-examples-of-unrelated-waste-and-partisan-kick-backs-in-new-covid-bill/

 

This spending bill doesn't have much to do with "COVID Relief" and the names are somewhat disingenuous.  A more appropriate name might be "The Hand Out A Lot of Free Money To Our Supporters And Constituents Pet Projects" bill. 

 

Who would support the Patriot Act if it was called "The Domestic Spying on All American Citizens" bill or the Affordable Care Act if it was called "The Big Health Care Spending Bill Written By The Insurance Industry To Charge You More And Make Them More Money" bill.

 

Since we're talking COVID - "A safe and effective vaccine or "an experimental messenger RNA Gene Therapy Biologic Agent with unknown mid and long term effects or complications.".  Hard to see a lot of people lining up to wait a couple hours to get injected with something presented that way.  But that's what 2 of the approved "vaccines" are.

Edited March 10, 2021 by All_Pro_Bills

[ALF]

The Trump tax cuts also added to the National Debt at the time of full employment when it was not necessary . It passed by reconciliation along party lines.

 

The CBO estimates that implementing the Act would add an estimated $2.289 trillion to the national debt over ten years,[8]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Cuts_and_Jobs_Act_of_2017#:~:text=The Senate passed the final,Trump on December 22%2C 2017.

 

 

Edited March 10, 2021 by ALF

[TH3]

5 hours ago, Unforgiven said:

'Covid relief Bill'

 

Here are 10 crazy examples of waste and partisan kick-backs that have nothing to do with COVID-19 but are in the new bill.

1. $1 Billion for ‘Racial Justice’ for Farmers

“The $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package being pushed by President Biden puts more than $1 billion toward ‘socially disadvantaged’ farmers and related groups — including an equity commission, agricultural training and other assistance to advance racial justice in farming,” Fox News reports.

2. $50 Million for ‘Environmental Justice’ Grants

The legislation allocates $50 million for “environmental justice” grants via the Environmental Protection Agency. The Republican Study Committee decried these grants as a “thinly-veiled kickback” because much of this money will end up going to left-wing political groups.

3. $112 Million for California Transit Project

In an expenditure with zero apparent connection to COVID-19, the new bill allocates $112 million for the “Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion” program. The money would largely go to a specific “underground rail project in Silicon Valley for which planning has been going on for several years but hasn’t yet broken ground,” Fox Business reports.

4. $10 Million for Native American Language Preservation

Slipped into the seemingly endless bill text is a $10 million appropriation to “ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages during and after the public health emergency.”

5. $200 Million for Museum and Library Services

Museums and libraries are, for the most part, closed across the country. Yet under this bill, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (did you even know that was a thing?) would be allocated $200 million in taxpayer money.

6. $750 Million for ‘Global Health’

One might expect the U.S. Congress’s COVID-19 legislation to focus on, well, the U.S. But the new legislation allocates a whopping $750 million for the Centers for Disease Control to spend on global health problems and vaccination efforts in other countries.

7. $750 Million for Native American Housing

The bill also allocates $750 million — on top of existing and prior funding — for “housing assistance and supportive services programs for Native Americans.”

8. Expansion of Obamacare Subsidies

House Democrats have long sought to expand Obamacare subsidies and eliminate caps that prohibit them from going to high-income individuals. Unable to find the votes to do so via the normal legislative process, they’ve simply slipped this partisan priority into their “COVID” relief legislation.

9. Billions for Public Schools Whether They Reopen or Not

The behemoth legislation doles out $129 billion for K-12 schools, ostensibly earmarked for helping them reopen. But it’s actually just a handout for teachers’ unions and public schools. They get the money regardless of whether they reopen or not, and much of it is allocated for spending in 2022 through 2028, long after the pandemic.

10. Countless Pet Projects for Powerful Lawmakers

There are too many in the bill to count, but one glaring example of the corruption and cronyism peppered throughout this bill comes courtesy of the $1.5 million it allocates for the Seaway International Bridge. The bridge “connects New York to Canada and is a priority for New York Sen. Chuck Schumer,” the Wall Street Journal notes.

Rampant Corruption is a Feature of Big Government, Not a Bug

One would like to think that this bill and its untold billions in waste, corruption, and pork are an unusually egregious example of Congressional dereliction. Unfortunately, this kind of dysfunction is par for the course.

 

https://stream.org/10-crazy-examples-of-unrelated-waste-and-partisan-kick-backs-in-new-covid-bill/

 

The horror of not helping white people!

[Backintheday544]

31 minutes ago, ALF said:

The Trump tax cuts also added to the National Debt at the time of full employment when it was not necessary . It passed by reconciliation along party lines.

 

The CBO estimates that implementing the Act would add an estimated $2.289 trillion to the national debt over ten years,[8]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Cuts_and_Jobs_Act_of_2017#:~:text=The Senate passed the final,Trump on December 22%2C 2017.

 

 

They all have Biden derangement syndrome (BDS). You can see it with how angry and constipated their posts are sounding.

 

None of them cared about all the pet projects Republicans tossed in the TCJA.

 

Dems get 2 guaranteed chances at reconciliation. Let them pass their stuff. This is what Americans voted for.

[BillStime]

5 hours ago, Unforgiven said:

 

How quickly these idiots forget that Trump had a Chinese bank account that had millions flowing through it for the entirety of his term.

 

And let’s don’t forget about Ivanka’s cherished Chinese trademarks received while Daddy was in office.

 

 

 

[B-Man]

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/03/biden-fires-eeoc-general-counsel-for-protecting-religious-rights.php

 

 

Biden Fires EEOC General Counsel for Protecting Religious Rights.

 

 

Joe Biden has fired EEOC general counsel Sharon Fast Gustafson. At least, he has tried to. I’m not sure he can.

 

Nominated in 2018, Gustafson, a respected attorney, was finally confirmed by the Senate in August 2019 for a term of four years. However, Biden asked her to cut short her tenure after only about a year and a half. When she refused, he ordered her firing.

 

To my knowledge, a changeover in administrations has never led to the firing of an EEOC general counsel. The first general counsel under whom I served at the EEOC, Abner Sibal, was appointed by Gerald Ford but continued to serve until December 1978, half way into the Jimmy Carter presidency.

 

 

In fact, under her leadership, the EEOC has been quite active, filing 93 merits lawsuits in district court across the full range of actions prohibited by the anti-discrimination laws the Commission enforces. Gustafson’s office has resolved 165 lawsuits for a total monetary recovery of $196 million. I understand that this is the largest amount recovered by the EEOC through litigation during a comparable time period in the past 16 years.

 

What, then, is there to dislike about Gustafson? The only thing I can think of is her vigorous opposition to discrimination based on religion in the workplace which, in the context of one piece of EEOC litigation, has displeased LGBT activists.

 

Religious discrimination cases make up only five of the 93 merits cases the EEOC has filed under Gustafson. Clearly, her concern with religious discrimination is not crowding out litigation to combat other forms of unlawful discrimination.

 

Gustafson did establish a Religious Discrimination Work Group that hosted a series of listening sessions in which a diverse group of representatives, including Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs, recommended ways the EEOC could improve its response to employees who experience religious discrimination. The report on the work of this group was posted on the EEOC’s website.

 

Almost immediately after Biden’s inauguration, the report and accompanying press release were removed from the website. Similarly, an 8-minute podcast on the Religious Discrimination Work Group’s listening sessions was removed. Now, Biden wants to remove Gustafson, herself.

 

I agree with the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s take on the firing of Gustafson:

 

By firing her, President Biden has once again signaled his administration’s deep-seated antipathy to religious liberty wherever such liberty clashes with the pet politics of Democrats. . . .

 

The decision to terminate Gustafson while simultaneously erasing the record of her work for religious liberty is a sure sign that Biden’s plans for national unity are nothing more than partisan politics masquerading as bipartisan consensus.

 

 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/05/biden-fire-trump-eeoc-general-counsel-who-refused-resign/4601765001/

 

 

 

 

[All_Pro_Bills]

4 minutes ago, BillStime said:

How quickly these idiots forget that Trump had a Chinese bank account that had millions flowing through it for the entirety of his term.

 

And let’s don’t forget about Ivanka’s cherished Chinese trademarks received while Daddy was in office.

 

 

 

We could go on forever like this.  So I could claim Biden & family took millions in payoffs from China and other foreign entries.  But where does that get us?  Defending one slime ball vs. another slim ball.  Can we agree that both political parties have ethically and morally challenged people?  And end this well when your guy did it you didn't say anything so you can't say anything now theme.    

[BillStime]

1 minute ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

We could go on forever like this.  So I could claim Biden & family took millions in payoffs from China and other foreign entries.  But where does that get us?  Defending one slime ball vs. another slim ball.  Can we agree that both political parties have ethically and morally challenged people?  And end this well when your guy did it you didn't say anything so you can't say anything now theme.    

Ask @Unforgiven

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

4 minutes ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

We could go on forever like this.  So I could claim Biden & family took millions in payoffs from China and other foreign entries.  But where does that get us?  Defending one slime ball vs. another slim ball.  Can we agree that both political parties have ethically and morally challenged people?  And end this well when your guy did it you didn't say anything so you can't say anything now theme.    

that’s a side show. The real story is this guy was a democrat publicly railing Biden administration against border crisis a week ago, and now all the sudden the last 3 years of suspect filings were ‘discovered’. 
 

coincidental?  

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

1 hour ago, Backintheday544 said:

They all have Biden derangement syndrome (BDS). You can see it with how angry and constipated their posts are sounding.

 

None of them cared about all the pet projects Republicans tossed in the TCJA.

 

Dems get 2 guaranteed chances at reconciliation. Let them pass their stuff. This is what Americans voted for.

I think Biden has Biden Derangement Syndrome but be that as it may, the vote for Trump was in many (if not most) cases a vote against traditional politics as Dems went full tilt knuckles deep into the politics of the past.  The heroes have always been Kennedy’s, Clinton’s, and Biden has assumed his rightful role as keeper of the flame.  They represent the soft racism of the passively bigoted class of Dems past among other things.  
 

The interesting part to me has been that after the Trump admin  and all the cries for change, you promptly did what you alway do—vote for the status quo guy with roots back to the 1970s.  Nothing says change like the same old hash. 
 

And...here we are.  Establishment politicians step on the American taxpayer with laundry lists of entitlements and pork, paying off friends and families, more wealth redistribution and you’re happy as a pig in sh8t.  
 

Good stuff.  

Edited March 10, 2021 by leh-nerd skin-erd

[wnyguy]

2 minutes ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

I think Biden has Biden Derangement Syndrome but be that as it may, the vote for Trump was in many (if not most) cases a vote against traditional politics as Dems went full tilt knuckles deep into the politics of the past.  The heroes have always been Kennedy’s, Clinton’s, and Biden has assumed his rightful role as keeper of the flame.  They represent to soft racism of the whole yet passively bigoted class among other things.  
 

The interesting part to me has been that after the Trump admin  and all the cries for change, you promptly did what you alway do—vote for the status quo guy with roots back to the 1970s.  Nothing says change like the same old hash. 
 

And...here we are.  Establishment politicians step on the American taxpayer with laundry lists of entitlements and pork, paying off friends and families, more wealth redistribution and you’re happy as a pig in sh8t.  
 

Good stuff.  

Yeah but.........Trump

[Chef Jim]

1 hour ago, ALF said:

The Trump tax cuts also added to the National Debt at the time of full employment when it was not necessary . It passed by reconciliation along party lines.

 

The CBO estimates that implementing the Act would add an estimated $2.289 trillion to the national debt over ten years,[8]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Cuts_and_Jobs_Act_of_2017#:~:text=The Senate passed the final,Trump on December 22%2C 2017.

 

 

 

What kind of whataboutism nonsense is this? 

 

This bill added nearly that much to the national debt in 10 minutes.  

[ALF]

12 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:

 

What kind of whataboutism nonsense is this? 

 

This bill added nearly that much to the national debt in 10 minutes.  

 

Yep what goes around comes around

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

14 minutes ago, ALF said:

 

Yep what goes around comes around

What goes around always goes around because that’s what politicians do.  They have and always will, and your sending Mr Biden to the WH is evidence to them that you’re 100% comfortable with it.  
 

 

[ALF]

1 minute ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

What goes around always goes around because that’s what politicians do.  They have and always will, and your sending Mr Biden to the WH is evidence to them that you’re 100% comfortable with it.  
 

 

 

I wrote in John Kasich  fwiw . Trump destroyed any chance at bipartisan cooperation for who knows how many years.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

5 minutes ago, ALF said:

 

I wrote in John Kasich  fwiw . Trump destroyed any chance at bipartisan cooperation for who knows how many years.

Friend, you’re wrong.   This bill is a prime example of “bipartisan cooperation” that we’ve seen from people like McCain, Kennedy, Romney, McConnell, Pelosi, Swallowell and the like.  The problem is that you think it’s about you, me, and the rest of the merry patriots here. It’s about them. 

They get rich, power coagulates in Washington, and while your righteous vote for Kasich may have made you feel better in some small way, they’re getting under your britches while you’re Erin Brokoviching in a mail in vote that means nothing.  To boot, in spite of decades of this crap happening right in front of your collective eyes, 85 mill vote for exactly this type of thing and blame the guy who was trashed by this insiders you want in charge AND was in Washington for what amounts to a long layover on flight from JFK to Miami.  
 

 

 

 
 

 

[All_Pro_Bills]

1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

that’s a side show. The real story is this guy was a democrat publicly railing Biden administration against border crisis a week ago, and now all the sudden the last 3 years of suspect filings were ‘discovered’. 
 

coincidental?  

In politics I don't think there are any coincidences..

[Unforgiven]

 

Let me paraphrase so you don't need to watch the dumb arm flapping...

 

WE JUST ROBBED YOU TAXPAYERS AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN BLIND

[B-Man]

     I particularly like the "OTHER" category ----  $45 Billion

 

Good Lord, D.C. is God Awful

 

 

[Chef Jim]

3 hours ago, ALF said:

 

Yep what goes around comes around

 

So that's what it's all about to you? Stick it to the "other side"?  You (and a bunch of others here) are what's wrong with this country.  

[ALF]

Just now, Chef Jim said:

 

So that's what it's all about to you? Stick it to the "other side"?  You (and a bunch of others here) are what's wrong with this country.  

 

That's what partisan politicians do , does that surprise you ?

[Backintheday544]

2 hours ago, B-Man said:

     I particularly like the "OTHER" category ----  $45 Billion

 

Good Lord, D.C. is God Awful

 

 

It think this pie chart really highlights the differences between the Democrats and the Republicans.

 

Each party had a chance at a reconciliation bill right after the Presidential election. Per yours, we can see lower and middle class people are getting benefits from the bill.

 

We can contrast that to the reckless tax cut bill by the Republicans:

 

 

 

Their law was for the richest 20 percent and foreign investors.
 

This law is for the American people.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

1 hour ago, B-Man said:

 

 

Um a tax law is NOT a spending bill.

 

Perhaps your post illustrates the difference between how people view the entrenched state.

 

 

Spending bills and Tax cuts are all gifts from the almighty government.............we are helpless without them.

 

No individual thinking required.

 

 

 

 

he is correct though. Tax cuts tend to benefit those with higher income. Since the bottom 50% barely have any tax liability, it’s hard to reduce a tax burden of zero. 
 

I looked it up today as I was curious though,  while the rates moved down, revenues went up despite the tax cuts. I suspect because of the SALT cap and there were some amnesty provisions that forced offshore corporations to bring revenue on shore for taxation as a one time ‘opportunity’. I knew a guy who offshored an IT business that was grappling with the financial decision. 

 

SALT cap helped because it stopped NY and CA residents from hiding behind property taxes on their massively expensive homes with huge federal tax deductions. Ironically it was a tax increase on the rich, But in typical fashion all the democrats I know were inflamed. “I meant raise taxes on other people, not me. I’m not rich in my $900,000 3 BR ranch house.” 
 

But the good, this unfunded dem laundry list can get republicans to resume lying about caring about fiscal responsibility, and it’ll probably help froth the market for a few more months.
 

I plan on continuing to read the bill and try to guess where some of the green energy money (ya know because Covid) will funnel to in case there is a short term stock play.
 

[transplantbillsfan]

Sooo.... first I actually want to applaud those of you Trump supporting long timers at TBD who actually stuck around rather than fleeing to that "other" place that's shunned all left-leaning thought by banning those posters in order to create a more perfect echo chamber.

 

With that said, in Trump's first year he passed a tax plan that adds more to the National debt than Biden's American Rescue Plan does and instead of targeting lower and middle class Americans, Trump gave most of the benefits of his tax plan to himself and his rich buddies.

 

Unless you're someone who's not going to see any benefits from Biden's plan--and congrats if you are because that means you're pretty fortunate--maybe you should wait a hot minute to see how this all pans out.

[transplantbillsfan]

5 hours ago, B-Man said:

 

 

Um a tax law is NOT a spending bill.

 

Perhaps your post illustrates the difference between how people view the entrenched state.

 

 

Spending bills and Tax cuts are all gifts from the almighty government.............we are helpless without them.

 

No individual thinking required.

 

 

 

 

 

Taxes impact Government funding and based on funding, thus increasing the national debt.

 

Semantically they're no different (other than Biden's plan being better ) in terms of the whole "look at what we're leaving to our Grandkids!!!" argument.. though even with that... much of this Covid Relief package goes directly to those Grandkids right now, unlike Trump's tax cuts.

Edited March 11, 2021 by transplantbillsfan

[transplantbillsfan]

7 hours ago, Unforgiven said:

 

Let me paraphrase so you don't need to watch the dumb arm flapping...

 

WE JUST ROBBED YOU TAXPAYERS AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN BLIND

 

By giving your Grandchildren money as directly as you can?

 

Republican Presidents consistently run up our national debt more than our Democratic Presidents, yet Republicans claim to be the "Deficit Hawks." Why is that?

 

I'm sorry but I just mosied back into PPP on a whim tonight and clearly made a mistake. This is just more confirmation that a disturbing minority of our voting population (though still very much a minority, to be clear) has made a bed ridden with crap, been offered a new bed, but is choosing to lie in it.

[Backintheday544]

8 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

he is correct though. Tax cuts tend to benefit those with higher income. Since the bottom 50% barely have any tax liability, it’s hard to reduce a tax burden of zero. 
 

I looked it up today as I was curious though,  while the rates moved down, revenues went up despite the tax cuts. I suspect because of the SALT cap and there were some amnesty provisions that forced offshore corporations to bring revenue on shore for taxation as a one time ‘opportunity’. I knew a guy who offshored an IT business that was grappling with the financial decision. 

 

SALT cap helped because it stopped NY and CA residents from hiding behind property taxes on their massively expensive homes with huge federal tax deductions. Ironically it was a tax increase on the rich, But in typical fashion all the democrats I know were inflamed. “I meant raise taxes on other people, not me. I’m not rich in my $900,000 3 BR ranch house.” 
 

But the good, this unfunded dem laundry list can get republicans to resume lying about caring about fiscal responsibility, and it’ll probably help froth the market for a few more months.
 

I plan on continuing to read the bill and try to guess where some of the green energy money (ya know because Covid) will funnel to in case there is a short term stock play.
 

The SALT cap doesn’t hurt the wealthy. Under the prior law, SALT was an add back for AMT (still is but now that it’s capped it doesn’t matter).

 

So anyone subject to AMT anyways never received a deduction for SALT since it was an AMT add back.

 

The people it hurt we’re more the middle class who used the SALT deduction but didn’t make enough to pay AMT prior to TCJA.

 

As for rising revenues, the nominal change from what I’ve seen is increased but the real change and the projected non-TCJA revenues are both deficits.

[Backintheday544]

10 hours ago, B-Man said:

 

 

Um a tax law is NOT a spending bill.

 

Perhaps your post illustrates the difference between how people view the entrenched state.

 

 

Spending bills and Tax cuts are all gifts from the almighty government.............we are helpless without them.

 

No individual thinking required.

 

 

 

 

Frivolous tax cut bills at a time when they weren’t needed are a de facto spending bill. 
 

Say you make $1,000 a month. One month you have an addition expense of $600, so you really only have $400 to spend.

 

The next month, you have a pay cut of $600 so you only make $400 that month.

 

Your net impact is you just have $400 either way. The main difference in scenario one  you spent things that help you. In scenario two, you just lost the money and get no benefit.

 

For the low to middle class people it’s the same thing here. The Democrat bill is spending the $600 on things that will help them (and give them more money to survive)

 

The Republican bill took the $600 and gave it to rich people and said sorry low to middle class people that may trickle down to you at sometime.
 

 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

2 hours ago, Backintheday544 said:

The SALT cap doesn’t hurt the wealthy. Under the prior law, SALT was an add back for AMT (still is but now that it’s capped it doesn’t matter).

 

So anyone subject to AMT anyways never received a deduction for SALT since it was an AMT add back.

 

The people it hurt we’re more the middle class who used the SALT deduction but didn’t make enough to pay AMT prior to TCJA.

 

As for rising revenues, the nominal change from what I’ve seen is increased but the real change and the projected non-TCJA revenues are both deficits.

The middle class isn't paying more than ten grand in state and local income tax per year unless they are living way beyond their means. This just shows how distorted the view of middle class wealth is. it just disproportionately impacted the coast states because their own wealth doesn’t go as far due to high costs and tax rates.  AMT starts at almost 2x median hh, or average income. So don’t give me that nonsense. 
 
Above middle Democrats that think they need to raise taxes on other people, just not them, because they think they are middle class with their half a million dollar home, twice the National average. 
 

Republicans favor flat taxes, or tax reductions on themselves and flavor hiding capital gains, but that’s flawed as well.
 

I do like the idea of not giving the fed 1/5th of the gdp. It’s gotten waaay out of control. I once saw a job opening on usajobs.gov in the 150k gl scale range. The job was urban dumpster beautification manager.  
 

also; 

Year after tax law change; Top 1% of earners still paid about 38% of the tax revenue and the top half still paid about 97% of all the taxes collected. 

It’s absolutely a tax increase on wealth and the above average. 10% revenue increase YoY from 18 to 19 from what I see. 

another interesting take.. says the biggest real tax increase on the middle is ongoing healthcare cost crisis. 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/10/middle-class-taxes/

 

Edited March 11, 2021 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[All_Pro_Bills]

33 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

I do like the idea of not giving the fed 1/5th of the gdp. It’s gotten waaay out of control. I once saw a job opening on usajobs.gov in the 150k gl scale range. The job was urban dumpster beautification manager.  
 

 

Its not just government wages.  Its generous pension and retirement benefits.  Here in NJ nepotism in government is a tradition and generally accepted practice.  Towns and cities hire relatives and friends (not so much the most qualified people) that take somewhat less challenging jobs then those offered in the private sector, work them for the required period of time and begin drawing pensions.  Some I'm told retire drawing three pension pay outs. Its a sweet racket while taxpayers foot big tax bills and the government borrows money on their backs to fund payments to all their buddies for perpetuity.  I suspect its the same in a lot of states, many of which have severely under-funded pension plans.  These state plans are the beneficiaries of COVID Relief funding which doesn't seem to have much to do with COVID.   

 

People working in Washington for the Federal government get an even sweeter deal.  Many draw close to $100K or more annually while also receiving fully paid health care benefits. 

 

Those of us in the private sector with the exception of old line companies that still have some sort of pension fund must fund their retirements through smart 401K and IRA investments and social security rather than some guaranteed income courtesy of the suckers called taxpayers. 

 

What I detest about government more than any of these social issues we banter back and forth about taking one view or another is that its a big blood sucking leach sucking the life out of me and every other taxpayer.  And funneling that money to themselves and their favored constituents.  Frankly, I feel like I am getting absolutely little to no benefit from the tax money I send to the State and the Federal government and I am far from affluent.  If you want to limit government power the only thing that will have any effect is to cut off their funding.     

[ALF]

States and local gov should use some of that  stimulus money for much needed infrastructure repairs.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

17 minutes ago, B-Man said:

Federal COVID-19 Bailout Prohibits States From Cutting Taxes

Reason, by Eric Boehm

 

Buried within the $1.9 trillion emergency spending bill that Congress sent to President Joe Biden's desk on Wednesday is a provision that could effectively block states from cutting taxes if they accept federal bailout dollars. That provision, added to the bill by the Senate last week, could put a halt to several states' plans to cut taxes this year as a way to stimulate economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. Depending on how the text is interpreted, the measure could also make it illegal for states to create new tax credit programs like the ones that have become a popular mechanism for expanding school choice.

 

https://reason.com/2021/03/10/federal-covid-19-bailout-prohibits-states-from-cutting-taxes/

 

 

I saw that one. I’ve been thinking there might be a good reason for this. I just haven’t come up with it yet. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

1 hour ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

Its not just government wages.  Its generous pension and retirement benefits.  Here in NJ nepotism in government is a tradition and generally accepted practice.  Towns and cities hire relatives and friends (not so much the most qualified people) that take somewhat less challenging jobs then those offered in the private sector, work them for the required period of time and begin drawing pensions.  Some I'm told retire drawing three pension pay outs. Its a sweet racket while taxpayers foot big tax bills and the government borrows money on their backs to fund payments to all their buddies for perpetuity.  I suspect its the same in a lot of states, many of which have severely under-funded pension plans.  These state plans are the beneficiaries of COVID Relief funding which doesn't seem to have much to do with COVID.   

 

People working in Washington for the Federal government get an even sweeter deal.  Many draw close to $100K or more annually while also receiving fully paid health care benefits. 

 

Those of us in the private sector with the exception of old line companies that still have some sort of pension fund must fund their retirements through smart 401K and IRA investments and social security rather than some guaranteed income courtesy of the suckers called taxpayers. 

 

What I detest about government more than any of these social issues we banter back and forth about taking one view or another is that its a big blood sucking leach sucking the life out of me and every other taxpayer.  And funneling that money to themselves and their favored constituents.  Frankly, I feel like I am getting absolutely little to no benefit from the tax money I send to the State and the Federal government and I am far from affluent.  If you want to limit government power the only thing that will have any effect is to cut off their funding.     

Yes! I pay the most to the fed, the third most to the state, second to county and least to city. The last two I see a lot more value, with schools parks police fire and utilities. The Fed gives me 7000 ballistic missiles that will never be used and a decent highway and the opportunity to subsidize Pelosi’s private jet, which she obviously needs the government to help her with given her paltry salt of the earth 114 million net worth or god help us Trumps presidential library ?? 
 

I know a number of people with fed jobs as I live here. I hear stories about part time job full time six figure pay, people working full time jobs on the side... then there’s all these pet project federal grants like this 

 

“In November 2008, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health awarded a 5-year, $2.6 million grant to Wayne State University in Detroit to allow Dr. Xiaoming Li, professor and director of the university's Prevention Research Center, to "establish and evaluate whether an alcohol and HIV intervention center can assist in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS among sex workers in China," according to a university press release announcing the grant.” 

 

now it was spun to say it was a grant to teach Chinese hookers to drink responsibly which was embellished, But none the less politifact confirmed it was almost three million to study if Chinese hookers did drink more responsibly would it reduce disease transmission. 
 

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/jul/29/judson-phillips/founder-tea-party-nation-claims-us-government-has-/

Edited March 11, 2021 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[The Frankish Reich]

On 3/10/2021 at 6:01 AM, Unforgiven said:

 

Perhaps the dumbest story a dumb writer has ever written. Back before interest rates cratered, I would build CD ladders on the secondary market, available right on the Fidelity app. Guess what? Some of those available were Bank of China CDs. I don’t think they ever worked for my portfolio, but there was nothing sinister about them. Hell, they’re even FDIC insured up to the statutory limit. China buys tons of US T Bills. Financial literacy is not Breitbart’s strength. Stringing together headlines that include the words “Democratic” “China” and “Investment”? That’s about as far as their expertise goes. 

[BillStime]