In a move that could potentially rewrite the American Social Contract, the Democrats in the United States Senate appear to have agreed on pursuing a $3.5 trillion budget package through the reconciliation process. If all Democrats support this dollar figure, the bill contents, and the revenue sources to pay for it, Vice President Kamala Harris … Read more
Remember when Barack Obama negotiated in good faith, ad nauseam, with Republicans to address their objections in an effort to come to a bipartisan agreement on health care reform? This was the Mitch McConnell “rope-a-dope” strategy. Republicans did not negotiate in good faith, their plan was always to run out the clock on the Obama … Read more
Remember the Everlasting Gobstopper from Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory? It was a candy for children with “very little pocket money.” It lasted forever, never getting smaller, and was perpetually flavorful. There’s a non-fiction equivalent, except it’s not for children — or anyone else — with “very little pocket money.” Or even average pocket money. Actually, … Read more
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said George Santayana. He must have been talking about Arizona’s so-called middle-class tax cuts. Or the famous Republican trickle-down economic theory that tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations would inevitably “trickle-down” to workers. On the contrary, there is ample evidence showing that wealth has … Read more
Last week the House laid down its marker in the infrastructure negotiations. House passes $760 billion transportation and water bill, making its pitch on infrastructure: The House passed a roughly $760 billion transportation and water infrastructure bill Thursday, a measure that stakes out the chamber’s position in a debate over how to rebuild the nation’s … Read more