Findings “can be off to the tune of more than $1.5 trillion over ten years.”
In either direction! If we have a major recession in the next ten years (which we likely will), a 2.5 Trillion increase in debt over the next 10 years might be a better estimate. But "deficits don't matter" to Republicans and the economy will grow forever.
1
You guys figure it out. I'm taking my crates of money to Switzerland. Later, suckers.
2
The GOP is so panicked by the threat by their donor class that if they din't get the tax cut they were promised, the cash spigot they all scramble for would be turned off that they have abandoned any pretense that the working class will benefit. The figures don't lie and the conduct of the Senate has sealed the deal for the many taxpayers now protesting. their numbers will grow and from both sides of the aisle. You want unite people who differ politically, brazenly take money for those who don't need it from those that desperately need it to feed and shelter their families. The GOP have made the bet realization that the window is closing for them and that any big achievements must be done before the 2018 campaign begins. The voters need to impress upon them that the campaign has already begun.
2
"The Treasury, whose secretary, Steven Mnuchin, has said repeatedly that his department was working on an analysis to show how the tax cuts would not add to the deficit, has not produced any studies that back up those claims."
Let's see: first deny the objective studies of the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Then do an "analysis" to show that the tax changes won't add to the deficit: not a study to find out whether this is the case, as was done by the Joint Committee. This time, with Mnuchin, we'll start with the conclusion (what we believe), and then we'll find a way to show that it's true.
The absurd thing is that even when tossing away any objectivity or scientific method, they still can't come up with anything to support their fictional conclusion. Which leads anyone objective to conclude that we're about to increase our national deficit by a massive amount.
But it's okay! By taking money from the less well-off and giving it to the super-wealthy, more money will miraculously appear in the pockets of the less well-off. Logically, we'll then have to write a new tax bill to rectify this situation by taking money from the less well-off and giving it to the super-rich.
But will we be able to stay ahead of the curve here? Will we be able to give money to the rich fast enough so that it trickles down to the less-well off fast enough so that we can tax the less well-off fast enough to give money to the rich so that they can... Naw, I'm unable to figure it out. Who pays deficit
4
It seems totally clear that the Republican Tax Scam Bill will increase the deficit. Apparently the GOP will then use this to call for major cuts in Social Security, Medicare and many other programs.
Maybe, just maybe, a strong enough majority of American voters will understand the evil the Republicans are engaged in to throw the bums out.
Big gains next year, not just in the House, but also in state legislatures could set the stage for a major Republican wipe-out ion 2020.
That's the year when the legislators who will oversee the redistricting after the next census will be elected.
We have the opportunity to take back our government from the one-percenters. But we have to do it. Politics is not a one-time & done kind of thing. The evil-doers will always be there.
We have to always be there. If you think the Democrats should move way left, try to make that happen. Absolute minimum is to vote in every primary & every general election. No excuses are acceptable!
The Virginia governor's election was a very good sign. The losing candidate in the Democratic primary, who was the more progressive candidate, threw himself fully into helping the Democratic nominee win. He didn't pout & mutter on the sidelines. He has won a lot of good will. He'll have more chances in the future.
Politics is a team sport. There are only two teams. The idea that we can wait for a new team to be formed while Trump & the Republicans rape & pillage their way across the land is absurd.
5
You call yourselves the Party of Personal Responsibility.
I Challenge You to take personal responsibility for this tax cut.
If everything works out great. I will give you credit.
But if this tax cut grows the deficit instead of the economy, will you admit your mistake?
You all supported Bush until the 2008 election, then suddenly, you refused to talk about him any more. "Bush isn't running."
Bush started a disastrous war based on lies, and created the worst recession in 60 years, with your full support And you didn't take responsibility.
This time you need to own this.
4
Whether it is labeled a war on the middle class or a war on wage earners, it will be a mostly a massive shift of the tax burden from the wealthy and on to everyone else. Shifting the tax burden away from the rich and onto the middle class will eventually reduce economic growth. The question is how much harm will be done by the tax bill and how long it will take for the economic weakness to manifest itself.
Previously, the mechanism by which shifts in the tax burden away from the rich and thus onto the middle class eventually resulted in financial crises involved overinvestment. It is not just a coincidence that tax cuts for the rich have preceded both the 1929 depression and the 2007 financial crisis. The Revenue Acts of 1926 and 1928 worked exactly as the Republican Congresses that pushed them through promised. The dramatic reductions in taxes on the upper income brackets and estates of the wealthy did indeed result in increases in savings and investment. However, overinvestment (by 1929 there were over 600 automobile manufacturing companies in America) caused the depression that made the rich, and most everyone else, ultimately much poorer. Likewise, overinvestment, after the Bush tax cuts shifted the tax burden away from the rich and thus onto the middle class, resulted in overinvestment, especially in both residential and commercial real estate. The effects of the resulting financial crisis are still being felt..."
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4127862
3
Wealthy people dumping money into their already bloated Wall Street portfolios will stimulate nothing.
1
Imagine that, republicans moving whatever direction it takes at the moment to appease their very rich donor class. Their principals are like the wind, constantly changing. At this point they carry maybe just a bit more credibility than their president. LOCK THEM ALL UP!!!!!
1
Rule of thumb: If you've got a winner, you don't need to cheat. The intellectual dishonesty displayed by the Republicans is craven and cynical.
2
Think of McConnell and Ryan as the Thelma and Louise at the wheel of the Republican party.
3
I just got a two-page single-spaced letter from my Republican Representative explaining how this grand heist will benefit us all because the money will come trickling down on all of us. She cites the "nonpartisan" Tax Foundation. It is a classic example of what this article is reporting. I'm glad the word is getting out. thank you NYT.
2
I have been listening to the various Repubs on the weekend political shows and news.
My question is- do they have classes on how to tap dance around pointed questions and start speaking about how great growth will be blah blah blah even when the host/interviewer says- numerous respected economists indicate that the predictions of growth are false......
Anyway, i'm tired of all the gyrations. It is obvious that the R's are out for all they can get while they can, then they will take their bag of goodies and move on.
Just biding my time to vote them out, hoping that there is not too much more damage, but good luck with that.
6
Americans are not exceptional. Their racism, mysogony, and lack of critical thinking skills enable Trump and GOP Congress to do whatever they want with impunity.
3
The average rate of growth in the 1950s was 4.25%. Now it is 2.1%
In the fifties the top individual rate was 90% and the corporate rate was 50%. Now the top rate is 39%, and the corporate rate 35% (before loopholes bring it down to 15%).
The Reagan tax cuts did not pay for themselves. Taxes had to be raised after them.
When GHW Bush raised taxes, it resulted in a growing economy under Clinton.
When his son cut taxes on the rich it resulted in another trillion in debt (not counting the debt created by the great recession it probably also created).
Obama let tax cuts for the rich to expire, and the economy has been growing ever since.
Brownback promised Kansas tax cuts would pay for themselves, but they wrecked the economy, leading to the Republican legislature raising taxes over his veto.
The highest tax states have the highest standards of living and the list tax states have the lowest.
These "scorers" that say that there will be any growth out of these tax cuts are being far too generous. Actual historical data says these cuts will hurt the economy, and slow growth.
Stop believing the lies of people that get caught in lies over and over.
5
When you don't have any new ideas, and all the old ideas you're pushing for have long been discredited, the only thing less is to attack those that point these facts out. Tax plan the worst in American history? Attack the economists. Colleges teaching people how to think critically? Attack the colleges. Climate change going to make the planet inhabitable? Attack the scientists.
I know the nation loves to declare war on things, but we're really in the middle of the War on Reality - one political party has been systematically attacking any and all groups and institutions that can point out the bad ideas and the lies and the hypocrisy.
I've maintained for this entire year that the greatest danger we now face is just how many tens of millions of Americans have bought into this alternative reality and how it's nearly impossible to pull them out.
We're on the verge of a full-on fascist state here. The propaganda has already worked. Let's see if they find a reason to suspend the 2018 elections - I assume they'll Reichstag it with terrorism OR they'll max out on the voter fraud story.
Does anyone doubt, especially in light of this tax bill, that the GOP cares nothing about the average American? Does anyone trust the GOP to preserve the electoral process?
4
"I’m totally confident this is a revenue-neutral bill,” Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, told reporters early Saturday morning after the vote, adding that he believed the bill would actually be a “revenue producer.”
So the lying old turtle has spoken. Since he's so confident, he should back up his big words. Maybe if it's proven not revenue neutral in two years he resigns from the Senate. After all if he's that far off in his decisions and understanding of government and economics he shouldn't be trusted to work there.
The whole fallacy is that they claim they are going to rev up an economy that is almost at capacity. How is that going to happen? Everywhere I go I see signs saying we are hiring. If the economy needed revving, that would not be the case. And if were to happen it would not be by giving money to rich people it would be by giving it to workers who would spend it. The whole logic behind it is untruthful and corrupt.
1
There should be penalties for this. As is, this sort of blanket disavowal of evidence / fact based reportage is becoming very dangerous.
If you are a Republican and rational scientific analysis and empirical data are against your pet ideology, you challenge it on some Aristotelian logic (empirical scientific method was unknown in his day or simply could not be practiced because so little of what we know today was unknown in his time), or if you are King Trump, you call it fake analysis.
Get accustomed to these chaps who consider real stuff as fake and fake stuff as real. It makes the process of governance for them simple -- The KISS Principle.
Why do I picture McConnell and Ryan, fingers in their ears, chanting "I can't hear you! I can't hear you!" like schoolyard children? The Republican's "tax reform" will increase nothing but the deficits, the accumulated national debt, and the wealthy of the already-wealthy. Trump, McConnell, Ryan and the other Republicans have been lying to the public so often, so loudly, and so much that they have lost, along with all their credibility, any ability to know the truth themselves. Republicans embody now the coda "To lie successfully you must first believe it yourself." and they are hoping their distractions, deflections, and 'whataboutism's' will take the public's focus off their mendacity and self-serving greed, and keep them in office. Remember these lies - and vote!
3
Yet another example of how the GOP has abandoned any semblance that it's action are supported by facts. But who cares about facts when you are no longer concerned about truth or integrity.
The GOP has sold its soul to the devil in exchange for achieving its ideological goals. The Party of Lincoln is now truly the Party of Faust.
The Republican “leadership” is just as gullible as the Trump base and they fall for their own lies. The end result is a lack of propriety that is so stunning it defies description. These “leaders” are traitors, having no interest in main stream American citizenry and no shame about their self-serving choices. We can only hope that time will catch up with them and they will be appropriately punished for their sociopathy.
1
Vote. Sadly, that is the failure of our democracy. Yes, there is gerrymandering and the bias favoring rural districts, but it is a trivial exercise to throw R's out of power.
And, beware those who see the South Rising Again because when it falls it's going to be really bad. Pray -- really hard -- that the next D president is not from north of the Mason-Dixon line.
2
This is the republican playbook -- when the charge is true, attack the provider of that fact, the victim, and his or her supporters:
1. republicans attack the J.C.T. since it shows them to be hypocrites;
2. Sessions and supporters attack Gloria Allred for defending a woman Sessions is accused of attacking;
3. trump attacks the FBI and Mueller since they have the goods on him;
etc...
All just to give our country away to some rich donors, massage egos, and keep their jobs.
SAD
5
This feels hopeless. The GOP keeps insisting that growth will be great enough to make this plan revenue neutral. What is this assertion based on? Has there been even 1 report that came to this conclusion? How can they discount so many reports from different sources that say the opposite? Truely, is this just an exercise in delusion? Or are they really all such bald-faced liars?
2
A scientific hypothesis is supposed to be supported by both correlation (growth goes up when taxes go down, for example) , and a theoretical cause and effect relationship that can be described and analyzed.
Supply Side Economics fails on both counts.
First there is no evidence that tax cuts grow the economy. All real world evidence says the opposite: tax cuts create slow growth. (Look at growth after the Bush Tax Cuts for example, or Brownback in Kansas.)
And there is no theoretical mechanism to account for such a change. They claim that tax cuts lead to business investment, but if you look at a microeconomics textbook, and go to the section that describes how business should decide how much to produce, the theory is they should increase production unto the marginal cost equals the marginal price. Tax cuts are not part of the equation.
Tax cuts for the rich will not move the demand curve. Businesses won't invest unless demand is growing.
Raising wages for workers moves the demand curve. But wages are flat.
Mitch McConnell is totally confident that this is a revenue neutral deal. I have absolutely no doubt that there is not a whit of partisan wishful thinking in his assessment. It would be so uncharacteristic of him to be fair minded. In fact, to prove to the American people just how confident he is and to soothe those of us who genuinely worry about this bill being a budget buster, he should implement circuit breakers that would raise revenues (yes, through taxes), in case he somehow happens to be wrong. It's a matter of putting his money where his mouth is. I won't hold my breath.
1
we only need one more senator to beat this thing. where are the dems? Are they taking out full page adds in USA Today? creating web calculators that demonstrate the points? flooding Kansas with education on the subject?
I live in nh. All my reps are blue so I have no one to lobby. The dems need to lobby nationwide for me. I'm happy enough to contribute but I need to see some effective actions/strategies/approaches. Sporadic interviews on NPR and articles in the NYT isn't going to cut it.
Get fighting it like you mean it Dems!
1
The Republicans are just shameless in their remorseless class war in favor of the rich. They barely bother to hide it any more.
2
Every day, I wonder how they Republicans can stand themselves, how they can cheat and lie and destroy and just keep smiling, the way Paul Ryan does. Do they care about nothing other than power? Do they simply toady up to their donors and offer their last bits of integrity for the sake of staying in Congress? Trump is in lots of ways more understandable (at least as a psychopathic narcissist), but all of these Congresspersons and Senators? Do they never never look in the mirror and feel shame?
2
How come Republican voters can't see the crocodile smiles (lips curved up, but eyes dead) of all of these Republican politicians. Every time I look at Ryan or McConnell etc I see "liar" doing from their pores, but Republicans see successful business men?
It's amazing, I wouldn't buy a pencil from most of these people, but Republicans just believe and believe.
I'm shocked, shocked. Politics in Washington, D.C. of all places! Where will it end?
And there I thought that newspapers did not cover dog bites man stories. Silly me.
1
The GOP party puts its agenda and corporate superiority over the survival of the United States. Isn't that Treason?!
1
Republicans mantra: If you can't beat 'em, change the rules.
2
So, if you don't like the facts, call them fake/unsupported and create your own! Congress is morphing into Trumpism!
1
The billionaires are in charge. Vote!
1
The modern GOP: A sect of simpletons and liars who remain viable thanks to a critical mass of dupes with an apparently limitless capacity for gullibility.
2
The GOP is disgusting, and its officeholders are worse.
And not just because their minority president is a sexual predator who, along with their party, wants a fake-Christian fundamentalist, constitution-disdaining, child molester in the Senate.
To them facts are irrelevant, as they pursue their goals to stuff their rich supporters’ and their own pockets regardless of the facts about the disastrous effects of doing so on everyone else.
Why do I feel the need to take a shower whenever I read an article about Congressional Republicans?
I am hoping and praying that the average American is absorbing this and, knowing exactly what is going on, they will get into that ballot booth in 2018, and punish them accordingly. Maybe I am naive but I am holding out hope that everyone is watching and waiting (because there is nothing we can really do but watch and wait), until it is time to take the reins of power out of their hypocritical hands. They really need to pay for this. And if they don't, then I may be prepared to give up on middle America. Because if people are willing to be lied to like this, willing to look the other way after years of their arguing about how deficits matter, that we need an amendment to the Constitution to enshrine balanced budgets, about how it is all about not leaving a debt for our children, if people are willing to just let them create a fact free world, then they get what they deserve.
Every time they get into power, they make a mess of the government, create deficits and Democrats have to clean it up. And of course they will never take the blame. The hand written notes in the margins, the sloppy thinking, the failure to even understand what they are doing to the economy, will all fade away because that is what conservatives are best at--revisionist history. The GOP will figure out a way to make this all the Democrats fault. History repeats and the dance begins again.
How you they count on growth in an economy that's soaring along as it is? It doesn't need a jumpstart. Unemployment is low already. What we need is better distribution of wealth, which this doesn't fix. It does the opposite.
So exactly what is the difference between Democratic tax and spend policies and Republican tax less and spend less policies? For certain democratic policies promote social programs and Republican policies promote business growth and accompanying job growth. I have always found that this balance is good for the country. Considering the fact that the two party system has worked so well in the US we all need to continue supporting it. I find it a bit disingenuous that so many Times readers have such strong opinions about the Republican Party. Heaven help us if either party controlled the country for very long.
The Republican Party is now essentially a religious organization. It operates on faith rather than empirical evidence. It sees itself as engaged in a holy war to save the nation. It thinks this justifies the use of any means Non-believers are sinners.
Bystanders should be aware of populist, highly-motivated religious movements' successful record of taking over secular governments.
That the GOP would seek to discredit anyone or anything that does not support their agenda should come as a surprise to no one.
The GOP under Trump have established a completely new boundary. Don't worry about dealing with the truth, just makeup whatever facts you want and call that the truth.
Propaganda, n. Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view: also, the dissemination of propaganda as a political strategy.
1
The principle endorsed by the Republicans - that tax cuts to the rich trigger economic growth that trickles down to the lower classes - is not just a "philosophical belief", as stated by this article. It's a religious belief, one of the "revealed truths" they associate with the god they worship, whose name is Mammon.
1
What short memories people have. The GOP needed to get this tax overhaul done. it will truly benefit the middle class, and it will be a great economic boost to the economy. Let's not forget that when the Democrats passed Obama's signature health care law, Pelosi was out there saying "you have to pass it to see what's in it", not caring whether they had one Republican vote or whether the U.S. populace wanted it or not. They passed it anyway, and guess what? it raised the deficit and taxes, and gutted Medicare,, and not one Democrat raised a stink about it. People should be very happy about having their standard deduction doubled allowing some folks to not have to pay taxes at all. That's real, and it's tangible, and it's good for the economy.
While there are clearly various less than attractive aspects to the behavior of the Republicans, it also must be said that, despite all of the bellowing on the two sides, no one of course knows what the future holds. Obviously. The Republicans may be right or they may be wrong.
But ultimately, given our current system, we will be saddled with this new tax regimen for good or for ill for quite a while, come what may. What we need is a system that can respond flexibly to changing circumstances. It is quite irrational to think in terms of legislation that continues in effect in definitely regardless of how circumstances evolve. And that to change it requires a cumbersome and lengthy process that then puts in place another inflexible regimen that may or may not function well. Etc. Isn't it clear that we need to move to a fundamentally different process? We need a system that responds much more flexibly to changing circumstances.
Mitch McConnell says he’s confident that this is a revenue neutral bill. In fact he believes it could be a revenue producer.
Well. I’m going to sleep much better tonight knowing that McConnell is confident.
Is going to personally guarantee it? With his savings account? With his tax payer funded pension?
What if he happens to be wrong? Is he going to fix it or just shrug his shoulders and move on.
In the real world, taxes pay for the things that we all share. In the Republican world, taxes are stolen from the really rich who need more private jets and yachts. Of course, without reasonable taxation, there is no reasonable way to pay for things like highways and health care for the rest of us.
If the intention is a middle class tax cut, then make it a middle class tax cut without all this obfuscation, but then all will see that this is really a tax cut for the wealthy with crumbs for the middle class. More money in the hands of many will stimulate the economy much more than more money in the hands of the few.
You could lower the corporate rate to 25% and pay for it by closing loopholes. That would make too much sense.
1
Republicans in Congress seem desperate to make their Tax legislation seem "fair and balanced". They hope to paint this give away to rich election donors as something less than deficit spending which was once a huge RNC platform issue.
The GOP has abandoned its political soul and moral conscience. Every American must read the GOP's 479-page legislation that was written by lobbyists and rushed to a vote. More importantly every Republican voter must look into their political mirror and admit that their Congressional representatives voted to give $1.5 Trillion to the 1% regardless of fiscal impacts to the other 99%.
2018 elections cannot come soon enough.
I am having a hard time understanding how McCain, Murkoski, Collins and Johnson could have the concerns so completely washed away by a nice little luncheon with Trump. I have never noticed that he was so persuasive. What did he say to get them to drop their concerns about the people they represent?
38
Who is surprised. The entire Republican party is bankrupt of integrity. That's a not a Democrat speaking - that's just a statement of fact.
It's incredible. One wonders how they justify their actions to themselves in the middle of the night???
28
Like Scrooge McDuck, they count their money!
In the middle of the night they gaze upon their golden commodes and think that this is good.
1
The assumptions behind the tax bill are breathtakingly incorrect and stupid:
- that companies with lower taxes will use this money to invest in jobs in this country
- that retirement benefits that the working class has paid for, such as Medicare (I hope Social Security is not included in this mess), are best left to the states - a group known for ineptness and lack of honesty.
- that wealthy Americans benefitting from the tax cut will spend the money and generate a "trickle-down" effect
- that states will not continue to increase spending on public union welfare programs such as huge pensions, education administration, illegal aliens and politically correct programs, while never raising taxes on the middle class
Ugh. And I'm someone who is (was?) a Republican.
18
All the proponents’ arguments in favor of these “reforms” (mostly provided by K Street lobbyists working for the beneficiaries) are, when you strip away the cant, a smokescreen; and nothing more. No relationship between economic theory and the tax giveaways. It’s just a scam perpetrated by the denizens of The Swamp, getting theirs’ while the getting is good; as much as they can; any way they can possibly get it.
1
If the following quote from the link below is accurate, perhaps the JCT does lack credibility. Perhaps in general their track record is better, but the quote from the link below makes me wonder.
"Less kind about JCT is this take by Freedom Partners, which has been all over the tax-reform issue. Says its executive vice president, James Davis: The Joint Tax Committee was off by nearly half a trillion dollars when projecting revenues from the Bush tax cuts."
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/454265/joint-committee-taxation-ana...
1
The Bush tax cuts resulted in the greatest economic crisis since the great depression.
1
You give us a link from the National Review and expect it to be taken at face value?
2
To the Editor:
A Trojan Horse has passed with great acclaim, through the gates of our nation’s capital. Heralded as tax reform which benefits the rich and poor alike, pays for itself with trickle-down economics, simplifies the code, and eliminates loop-holes, the Trojan Horse is a wondrous sight. The horse however is a distraction, a hoax, a mighty monument to political hypocrisy. While the radical right celebrates this flashy arrival, what they are truly excited about is what hides within.
Getting the horse inside the gate is only the first move, a diversionary tactic in a wider war. Tax reform is a fraud. It aims not to provide benefits, simplification, or economic growth, but rather to bankrupt the Federal Government, “to starve the beast,” to end the bureaucratic state, as the right is wont to say. A colossal deficit is about to flow from the horse’s bowels; a deficit, now it will be claimed, which can only be diverted by massive cuts in Federal spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, just to name the more prominent strands, soon to be severed, of the social safety net.
Good bye Meals on Wheels, farewell research on glaucoma, avoid rickety interstate bridges, grab a cardboard box and reserve a heat-vent you homeless poor: the horse is within the gate, and it is filled with manure.
Rev. Craig V. Anderson
238 South Hill Rd.
New Boston, NH 03070
603-487-1330
38
I saw that John Anderson passed away. It brought back memories of my own stupidity from the 1980 election. You guessed it, as a 1st time voter, I voted for the "other" candidate. And I learned from that experience.
The Republicans will continue to lie to us. Now is the time for Democrats to play their hand in government shutdown talks. They need to push back & get some items taken out of the Tax bill. Be tough - No provisions, no votes on the shutdown.
21
Bush: tax cuts, unpaid wars, drive up the deficit because "they don't matter"
Obama: fix economy, bring back jobs, slash the budget because the GOP is whining about deficits again all while being obstructed by the GOP from Day 1. Oh and make the stock market roar.
GOP total government takeover: Yay, Dems took the bait,paid the bills, and fixed the economy, Tax Cuts again for us, rinse and repeat. hehehe they'll never figure it out...
18
And the DNC has of course never tried to do worse to the GOP! Yeah, right.
1
Yeah - you are right on that one. Never have the Democrats tried to pass a trillion dollar bill through Congress in what McCain referred to as not regular order with no hearings and the bill is being finished in long had on the margins minutes before the vote. You bet the Democrats never tried to pull a stunt like this or the Supreme Court stunt that McConnell pulled with SCOTUS. Get some facts down before you post.
2
Maybe they tried, Linda, but they certainly didn't succeed like the current GOP has.
2
Dog Bites Man. Let me know when republicans do something above-board, helpful, and publicly-spirited. Meantime, I'm going back to sleep for 150 years.
10
the united states - the federal government - is on the way out - soon it will just be states - hopefully some petitioning to join Canada.
8
I like that idea. Wonder if Canada would take Washington State. I could use good health care.
While I certainly think you have a valid thought, are you sure Canada would want any of us, based on this past year?
1
Putting aside all of the analyses of who will win or lose under the new tax bill, to me the most depressing if not frightening aspect of this is the process itself. Our great country functions based on democratic governance at every level - from small towns and villages, sparsely populated counties, small cities and on up to and including larger cities and all states. The number of these elected governing bodies is in the thousands, if not the tens of thousands. Remarkably, for well over 200 years, the basic governing principles of how these governing bodies should act is well-settled and not seriously disputed. That is to say, at every level, from the smallest village to the legislatures of the largest states, the process includes the elements of open debate, opportunity to be heard, fact-finding, transparency and compromise as basic prerequisites to legislative action by vote by the elected representatives. Throughout the country, that process works pretty well. And until relatively recently (I'm thinking here of Senators like Mike Mansfield, Howard Baker, Bob Dole and George Mitchell), that process worked in Washington as well. But now, at the highest level of our government, that process of governance, which has made our country great, has seemingly been assigned to the ashcan of democracy.
17
I feared the bottom . . . but I fear that we are not close. And there are three full, calendar years to go.
Someone save the republic.
6
As much thrills as these developments have provided, it is to be expected since the election. America has made a choice and that choice led us here.
To not see ACA repealed would be surprising. To not see National parks being turned over would be surprising. To not see a stinky tax plan would be surprising. The inverse is not.
Given that inevitability, I am not surprised that they ignored the economists and the model outputs. Whatever it takes to get the bill across.
They were out there to do a job until you put them out of it. Midterms can’t come soon enough.
6
The Republican Party now stands for Deceit. Period. The compulsive pathological lying of the Traitor President is contagious, and has now overtaken the entire GOP. Because they must cover their lies with more lies....
9
If you don't like the facts, call it "fake news" and attack the source. Same old game over and over again with Republicans. Zero integrity or credibility. We need some honest people running this country, and these people are not them !
8
In other words, they knew their projections were a lot of hooey.
Behold their consternation, "we rushed this bill through quicker than you can say 'jackrabbit!', how the heck could you have scored it this fast!!"
But give Mitch McConnell (one of the worst politicians in my lifetime) credit- he managed his Faustian Bargain well, so far: a stolen election, a stolen Supreme Court seat, his dream of Citizens United, and now the masterstroke- The Cut, Cut Cut our Medicaid Bill.
But he may yet get his just deserts. Please!
13
Truth died long ago for Republicans. Our country is toast unless we all wake up.
6
Fellow commenters, write to your local newspapers using the facts provided by the JCT and the CBO, especially if you live in a red area. We writing here are mostly singing to the choir.
7
Reality check real issues not tax reform but how ther government waste taxs. Spending trillions on imported computors for government use has cut millions of jobs that pay taxs. Amazing how little the media pays attention to facts that creating problems for american people like jobs pay living wage. 72 million people on government asisteance was created by government mis use of taxs that eliminated millions jobs in usa that pay taxs an didnt receive any governmnet assitance.
I'm hoping some of my fellow readers who are better informed about congress can help me understand something. Please correct me where I am wrong:
1. The senate is able to pass this bill without any Democratic votes under the rules for "budget reconciliation" (an ironic name, if there ever was one).
2. The "Byrd rule" prevents the use of budget reconciliation for bills whose ratification would increase the federal deficit for more than ten years.
3. The tax bill passes the senate by a simple majority, even though their own committee predicts that it will increase the deficit over the next decade.
Here's what I don't get at all. Either the studies commissioned were cynically designed to look no further than ten years into the future, or Republicans in congress have flagrantly broken their own rule.
I'm not particularly naive, but shouldn't the burden of proving the vote's compliance fall on the senate? Are they actually able to hear evidence and then say, "no I don't think that's the way it is; I feel confident that it's some other way"? I isn't there a sound legal case against the validity of this bill's passage?
9
You're looking for a small modicum of reason, logic and integrity from the Republican Party, which is the wrong place to look.
1
By the time that the fat cat tax cuts actually balloons the national deficit by $1 trillion, Democrats could well be in power and then Republicans can then blame them for their lavish budget-busting spending just as they did under the Obama presidency.
The GOP isn't dumb, but it knows that its voters are.
14
Utterly shocked and dismayed at the Republican response. They didn't get the answers they wanted so they attacked the source? I thought bullying wasn't acceptable behavior by our legislators?
Hopefully the NY Times and/or a couple of other credible media organizations will keep a scorecard including both quantitative measures and qualitative comments from our government leaders and report back in 2 years, 5 years and 10 years to determine the outcome relative to their stated comments and objectives.
Time will tell. I'm hopeful, but very doubtful.
6
The Republicans and President Trump are to be commended for getting the tax bill passed regardless of the methods used and needed to get the bill passed. It is good to see the U.S. government giving needed breaks to help businesses and the economy.
1
Another county heard from.
Let's face it - any projection of major legislation economic impact that extends more than three years is just guessing with fancy software. And the baseline assumption behind all of them is no other significant legislative change in fiscal policy, or monetary policy leading to significant interest rate changes. We do know that a tax cut always generates a revenue surge in the year its lower rates become effective, because of the great flexibility of those in upper income ranges to shift their income recognition to the lower-rate period. It's what happens in the following years that matters. The best guess (and no matter what the software says, it's just that) is relatively flat real growth in years two and three from a skilled-labor constrained economy, but higher prices and interest rates.
4
Republicans are gloating about ballooning the deficit because that's the only way they can roll back 20th century progress and get rid of Social Security and Medicare.
Death camps for the working poor, the elderly, the sick, and the less fortunate.
34
Republicans have been the ones calling for means testing of SS and Medicare...hardly a draconian attack on the poor. They are likely to target the prudent savers and investors who haven't "shoe-shopped" or vacationed their way to poverty but have a modest nest egg that makes them increasingly ineligible while the frivolous spendthrifts will be taken care of .
4
Just call us North Korea!
You need to stop watching Fox News and learn who the real corporate welfare queens are hon. Unbelievably ignorant comment.
I am just afraid that the results of this crime will not be obvious by the time of the 2018 election and the happy billionaire donors will flood media with ads full of lies about MAGA, keeping Dems from stopping the carnage.
18
I can't even begin to express the high level of disgust I feel for Susan Collins, John McCain, and the rest of the GOP "moderates" and "deficit hawks" for passing this abomination that even the wealthy said they didn't need or want, never mind the large majority of the voting public who also expressed their dislike of the bill. All this just for a "win?" For who? Certainly not us 99% who "booze it up" and "womanize" and "don't pay our bills." And where are the Democrats on this? Are they not making that big of a fuss because they, too, are still in the thrall of Wall Street? If something doesn't happen in the 2018 mid-terms to reverse this dangerous course our country is on, I don't see a 2020 election but a civil war.
33
Sheila, with respect, if you watched Cspan the other night, you'd have seen the Democrats making a HUGE fuss.
Please stop knocking the Democrats.
As I leave my house tonight, look up and see the black sky, a Republican could very easily come along and insist that it is blue. This has now officially gone beyond lies. The GOP's behavior is insane. I'm old enough to remember a day when men in white coats would have hauled away Mitch McConnell for his declarations. No more.
24
The New York Times readership should wake up to the fact that the swamp wants less liberty, and more government control.
The Congressional Budget Office, Tax Policy Center, Joint Committee on Taxation and Paul Krugman's of the world have a very skewed view of fiscal policy and will always underestimate the revenue generated from pro growth tax cuts.
If the economy grows at .3% greater rate per annum the tax reform pays for itself. That's a layup!
8:39EST
1
Wishful thinking.
3
And if it doesn't?
4
Half time Suzie Collins is the text book definition of 19th century Republican Mugwamp who sides with the people one day only give in to the worst of her party the next. Her Mug is often on one side of the fence and her Wamp is on the other.
10
Why does the NYT continue to write about Republicans being right or wrong about matters like the deficit impact of their tax bill, as if they were somehow involved in an objective assessment of truth?
From Trump on down, Republicans are out to discredit not only this agency, but ANY real world facts that contradict their preordained policies. This party cannot operate in reality, because who in America would accept policies actually intended to benefit only the rich at the expense of everyone else?
The GOP has become deeply, pathologically dishonest as a way to try and sell deeply unpopular policies. Professional news outlets should stop bending over backwards to confer their credibility on continual lying.
25
Conflict of interest lead their path on this. Personal gain is what it’s about in addition to revenge against Obama and Democrats. They know that the States mist adversely affected are Californians and New York. That’s their goal.
6
American government is broken. This so-called 'reform' is nothing less than a rollback of the New Deal, after all is said and done.
And unlike the New Deal 80 years ago, or the ACA 8 years ago, this is being done in stealth, behind closed doors, at 2am in the morning, by a minority party led by a minority president.
Don't call it a comeback, call it a hijacking.
21
Economic projection is not an exact science - but supporting politicians' lies is unprofessional. "Supply side economics" had a pseudo-justification based on obsolete, unproven theories, and experience proved that the trickle-down fantasy was barely worth an animated cartoon. We don't really need a repeat of the failed "Flying Dumbo" experiment when the deficit demands attention.
4
If Republicans would rather rely on conjecture than the careful analysis provided by their own number crunchers, how about this:
What if the economy tanks tomorrow? Say Bitcoin and tech unicorn shares simultaneously dropped to a tenth of their current value sending shockwaves through the investor class, which responds by pulling its money back to safer places or by cashing out. Jobs get dropped across the tech sector as a result and a wave of indebted tech workers suddenly default on credit card loans and mortgages causing banks to panic ... it’s not that implausible. What good do you suppose these tax cuts would do in that case? About as much as spitting into the wind.
Republicans, pay attention to your number crunchers. Having a hunch or a feeling that things will turn out alright is not a substitute for hard evidence.
10
by the time the devastation on the debt and deficit along with poor economic improvement from the tax cuts is evident to the deficit hawks and the voting public, many members of this senate would probably have retired and trump either voted our or timed out.
2
Ooooofffff course they did....Republican hypocrisy again...they're also:
"Pro-life" - but they turn a blind eye to mass shootings.
"Against elites" - but they give huge tax cuts to the 1%.
"Supporters of law and order" - except for KKK members.
"Respectful of women" - except for moms, sisters, wives, and daughters.
"Supportive of the troops" - if they're white males.
"Christians" - who believe in Jesus' message of financial prosperity.
"Supportive of education" - if it's for profit and Bible based.
"Peacemakers" - when war ceases to be profitable.
These folks have turned America into a freaking horror show.
Orwell had NOTHING on these traitors.
22
Mitch McConnell thinks this tax plan is going to get popular with the American public, boy he is as Dumb as Trump.
This tax slush fund for the Republican Donors and Lobbyist is going to be an Albatross around the necks of these liars, looking so forward to 2018 and 2020.
5
Throughout this whole sordid affair, I asked myself, again and again, how "Christians" (looking at you, Paul Ryan) could justify raping the 99% for the benefit of the very wealthiest--corporations and individuals--among us. I found the answer, buried deep in history, here:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/09/usa.comment
This says it all:
"The enrichment of the elite and impoverishment of the lower classes requires a justifying ideology if it is to be sustained. In the US this ideology has to be a religious one. Bush's [and now Trump's] government is forced back to the doctrines of Puritanism as an historical necessity. If we are to understand what it's up to, we must look not to the 1930s, but to the 1630s.
Next up: Witch trials and heretic burnings. Nice folks, those GOP--all of them--who can so easily live in their 17th Century delusions. And then impose those same moral outrages on all of us. Vote them out; every single one. Our lives depend on it.
6
Remember, we live in a post-fact reality. That comes in handy when you are in the majority. You can use your power to push any policy you want, then adjust the supporting facts to support your case. This is the new morality which has been normalized by Trump: truth, right, and wrong no longer matter. All that matters now is power, winning, and losing. If you have power and win, you are right. Where do go from here...?
5
Republicans want to have it both ways in three different directions. But soaring un-taxed wealth among the investor class, shrinking benefits for the middle class, and rising interest rates due to "growth" can bring only deepening deficits, at a time that we would be really smart to simply pay down debt. But "smart" isn't in power right now. The cravens are in control and, as with the Reagan and Bush Junior years, this means, once again, the unpopular do-gooder Democrats are going to have to come in and set things right. Again.
8
George H W Bush called the theory behind the tax cuts "voodoo economics". It was then and it still is. Propaganda criticizing the committee is the modern day equivalent of sticking pins into an effigy.
5
Does anyone out there recall the activism during the health care debate? Much was spurred on by the Town Hall local meetings with Congress people., where they had to face the ire of their constituents who were quite aware of the negative effect the bill would have had on them. As a result the bill could not be rammed through, as this one has been. The people were heard and Congress had to do the bidding of the populace. No such meetings were ever held concerning this very important bill. The only voices heard were those of the major campaign donors and lobbyists., those who will benefit most, not the general population, those who will benefit the least or not at all. Let's have those Town Hall meetings before this horrible bill is passed and becomes a fait accompli.
6
Well, here is something else to ponder about a Republican Party that is morally bankrupt. During a meeting in the last few days where members were giving speeches on the tax bill, several republican reps actually admitted outwardly that their corporate donors threatened them with cutting off their funds if they did't pass the tax cut bill, ANY BILL.
During a speech by Bernie Sanders and as Republican reps and others entered the room, he confronted them with the question "what happens after the tax cuts and what happens to social security and medicare"? After much prodding, Marco Rubio and a few others admitted "entitlements would be reviewed".
You know what that means folks?
13
Did you forget G.O.P. congressman, Chris Collins of New York? On November 8, he was quoted in the NYTimes: “My donors are basically saying get it done or don’t ever call me again.”
3
It makes one wonder if the Republicans, the supposed party of fiscal responsibility are rushing through the tax bill claiming it will be "deficit neutral" despite the expert analysis which contradicts this in order to use the so-called Paygo Law (Pay as you go) which requires Congress to offset any increase in the federal deficit with spending cuts.
According to Sen. Marco Rubio, it would open the door to "instituting structural changes to Social Security and Medicare in the future." So one could possibly conclude that the Republicans want to run up the deficit so they can use the excuse of increased debt to justify cutting "entitlements", which would "shrink government" and leave millions of people without a financial safety net.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-gop-social-securit...
5
Collins cited Glenn Hubbard and other conservative economists who have been quoted by the WSJ as saying that the tax cuts would ensure growth. As I understand it, this was only if the corporate cuts were revenue neutral.
A hole in the deficit that is somewhere between $1.4 trillion and $2 trillion that hurts so many middle class and lower class Americans, as well as education, the blue states, and healthcare obviously will be negative.
Republicans have returned to voodoo economics. Or else they see corporations as cargo cults, where the Republican tribe had developed religious practices to encourage the boons of cargo and believe all good comes from outside deities (corporate gods and billionaires).
If Americans have to wait on the shores for the promised reward in economic growth after extreme tax cuts for billionaires, it's a little like the old Charlie Brown cartoon. "Someday my ship will come in, and I will be right there at the airport waiting for it!"
2
The Republicans wanted a win. Will the win hurt most of the middle and lower economic classes in this country? They don’t care. A win is a win. I do hope that all thinking citizens remember this next year and in 2020. Anyone who thinks these miscreants care one iota about anyone but themselves, their donors and their voting base is only fooling themselves. This all goes back to Newt Gingrich and the obstructionism of the mid 1990’s. The Republican Party has essentially hijacked the Federal government. We have to get it back.
3
Republicans do the same thing in climate science: pick outlier studies, poo-poo unbiased evidence, and thus fortified stride ignorantly along.
6
Members of the Republic Party.....hypocrites?
Shocking.
It's fun to play the video of Crash McCain's opposition to the Bush Tax Cuts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K4I5jf9WmE
Increasing the deficit to $1,by 350,000,000.00.
Titled too much to the wealthy........
The Make Donnie Billions Tax Swindle is shameful.
Who will pay for Baron's Grandchildren Will Never Have to Work Estate Tax Repeal?
Well, who pays the deficit? Why those coal miners and angry white folks in PA, MI, OH, WI etc.
The Grifter in Chief has pulled off another scam.
5
Republicans simply can't continue to be both "The Party of Liars" and also "The Real God-Fearing Christians". I guess it was always just a tribal yell.
1
The United States political system has been hijacked by treasonous Republicans and oligarchs.
4
But they were handed the keys by the voters.
Repulsives have been baiting/switching and lying to their voters for decades. Russians infiltrated our voting system. Repulsives have been gerrymandering districts for decades. Multi-billionaire oligarchs have slowly taken over our voting and democratic system. SCOTUS is in the hands of the oligarchs and Repulsives.
But sure, the voters gave them the keys, right.
1
Like the late great Jim Nabors said in his guise of Gomer Pyle, USMC, "surprise, surprise, surprise." Who would have ever thought the currrent GOP junta/cartel would ever ever ignore facts, the truth and the old, now lost American way. This fact-free GOP regime can spin their stuff and tell us it doesn't stink, endlessly. But it does.
2
In order to sell a lie one must believe the lie to be the truth no matter what. For the facts become inconvenient for those whom are willing to lie to you point blank without blinking. A pathological liar goes by another name, a GOP member of Congress.
2
Should I be one of the lucky middle class people to get a tax cut, I will use it to buy an iPad or if there is enough money a flat screen TV. That should get the economy moving and put people back to work - in “Chyna.”
4
Typical Republicans. Whey they don't like the facts, they say they're not true.
Republicans are dishonest and have no integrity. They also have no shame.
5
Everything about how the GOP tax plan is dirty, despicable and to be distrusted. It should be known as the GOP bate and switch tax plan.
2
Orwell was off by 33 years.
Finally, 2 + 2 = 5.
Thus 1984 + 33 = 1984
Let's hear it for alternative facts.
2
The Repubs are still high school kids living with Ayn Rand as their god. No rational argument can change their minds as they are still children.
2
How much more evidence do need that the Republican Party is a loose collection of business types using government for personal gain?
The party is proactively jamming the upward mobility of the middle class so as to annihilate even the possibility of competition.
Why else does anyone think they did this in the dead of night and currently are supporting an accused child molester? ALL that blather about religious freedom, the sanctity of the unborn, metaphorical wars on Christmas and Christianity - covers for getting exactly here.
It’s all so sick and sad and creepy and weird.
4
The people in the White House are a lot more comfortable lying openly than previous occupants, but the fundamental lies aren't new.
The GOP has been bending the truth and attacking the main stream media for years and years. These dog whistles, weird wedge social issues, and attacks on the media serve to muddy the fact that the party is the party of plutocracy.
The party was ready-made for Trump when he showed up.
It's true he embarrassed very many people in the GOP. But I think it was just because he was so crass and so very open about what they had hinted and suggested for years. He got the primary voters' attention by attacking Obama more than anyone else and even claiming repeatedly, against all evidence, that Obama wasn't American. He opened his campaign with a speech which featured memorable lines about the criminality of Mexicans. Then, some very "fine people" at the white nationalist march in Charlottesville. His attacks on the NFL players fits pretty nicely with his attacks on Obama . . . the list goes on.
2
Nothing new here - the GOP has never been shy to disregard facts (those pesky things) when they get in the way of ideology . . .
3
The Senate is asking how the JCT was able to come out with an analysis of the impact of the tax bill so quickly when they were sure they were going to be able to ram it through before any thoughtful analysis could be conducted. The Republican party is full of Snidely Whiplash types who, unfortunately, don't appear in danger of being foiled by truth, justice or the American Way. Vote the scoundrels out!
3
If Trump can be a pathological liar and get elected, Congressman should be able to do it and get re-elected. There's one way to find out.
4
"G.O.P. Sought to Undercut Adverse Report on Tax Plan."
Don't look into how sausages are made.
Well, isn't that what we were told when Hillary went about rigging Bernie in the primary? Lesson preached, lesson remembered.
Is that all you have? Come on. Put some thought into it. Or are you still looking for Elvis in a tortilla?
I could weep, and have more than once since November 2016, at the craveness and hypocrisy of GOP. They are not true even to their deplorable principles, only to themselves and wealthy donors. And even when Americans do rise up and kick them out, they'll go to cushy private sector gigs. Who has standing to impeach them for violating their oaths of office? We need to know all our options.
1
Good for the Republicans. That is good tough politics.
Steve, thank you for speaking on behalf of the Moral Majority of the United States of America. America is its usual beacon of the highest civic values and a model for democracy that the rest of the world so admires.
The GOP continues to put their head in the Tar sands with climate change...why would anyone but their devoted base think that they are going to accept the repeated failures of supply side economic policy?
And, even with this failure looming, they will still get the votes to stay in power as their propaganda wing is--unfortunately--their strongest suit.
1
The shady, dirty partisan tricks of the Republicans is why people need to register & VOTE for Democrats across the board in 2018, if for no other reason than to limit the damage left behind by this awful & corrupt trump administration and its GOP partisan players. Exorcise the greedy, hypocritical Republican demons. All of them.
3
Yes, of course, vote them out - but vote them out for what? Until the Democratic Party steps up and stands for economic equality for all - and this includes the poor, working, and middle classes - what is there tthat will motivate people to vote other than not Republican? Such is not enough to raise enthusaism and get people to the polls.
2
I have been thinking long and hard about what the mind set must be of the well-off who seek to destroy the livelihoods of the common folk. I think I've found it here:
"The enrichment of the elite and impoverishment of the lower classes requires a justifying ideology if it is to be sustained. In the US this ideology has to be a religious one. Bush's [and now Trump's] government is forced back to the doctrines of Puritanism as an historical necessity. If we are to understand what it's up to, we must look not to the 1930s, but to the 1630s."
Today's GOP is wallowing in 17th-Century ideologies: If it worked then, then why not now? I know; it's called SCIENCE and REASON! Vote them out; every single one of them, in 2018 and 2020.
2
What is more than “curious and deserves scrutiny” is the rush to pass these tax policies. I expect the joint tax analysts did the best they could to analyze this moving target as fast as they credibly could. What failed was leadership efforts to pass something before any credible analysis could raise questions.
1
Yes, the Republicans tried to camouflage their class warfare agenda.
When will the press and the Democrats finally start using the term class warfare to define the Republicans agenda? It couldn't be more obvious or more truthful and it would help to wake up the public to danger they are facing.
I object to saying that this tax bill is for the super rich. The fact is that this tax bill is for the politicians, by the politicians. Almost all of these politicians, wether Republicans or Democrats, are themselves within the top 1% or 2% of the population. Why should they be concerned about us the poor bottom 50%? So let us all say that this tax bill is for the benefit of the politicians and their donors and to the detriment of the rest of us.
Lies, obfuscation and hypocrisy. This is the Republican approach to governing in the 21st century. And their supporters love it, which I find to be the most troubling thing about politics in America today.
No doubt Republicans and their media friends will make comparisons between the Republican tax bill and the Affordable Care Act. There is no comparison. The ACA was debated over months, Democrats worked hard to get support from across the aisle (it was, after all, a plan Republicans had designed), and the Republicans made no secret that they would not support it under any condition. In the case of the tax bill, Republicans rushed their bills through both houses with extremely limited debate, and made no secret of the fact that they were not interested in getting support from Democrats.
With the Trump administration and Republican control of Congress, the U.S., as a country, has entered a period of decline that may be permanent. Sure, some individuals in the top 1% may benefit, but the country as a whole may never recover. Certainly it will take decades to pay off the new debt, and the country will be less able to adjust due to the dismantling of its system of social support that, conservatives will soon argue, will be required to stave off the new waves of red ink.
Our only option is for people to start contacting their Congressional representatives in large numbers to ask them -- beg them -- to reject whatever comes out of the conference committee.
3
When Capitalism is unregulated as it is in this country, when money can buy politicians who write the laws and judges who interpret them, both in favor of their owners, the entire country loses. Given the already yawning disparity between the haves and have-nots in this country, this tax law suggests a bleak future as the country further deteriorates.
And what always amazes me is the lack of economic theory and logic behind this blatant theft. Even Henry Ford knew his business would suffer if his workers could not buy his cars.
6
It would be nice if every one of the Republicans who voted for this tax giveaway to their rich and/or corporate benefactors, is subject to a clawback for their salaries, life time medical coverage and campaign donations when the forthcoming deficits materialize and the presumed growth is insufficient to save them.
It is so easy for the Grassley's, McConnell's and Ryan's of the world to pontificate about their moral superiority and plan for the decimation of New Deal support structures/entitlements while they live in relative luxury off of taxpayers and their benefactors checks. Trickle down indeed, it is better described as legalized bribery on the path to autocracy.
1
The numbers sound about right. I had the figure pegged at about $500 billion in growth to offset $1.5 trillion in lost revenue. That leaves $1 trillion in debt-financed tax relief. The JCT is even more conservative in their estimate than me. I didn't count the borrowed interest costs in my calculation. Republicans couldn't even wait one day for experts to respond to the analysis. Their non-analytical rigor is a gaping black hole for professionals. That should tell you something about the Senate tax bill.
$1 trillion on the backs of 51 Senate votes. That makes Obamacare look down right populist. I had given up hope on Bob Corker. Maybe there's a rational thinking mind left within the Senate G.O.P.
The Republican Party takes mendacity to new heights, with Trump, McConnell and Ryan leading the charge. Of course, if their plans were so fantastic and above board there would be no need for this active campaign of subterfuge. The fact that only one in five Americans support this plan, but 4 in 5 hedge fund managers, multinational corporations (which have no loyalty whatsoever to this country) and Goldman-Sachs types support it tells you all you need to know about where the GOP's fealty lies. We can only hope that the majority of the public's eyes have been opened and their votes in 2018 will reflect it.
10
It's filthy the word your looking for is filthy. But I totally agree with your post.
Taxes are not holding back business expansion. It's customers' limited means. This tax cut won't create customers with money.
35
take disposable income away .. guess what happens?
1
No and it won't create jobs either, what is will create is a population of poor people and working poor, with no healthcare, no access to a decent education.
1
As a Canadian, I read these stories of your own government doing everything in its power to - forgive the poor choice of word here - screw its own people to satisfy their corporate cronies and, even more appallingly, to simply save their own jobs - with more and more disbelief every day. I thought one entered public service to serve the masses and not oneself. Don't even get me started on your President! As a country, it seems you have worshipped at the altar of the almighty dollar to the point where acquiring more for one's self is the bedrock and the very sui generis of being an American citizen. I have never been more thankful to be Canadia; it is truly chilling to watch from afar.....i can't imagine what it must be like to be living in that hell every day.
118
Our family dreams of moving to Canada and enjoying a sane government.
3
Amen. As a duel citizen I can head north to my sister country, where its people and government value truth, egalitarianism and the ideal and institutions of democracy. There is no longer a modicum of any truth in the US government nor are there any statesmen - rape the mid and lower economic income groups and celebrate in the act of doing so – Rome is now burning; the great democratic experiment will be a footnote in the ash bin of history.
It's awful. I question our elected representatives and the ignorant, wrong-headed folks who voted for them several times a day.
1
Clearly the world I grew up in is changing and it's a place I no longer recognize. At one time, bad mouthing a Gold Star mother would have gotten you a punch in the mouth. Draft dodgers knew better than to run for public office, they would have been driven out in ridicule. And all across the county we all got our information from the same, more or less reliable sources of information. That's all changed. Today we receive the news we want, from all different sources, tailoring the message to reaffirm our way of thinking.
To believe that this tax plan was done for the benefit of people who work for a living requires believing in leprechauns and fairies. This giveaway was done to maintain donations to the Republican party from their donor class. It's meant to show the strength of the business wing of the party and shows what they can do as opposed to the conservative caucus which can't do anything. Its meant to save the party and damn the consequences.
And there won't be consequences, because we all get our tailored messages telling us we're right, they're wrong. We're good, they're bad.
Vote American! And G-d save us.
37
Well, the gold star mother is a Muslim and trumpists don't remember the draft dodge. They can't even remember that time he was a Democrat and donated to Hillary's campaign.
A healthy dose of tribalism and hate speech goes a long way, doesn't it?
3
They lie, they steal, they destroy with hubris in the dark of night. With THIS Republican Party, led by Trump, there is no need for Radical Islamic Terrorism - we already have out own home-bred cult.
53
Your observation is an echo of Ronald Reagan’s 1981 remark about the Soviet Union. “The only morality they recognize is what will further their cause, meaning they reserve unto themselves the right to commit any crime, to lie, to cheat."
Kind of says it all at this juncture, doesn’t it?
1
Whatever happened to, Mr. Mnuchin's promised analysis?
30
Where is the bottom? Is there one? It gets worse and worse, seemingly by the day. The GOP are like the Walking Dead, they want to eat your flesh. I am absolutely convinced that we are seeing America commit suicide. The fact that Trump and Mcconnell and Ryan are in office is proof that this country hates itself and is so full of venom and resentment and bigotry that it desires its own death. The fact that Trump's "base"---angry gun-loving racist white people---approves and indeed appludes all of this is the most deeply disturbing thing which I can imagine. The fact that they are voting against their own welfare for the sake of anger in the service of their keepers is the most twisted thing I can conceive. And they I remember who they are. Serfs. They are owned and they don't even know it, and I'm not at all sure there is enough brain activity care.
46
Lying and stealing (from the poor and middle class) are all the GOP is about.
They don't care about the citizens of this country, they have no clue what "promote the general welfare" means, they don't care about the deaths they will cause by robbing people of their healthcare, they don't care about a trillion dollar deficit (!), and they don't care about anything but GIVING our tax dollars to the rich and large corporations: the LAST people/things that deserve ANY of our tax dollars. This country is devolving into a corporate fascist state.
25
George Orwell was off by 33 years. "1984" should have been "2017."
Up is down. Lies are truth. Debt is growth. The wealthy are victims. Indentured servitude is freedom. The new Gilded Age is Populism.
And 38% of Americans are drinking the kool-aid. Hook, line, and sinker.
95
You should have heard Trump's speech on public lands today. The man was muttering nonsense. I'm not sure you could even qualify the talk as misdirection. Trump is more like a rambling jumbled word mess that never gets to the point. Truth is irrelevant because he has no idea what he's talking about. A handler simply calls time and Trump exits stage left. I might run a pocket hour glass next time to see how long before the staff puts out the Shepard's Hook. Good grief. Things are bad.
2
Orwell was an optimist it turns out.
What really matters is not that the peasants are being ground down. It’s that some darker version of peasant is being ground down more.
For once it would be nice if the names of all those fools who supported a foolish bill were somehow attached to the action so we can clearly see who piped us off the cliff.
19
Like this?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/01/us/politics/senate-tax-bi...
every single republicon senator
each and every one
1
The list of how they noted was in this paper the other day. I'm sure you can find it in the archives.
There are no facts or figures that are going to stop this tax cut for the rich from becoming law. The Republicans and Trump just want a legislative "win", any kind of win to show to their rich donors. And the Republicans know this thing is a massive transfer payment to the rich. They can't win unless they cheat, and they cheat all the time.
37
GOP SOP - A fact is a fact if I like it. It is a lie if I don't.
Don't bother with reason, with math, with analysis. Don't bother with rules, like the one the GOP put in place that requires that Congress quantify the impact of legislation.
If a fact doesn't support what I want to believe, then just deny it. The tax plan will pay for itself, not matter what the numbers say. Climate isn't changing. People were presto-magicked into existence 6000 years ago. Vaccines cause autism.
And a fact is not a fact; truth is not truth; and reality is not reality as longs as shouting it down benefits me financially. It can be fact later, when I have my share stashed away. Then i can blame whoever has to deal with the clean up and shout about how awful they are to have let that happen.
Folks... why do you keep electing these people?
28
When in doubt go on offensive. That's what I like about GOP. They are aggressive and push for success despite setbacks. Their goals might not be for our good always, but they fight with a ferociousness unmatched by any party. The democrats should learn a lesson instead of being cowards.
9
You might say as much about Hitler.
1
They are dishonest; they are in the majority due to gerrymandered voting districts; they cannot win an honest vote, so they cheat; they did not win the popular vote in the last election, lost by 3M votes; they won the Electoral College in gerrymandered districts by 77,000. This is nothing to be proud of. And, now those who believed their lies and chanted Lock Her Up about "crooked Hillary" will lose their health insurance. The factories will not reopen. Jobs in infrastructure will not be funded. Public schools will not be funded. Their children will have less than they have. The Democrats gave us Social Security and Medicare, soon to be attacked by this bunch of crooks as payback to their donors. The Democrats are not cowards; they are just not willing to get into the gutter with the GOP you like and admire.
1
You're describing the age old battle of good and evil. The two sides can't act the same, because one is good and the other is awful.
If you possess a decent and righteous moral code, it prohibits you from being, or even acting like a Republican.
3
As we suspected.
The game is rigged.. just like the foreclosure crisis.
12
The last time we saw massive tax cuts were the years leading up to the crash of 1929 and 2007. This is fact! The tax cuts the Republicans just passed dwarfs those past cuts. People, get ready for a crash that will bring our Country to its knees. This is the beginning of the end. This bill is truly an act of treason against the American people.
40
@You Can't Teach Heart.
A fact for you and me, but that species of human known as 'Republican', or at least their leadership, will deny it. They've spent decades trying to convince Americans that the Crash of 1929 was NOT caused by over-leveraging, and neither was the Crisis of 2008. What WAS the cause, in their alternative universe? Government (of course) 'crowding out' those poor, put-upon, plutocratic dollars, aching to do 'good things' if ONLY government, and its spendthrift supporters and moochers would disappear!
It's the same Utopia of Marxism, flipped on it's head. Instead of Perfect Workers building the perfect society, we imagine Perfect People making Perfect Decisions all their lives, becoming rich, never needing help, never asking for help, and therefore having no need for government and/or community==Perfect Society. See how easy that is? Problems solved if we could all just be like Jesus! (As if no child had ever wondered that before)
1
And don't forget the big market crash on October 19, 1987 when Saint Ronnie Reagan was president. But those who had cash available made out like bandits, buying bargains at the bottom.
Come now, why does ANYONE pay attention to these “non-partisan” independent assessments? Remember Obama’s tax increase and the ACA? The CBO said in 2009 that these 2 laws would balance the budget by 2018. They were only...$10 TRILLION off.
2
No, I don't remember that, can you provide a link to the fact you are referencing?
18
That a bald faced made up statement.
9
So we should assume that the Republican tax bill make things Even Worse? YIKES!
message from Sen Grassley, Republican Iowa, to middle class Republicans:
WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Republican senator is defending GOP efforts to reduce the hit to the wealthy from the federal estate tax because it helps those who invest rather than people who spend their money on "booze or women or movies."
message to NY Times: this should be front page headline
47
It seemed as if every awkward Clinton phrase ended up in headlines, replayed out of context for months -- this will unfortunately get no play and the Trump/ GOP base will never get this hammered into their heads - and understand who it is who really believes that that they - and maybe about 88%of Americans - are deplorables.
Yes, "people" who spend their money on "women".
Because everyone knows women are a commodity like alcohol and video entertainment.
And clearly none of those fungible women invest, either - because they're not "people", ergo, men in power.
This should tell you all you need to know about the mindset of these dinosaurs.
I weep for our country.
Can we save us -- from ourselves?
7
Even if all are impeached or in jail after investigation is over, though this congress would never consider impeachment, they will still be richer and leave their estates to their children paying minimal estate tax thanks to this law.
As a semi retired small contractor, my taxes will go up to the same rate as most likely the Dotard's (his goes down 39 to 25%, my go up to 25%).
Thank you GOP!
12
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."
Tacitus --- Roman historian
9
Well then how do you explain the GOP's "small government" ultra corruption?
It is not the size or number it is the quality of the laws and the quality of the people who write and enforce them that is at issue at all times.
General Strike on all sectors of our economy. Shut down ports airports roads and bridges. Tell the Republicans that they can pass their 1.5 trillion dollar gift to the disgustingly rich Sith lords but we own the 20 trillion dollar economy. Take the tax bill off the table or we break the you.
28
where is the outrage?
why aren’t we in streets the offices of the grifters?
why why?
2
“The people who prepare our cost estimates are the best in the business,” Republicans on the House Budget Committee said on a page that has since been removed from their website, “and they’ve been working on this issue for years.” -- dictatorship in the making
10
of course
i would not expect anything else
It is so much easier to please a few wealthy donors then it is to please a large group of crushed, middle and lower classes that can barely afford the time to understand the issues and definitely can't afford to donate enough to make a difference. We thought the class wars were over as they declared victory with Dubya's tax cuts and the Wall Street Bailout but it seems they've only just begun. Boot grinding the beaten, shows of blatant power like the upcoming FCC's unpopular rollback to allow more gouging - 'light touch' translates to 'since there are no regs you have to catch us and make it stick'. Making ANYTHING stick with the newfangled lie machines employed by Trump's GOP is impossible. Tax cuts for property developers. Deceptions by Mnuchin and Cohn about the forthcoming report on the deficit neutrality of the '...jobs act'. Deceptions for, well, new deceptions. A Watergate sized scandal with middle school quality coverups by kids who clearly inhaled. Health insurance and Pharma lobbyists paying the most to maintain the cash cow we call 'for profit' healthcare - unwinding 'for profit' healthcare from financial markets - who can donate enough to make that happen? The flood insurance scam that just keeps on giving? How about a few more videos by the NRA about taking 'their' country back? Just who is it that has lost their country? The whites? The rich? The corporations? It looks like it's time for even the atheists to start praying.
13
After 10 months of this administration we are all exhausted. The opinion of the NYTimes readership and of the majority of the US population does not count. We just get upset week in week out about another scandal or takeover of the US by the 0.1% conservative lobby. We will pay for that tax windfall with our taxes, our loss of services, our crumbling infrastructure and our sky high health costs. Maybe the Times should stop reporting on these topics and reduce the stress at least we could save on the anxiety drugs. And for all of you who did not vote buyers beware.
15
Outrage by itself for such behavior is not sufficient. The electorate needs to vote these scoundrels out of office in the next three national elections before they do irreversible damage to our democracy, which appears to be hanging on by a thread.
11
How can reporting be so different, on the same subject, in two major newspapers ?
Who and what is the American public supposed to trust anymore?
3
To say this was sneaky, to say it was backroom politics, to say this was underhanded, would be right. When this year have the republicans done anything, just, beneficial, honest, for their country? Never. Yep thats republicans for you. They are nothing if not easy to read. And some of them put themselves above their leader. Really, I would imagine you have all the same goals. Greed is an easy thing to see, and yet not so easy to hide. We definitely have your numbers boys.
6
only if we VOTE
1
I suggest that we eventually expropriate from the Donor Class supporting this measure the amount added to the deficit, should the rosy predictions promulgated by the legislative branch not come true. And so that Congress People have a stake in their work, the retirement and healthcare of Yes-Voters should also be at stake.
5
They knew that this was just a coup for their wealthy donor's and that it isn't going to stimulate growth! Because if they were confident they would have agreed to Corker's trigger demand and listened to the experts about the lasting effects and the huge deficits they will create!
5
The GOP and trump are clearly destroying the country with endless lies and propaganda. Their so called tax cut is a self evident scam to anyone with basic intelligence who spends an hour looking at the details they have revealed so far.
It's not a gift to middle income or lower income citizens as they keep trying to portray it -- most average people will save a few hundred dollars a year at most.
What it is of course is a massive transfer of wealth to the rich, as the JCT and other experts say. And the cost is a trillion or more $ in debt that the middle will as always in time have to pay for.
But fundamentally the enemy and root problem is ignorance among nearly half the voting public and an attitude they hold that they don't care what the truth or facts are. Just tell me what I want to hear and I'll vote for you, whether it makes any sense or not.
Until that changes, and I don't know how it will because to learn a person has to want to and then exert the necessary effort ... apparently nothing will change.
The GOP is now a mafia and the rest of us better take note and vote accordingly. Or we are all doomed.
8
I invite all investigative reporters and law enforcement officials to analyze who the greatest beneficiaries of the tax cuts are and compare them to those who donated heavily to Republican Congresspeople's campaigns and sent the most Lobbyists, then indict and prosecute those who match and voted yes to pass the bill for bribery.
13
Will America be the same again? Never would I have thought that our Constitution and freedoms were so fragile. We are America, yet have a man who swore an oath to defend the constitution, who is somehow not subject to that oath... How do we reconcile that?
When it is okay for the President to collude with a foreign power to win elections ( if he did), then his attorneys says that he cannot obstruct justice by interfering in the investigation of collusion, then all is lost. The constitution becomes null and void and any candidate thereafter can rig or change the constitution as he so desires. Corrupt, begets corrupt!
I do not want a President anymore. Especially if the oath means nothing. I do not want a congress or a justice system that has long been ineffective. This system is broke and subject to corruption. Where do we go from here?
7
“The people who prepare our cost estimates are the best in the business,” Republicans on the House Budget Committee said on a page that has since been removed from their website, “and they’ve been working on this issue for years.”
"...on a page that has since been removed from their website..."
"1984" in 2017!
"War is Peace!"
4
The republican party has become the communist party. It is only a matter of time before they start using police to arrest and kill those they do not approve of or who cause them too many problems. It seems based on the WH press room asking pertinent questions and insisting on a responsive explanatory answer is enough to be a problem.
7
Of course the GOP is attacking "Fake News"--especially when it doesn't fit.
1
Republicans motto- must prey on the unemployed, the gullible, the uninformed, as well as feeding racism, paranoia and hatred . I Have to give it to them, it worked. Make America Great Again..
4
Republican irresponsibility will sink the economy for the majority. The only outrageous beneficence of the tax- cut bill will benefit the rich and powerful, the life-line for these unrepresentative thugs to keep their miserable and undeserving seat in congress. Dishonest to the tilt. An assault of decency!
1
If the GOP taught Kindergarten, all children would lie. And parents who complained would be punished.
Have I got that right?
11
The mendacity, cowardice and pure moral depravity of Republicans is truly breathtaking. They are traitors to this country; in politics for their own self-aggrandizement. This is no longer a two party system; it is the oligarchs vs the serfs. We had better wake up or this country will become like 19th Century Ireland under the rule of the British aristocracy.
5
Well, the class war has been declared. This tax plan is the Pearl Harbor for the 99%, whether we know it or not. The next twenty years is not going to be pretty. Conditions will be like Russia, or even worse, Kansas.
8
The Republicans are now truly the party of Donald Trump. Along with "fake news", we now have "fake economics".
7
Dante's 4th Circle is going to be crowded.
7
Their minds were made up months ago. No info would have changed them.
5
The people who will be negatively affected by pairing of the federal safety net are those whites in the south and west who vote republican. Give the people what they voted for.
2
Republicans are now all in with Donald Trump's assault on the truth. How long it will it be before they stop pussyfooting around and simply abolish the CBO and JCT? Arthur Laffer will get the no-bid contract for scoring tax plans. Grover Norquist will be given the job of documenting the wondrous effects abolishing Medicare and Medicaid has on the health of seniors and children. If you think this is farfetched, they're already planning to privatize NOAA's National Weather Service so we won't be hearing any more bad news about rising temperatures. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/06/09/c...
4
"...a spokeswoman for the Senate Finance Committee released a statement saying the findings are “curious and deserve further scrutiny.”
So, okay then, let's scrutinize it. What, no time for scrutiny? It's got to be signed into legislation by Christmas? Well, back to making things up, I guess.
1
“We think they lowballed it”, “there’s no doubt that the J.C.T. has been consistently underestimating the activity in our economy”, “I’m totally confident this is a revenue-neutral bill”, "the bill would actually be a 'revenue producer' ”. (Similar to Mr. Trump's mantra "No collusion, no collusion, no collusion, ... ") But no study to support any of that. "The people who prepare our cost estimates are the best in the business” is a comment that is "no longer operable" as Nixon would say. This is not governance. Conniving, propaganda, scheming, disinformation, yes. But not governance.
5
I want Democrats in Congress to fight this hard for my Social Security as the Republicans fight for the rich tax breaks.
Lie,threaten, toss away your morals,whatever it takes.
6
Incompetent media, unable to understand even the basics of the tax code, dared not cover the many flaws of the GOP plan. CNN's Erin Burnett was THE ONLY ONE who even dared "go there". When virtually no push back is offered to the earworm of Middle Class tax Miracle....passage is what happens. Live with it, Anderson, Don, and all the under-educated who lacked the sense of responsibility to do their jobs.
1
Unintended consequences? Not really. They knew exactly what they were doing to the middle class- they just didn't complete the job.
What I don't understand is why House republicans from big tax states (CA, NJ, NY ILL etc) don't put their foot down and refuse to support any conference deal that fails to reinstate the SALT deduction in full. Trump has already indicated he'd be OK with a 22% corporate tax. So why not create a bill that is much fairer to everyone. It would be big political plus for the Rs. They are crazy not to. Just Do IT.
Oh yeah, and kill the individual AMT for those with less than 500k in income so that the upper middle class doesn't get squeezed.
I live in CA and am looking at a 13,000 tax increase, as is my son who lives in DC. We are not in the top 1%, just trying to get by in high cost jurisdictions. It's just that every single step you have taken to raise revenue is hitting us. That is NOT fair.
Oh and Mr. McConnell I have your pledge to Ms. Collins hung on my wall. If you touch the safety net I and the rest of the country will not forget.
5
GOP voting to provide a windfall for their donors as was demanded by them creating a permanent oligarchy. Trump being one of the big benefactors despite his obvious lies that he is hurt by it ! These oligarchs will need a strong man to protect all their possessions ,enter Trump willing to be America's Putin his role model and here. The low income white base supporters of Trump have no idea what the law means as they get all their information from Trump's tweets and Fox news lackeys. When the economy crashes the 1% will be fine with mansions around the world however the middle class will lose jobs and house as they did under Bush engineered crash of 2008 with no bail out this time.
4
hey, remember when the republicans were supposed to be the responsible ones?
yeah, me neither.
hey, remember when "we think they lowballed it" was actually the party being "conservative"?
yeah, that's tougher to remember too.
well at least they still hate the poor and the brown, so there's SOME consistency...
5
It is hard to believe that when "push came to shove", both Arizona senators McCain and Flake swallowed their concerns about process and deficits to vote for welfare for the wealthy. There is no longer a need to hold either of these men in esteem.
7
I don't think you can get more corrupt than this. The GOP should be acting in good faith for the people of our country, not attempting to hoodwink them and undercut an agency that is working to inform our citizenry. This is what happens when runaway power is visited on one political party over another. This simply shouldn't be allowed to happen.
2
One of the worst things about this latest tax bill is that it is not here to help improve infrastructure or to reduce unemployment but rather we increase fiscal weakness in order to preserve the GOP's relationship to its super donors. If ever there was a place for the complaint of regarding party as more important than country, this is it
2
Look at the big picture. The Republican strategy is to underestimate the fiscal impact now in order to pass the tax bill, then magically “discover” the bill’s impact will be greater than thought, then use that to justify reducing the Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security safety net, which they oppose fiercely on ideological grounds so repugnant to most that they are only rarely expressed, and then usually by accident. This is cynicism at its most extreme.
21
Nothing short of massive sustained street demonstrations can impact what has happened.
10
I think you'll find that there will be much more than just demonstrations.
4
If it ain't clear to you what the Republicans are doing, let me tell you. If you are poor, you will have to fend for yourself as the government is going to be much smaller - meaning tax increase for your bracket, reduced or no more social security/Medicare/Medicaid, and less to no more government regulations. They believe that this was how America became great through American enterpreneurship and small government. Unfortunately, we were not all born equal economically so those less fortunate financially will just have to consequently drop off the face of the earth. That my friend is the New America. At this stage, I'm not sure anybody can stop this train. Even the most principled and wealthiest Democrat out there is no longer putting up a fight so how do you expect those with much less to fight.
10
so right -
and do not forget, those halcyon Republican days of yore, when we grew great and powerful through personal pluck and small government and high masted scooners...
were the very days the whole ediface rested on a foundation of slavery and indentured servitude.
that's what they're aiming to return us too, and a fine job they're doing of it, too.
resist!
Why is this news? Surely, the Republicans in Congress have demonstrated clearly for a long time that they are desperate to give the rich a big hand-out through a tax-cut while gutting health-care and eventually other social programs for the middle-class and poor. In their total and unwavering commitment to this objective, dear to their donors, they will stop at nothing. This is an extremist insurgency, doing great harm to America.
7
When Republican lies fail to fool us, they just resort to blaming the independent scorekeeper (yes, the same scorekeeper they used to praise).
Sean Duffy - our former U.S. Representative from western Wisconsin sent us a letter saying how proud he was to vote this tax bill -increasing our deficit by $1.5 trillion, giving huge tax breaks to the uber-wealthy, and raising taxes on the rest of us. He certainly takes his constituents for fools.
Unless we are the fools they take us to be, we need to show up on election day and vote these evil Republican rascals out of office.
6
I see so many interviews where the politician lies or misleads the public
regarding the true facts of an issue.
Unfortunately too often the reporter doesn't question or correct these falsehoods. I realize politicians spouting false or wrong statics may
have to be called out after the fact, but these people should be called
out.
4
I agree. Either the interviewer doesn't understand the (non) answer due to lack of background information, or he or she hasn't really listened because they have a next question on another topic they must cover. Or like some I could mention, they like the sound of their own voice.
WHEN do the chickens come home to roost for Republicans? I've been waiting since 1980. Yet, they seem to get stronger, to pass more laws friendly to the rich and corporations, do more harm to the middle class and the poor, gerrymander congressional districts, gamify legislation, keep getting reelected, and drag this country deeper and deeper into the mud.
There has to be a reckoning for what they have done to this country.
8
Republican politicians hate government, they attack government agencies and employees, the only thing they like about government are the paychecks, benefits, and perks it hands them at taxpayer expense.
When are people going to wake up to Republican hypocrisy?
6
They have succeeded in "drowning it in a bathtub". Now, they can go home and retire with their pensions, health care, and the millions of campaign dollars from big corporate donors. Arguably the most corrupt Congress since Harding?
true, look at Paul Ryan. He was literally raised on government money. chief hypocrite!
1
So what is our recourse for a corrupt Congress? Must we wait for elections, or can we call to impeach or recall individual Senators or Representative?
I think we need to act quickly, as the country is fast becomming a plutocracy/oligarchy.
What can we do to stop this and hold these people accountable for their lies and underhanded dealings?
2
The GOP leadership has no shame. Rep. Ryan and Sen. McConnell have stooped to new lows by trying to push through Congress a controversial Tax Plan which is supposed to "create incentives for business and monetary benefits for the middle class." The vast majority...and I repeat, the vast majority of professional economists of all political leanings say that, under the Tax Plan, the deficit will balloon in 10 years. By that time, all of the benefits to be received by the middle class will have ended, and only the wealthiest segment will continue to reap the benefits. To further rub salt into the wounds of the middle and lower classes, many other benefits and tax deductions and programs they currently depend on will have evaporated.
The arrogance of the GOP leadership is appalling. The GOP has only a two-seat majority in the Senate, yet not one idea from the DEMs was even considered. The GOP complained incessantly when Obamacare was passed by a DEM-controlled Senate, but 1) the DEMS consulted the GOP for months and incorporated suggestions and 2) the DEMS had a super-majority with 60 Senate seats! I don' even want to imagine what the GOP would do under similar circumstances.
My conclusion is this: those that "live by the sword, die by the sword"... and many in the opposition are sharpening their blades for the 2018 Mid-Term Elections.
3
Ask a Republican Senator about climate change and they're quick to say they aren't scientists and therefore unable to make an informed decision. But, ask those same people about economics and they're all experts.
I'm sick of the lack of intellectual honesty. Why would I believe anything the GOP says?
16
All that matters is that the GOP at Donald's urging has proved itself a traitor to the middle class. While continuing to beat the drums against abortion and immigrants, the tax bill violates the promises on which Donald's campaign was based, and proves him a liar. Few corporations will use the tax savings to expand their operations, and those that do will create new jobs for which Donald voters are not likely qualified. Most corporations will use the savings to buy back stock or improve dividends. Nothing in the legislative history suggest any argument by the GOP that existing workers in existing jobs will get a wage increase, and, of course, the GOP's mantra is that increasing the minimum wage would be very harmful to the economy. That is a lie: increased disposable income stimulates the economy. The lie exposes the GOP's devious purpose: fattening the wallets of wealthy consumers who do not buy American, and corporations which will not increase wages. The emperor has no clothes. The GOP gives Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania back to the Democrats.
5
Let's face it, the Republican Party is the oligarchs' party, lock, stock & barrel (hmm, that reminds me: better add "and the NRA's party too").
The way they brooked no discussion of this bill before voting on it means that if they ever become the minority party, they should be treated just as they've treated Dems since the start of the Obama administration--no nothin' never, ever. Dems will be tempted to return our government to reasonable cooperation, but this should really be the last straw. For what Republicans want, no nothing, nohow, never.
6
Reasonable people can disagree about the benefit or need for corporate tax reform. But tax legislation written in secret, withour real debate, without out bi-partisian support, is a sham, a shame and a lie to the american taxpayor. The senate reverts to the time of it's ownership by very big business with not concern for the long term interests of our country. There is no honor in mudville.
5
The Republicans call this the "Tax Cuts and Jobs" act.
The only jobs this bill supports are those of lobbyists, tax attorneys, and creative CPAs.
6
Well, nobody can fault the Republicans for being slow to learn; almost one year at Trump University and they are old hands at "Advanced Lying", "Introduction to Blowing Smoke", the ever popular "Elementary Erasure and Denial", and for the most articulate among them--the Senior Honors Seminar: "Changing Course, Veering and Tacking",
7
This type of hypocritical fact free numbers shenanigans is expected of most GOP Senators, but not Susan Collins.
That’s why it was so disappointing to hear her justify her vote in favor of the bill on the Sunday talk shoes by parroting this same lies proffered by McConnell et al.
4
Truth simply doesn't matter. Continued institutional fraud perpetrated by the Trump administration and the GOP congress make the federal government nothing more than a bad punch line.
3
No amount of currently accepted empirical evidence would serve to convince the Republicans that their economic policy is in error. The Republican party has undergone a transformation and has emerged with different economic assumptions and political objectives from the past which continue to be miscomprehended by its Democratic opponents. The Republicans are not even playing the same game any longer. While the Republican party continues to rely on its “Southern Strategy” to leverage national white resentment for electoral gain its primary constituency has become the global economic elite. Who could have imagined the NRA acting as agents for Russian oligarchs! Absent the demands of mass warfare, increasing globalization, and the rise of automation the Republican party and its new constituency has concluded that it no longer needs the majority of the U.S. population – either as workers or consumers – and that this population can be treated as a redundant liability to be exploited until exhausted.
6
Since Saturday, reports (even in the WSJ) have begun to reveal the array of provisions slammed into the bill to buy support from Republican Senators, notably favoring their home state's interests (e.g., Sen. Sullivan protecting cruise lines in Alaska and Senator Cornyn protecting oil and gas interests in Texas). Meanwhile, high income states get slammed, adding back the AMT that will disproportionately hurt taxpayers in the coastal states in order to pay for the special interests of Republican Senators. Hopefully, the public can be engaged on the swamp-ridden bill that is now pending and express outrage. For most middle class taxpayers who see a benefit, it will be small--hardly changing a standard of living. This compared with massive give-a-ways to those with private planes and other extreme luxuries. And, most troubling, is that the Republicans appear likely to get away with this; a skewed tax bill passed without any bi-partisan engagement.
4
In the last few days before the Senate vote, I heard NPR interviews with Chuck Grassley, Paul Ryan, and Kevin McCarthy. All three were asked about analyses showing the bill would increase the deficit and benefit the wealthy. All three disputed those analyses. All three "know" that the bill will benefit the middle class and that it will pay for itself. How do they know? They just know.
3
Does NPR still have people to do interviews that have not been accused of sexual harassment?
1
Their arrogance and smug attitude is alarming, if not frightening.
2
The perverse GOP never really cared, nor does it now, about the debt or the yearly deficits. The GOP has this guiding fiscal principle:
Starve the Fed and otherwise diminish the Fed thus laying a clearer path to Plutocracy via more "States Rights"
Their other principle is: ensure the Courts favor the Plutocracy.
To the GOP the biggest obstacle to the Plutocracy they pine after is the Fed. Its broader more eclectic/diverse electorate tends to increasingly favor candidates that will favor People over wealth and power.
State rule/authority/power allows pockets of strong authoritarianism that will allow Plutocracy. The Confederacy shall ris again!
My point is this GOP action and any other like it is NOT about a few more dollars into the pockets of the already wealthy. The objective is more existential and more pernicious: the starving of our liberal (in Lockean sense) Democracy out of effectual existence.
Fight hard with your votes Patriots - your Country is at stake!
1
Tax cuts are cat nip for Republicans, but it wasn't discrediting the J.C.T. report that passed the bill, but buying off deficit hawks like Jeff Flake as well as others like Susan Collins who was promised changes to improve health care. Whether the issue will be a problem in the reconciliation process with the House remains. There are many more fiscal conservative there who may require changes. So, the concern about the size of the deficit raised by the J.C.T. may yet prove to be problematic.
I wish that the Democratic leadership would make it absolutely and repeatedly clear that any attempt to reduce the social safety net after the passing of the Republican tax cut for the wealthy is a direct result of the tax bill and is a complete and unequivocal non-starter. Bang that drum as I believe - perhaps naively - that that goes against the values of most "real" Americans.
1
Let's make the tax cuts permanent for the citizens first, and temporary for the corporations, on the promise that they will become permanent. The same kind of promises done to the citizens by the Republicans.
What? Deficits matter now?
The public's memory and attention span unfortunately are short and insufficient to keep up pressure and force honesty or fairness in anything that happens in D.C. And any one division, branch or department of government is only as good as who has been tasked to lead it and the support he/she commands from their staff. The push to appoint department destroying leaders and pass a tax bill like this will now converge. Agencies will be understaffed, under funded or outright eliminated and regulations set in place to protect the people will be ended or unenforced. This cabinet is a mess and we won't recover from it for many many years.
2
The GOP is using deception in attempt to convince the middle class that they are getting a "tax cut." To prove their fake case, they cite the fact (which actually IS true, making it all the more deceptive) that many in the middle class will pay less tax under the GOP plan (at least for a couple of years).
But as the Joint Committe on Taxation has now shown, the GOP tax plan adds over $1 trillion to the deficit. So, if Republicans were being honest with the middle class, here is what they would say: "We are going to take out a $1 trillion loan against your children's future. Most of the money will finance permanent tax cuts for wealthy corporations and individuals, but a small portion will go to the middle class in the form of temporary tax cuts. When the loan comes due, most of the repayment burden will fall on the middle class, since the loan will be payed off by slashing funding for entitlements and social services (not to mention expiration of temporary tax cuts) that the middle class depends on."
This tax cut reminds me a lot of a rigged private equity deal, where shady investors take out a huge loan against a company's assets, pocket most (but not quite all!) of the proceeds, and then saddle the company with an unsurmountable debt burden. The tax plan uses exactly the same bait and switch to blik middle class taxpayers, while making them feel lucky at first to get their tiny little share of the big loan windfall.
Bogus.
2
Republicans will say or do anything to justify lowering taxes. We already know from past experience that tax cuts will cause the deficit to increase because that's what happened with the Reagan era tax cuts. Everytime we cut the tax rate we experience a recession. But perhaps this plan needs to go into effect so that we can prove once and for all that it doesn't work. It hasn't worked in Kansas and it won't work at the federal level either.
2
The ethics, beliefs , and principles of the GOP are entirely situational. Years of fiscal scolding when they were out of power turn out to be fraudulent. The opportunism has had tragic consequences in economic terms given the prolonged effect of recessions like 2008
15
In my many decades on this planet, I have never felt so unrepresented by my government.
I wonder if this is what the colonists felt like in the 18th century America.
50
Are you talking about the colonists who plundered from Native Americans to create the caste system that is allowing the GOP to do what it is doing right now? if so, they made out just fine.
The Trump effect. If you don'y like the answer ignore the facts and declare the source as a perpetrator of false news.
52
Facts? What are facts? We don’t need no stinking factses.
There is nothing that will be able to stop the Republicans and Trump, until perhaps the mid-term elections. Sadly, those who believe in the world being flat,
that Roy Moore did nothing wrong, that there is no global warming, and that the 1 percenters are entitled to the Republican victory in 2016 have taken over the the USA for the worse!
41
Is this really what we expect from "there are consequences of elections"? Does the GOP really expect this divide they've created to have a positive end? The pendulum does swing, but now it seems to only swing to the extremes. This will not end well. I'm 65, so most of this won't have a major effect on me, but my kids (who are Millenials) and their kids (when they come) are the ones who will suffer.
25
Actually, it will have an immediate effect on you, in the form of draconian cuts to medicare.
2
Oh, but this does affect you. With an insatiable donor class that will expect more and more from a party that will do whatever it takes to stay in power, how long before you won't have ANY social safety net for the rest of your days, no matter how much you paid into them?
1
and the republicons, in concert with donald trump, work to undermine and discredit the institutions and organizations devoted to providing analysis and understanding of the policies about to be undertaken.
make no mistake, republicons are a threat to the stability and governance of this country; and every effort must be made to replace as many of them as possible in the upcoming elections.
assuming some 'incident' doesn't provoke the administration into drastic actions...
10
Another day, another heartbreak with this corrupt administration and the viper pit that is the GOP. Trump’s ignorant base will never know anything about this because they don’t read and this will not be on Faux News tonight. Even if they did read, they wouldn’t care. I fear for my country, my children and grandchildren.
38
You are so right.
1
They don't care because their $1000 a year tax break will get them a new car, or a kitchen remodel, or a vacation!
Just as Cohn, he said so!
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gary-cohn-trump-tax-plan-new-car_us...
The fact that he's a millionaire and can't possibly know the cost of a banana isn't really relevant. Just think of the one countertop or three cabinets you could buy with alllllll that money.
We the people once again have taxation without representation when Congress is only representing their donors.
We must vote out all Republicans in 2018 and 2020.
44
Tea-Taliban-GOP wants to make it very, very clear that fascism is taking-over and they want NO obstruction to its implementation. How quaint?!!!
13
We cannot wait until Nov. 2018, this tax bill will hurt us all. We have worked to establish a stable government. This is not a joke. If we pay our taxes next year we give in to these con men. We need to return the favor and boycott every the fossil fuel industry, chemical industry and other corporations who supported these mindless GOP politicians. They have already hiked up the gas prices. We can halt this in it's track but we must all stand together.
5
Not one of these Republican Senators who are defending this unpaid tax cut would pass Econ 101 based on their lies, false statements, and totally bogus assumptions.
Think about this: There is no correlation (none.....zero) between tax cuts and some how increasing government revenues. It's never happened and it never will......government revenues have never gone up following tax cuts....NEVER!
This tax cut will increase the Federal deficit by an additioonal $ 2 Trillion (minimum) over the next 10 years on top of the $ 10 trillion deficit that is already forecasted for the next 10 years.
The Republicans are basically breaking all government rules and ignoring prven economic theory....instead, they are making up totally false assumptions!
Little Suzie Collins from Maine......she is among the biggest liars about tax cuts. Selling out to Trump and the Robber barons. Suzie knows this tax cuts is going to totally screw her own state.
20
If the national Democratic big wigs would grow a spine they would be blanketing Alabama with actual fact filled, link backed stories laying out the damage being perpetrated against the citizens who have been voting "never a Democrat". The old Clinton wing should be going toe to toe with these fiscally anarchistic oligarchs. Defeat Moore as a Christmas present to Trump et.al. Get ready for 2018; but at this rate the national carnage in need of repair could be inconceivable.
9
What do you expect from the party that supports child molesters in order to garner votes?
24
The R's are using strategy straight from the Joseph Goebbels' playbook.
20
The law contains no requirement that the results of the tax program be gathered and compared with predictions, and that the tax program be modified and some cuts rolled back if the program did not work as predicted. These requirements are missing because the Republicans sense that the tax program will raise the deficit and are engaged in wishful thinking, to put the best face on it.
3
Remember this next time some idiot tells you both parties are the same.
43
So in today's news, we have the *president and serial groper-in-chief endorsing a pedophile and slashing protection for national monuments, and hard evidence of the hypocrisy and lies employed by the Republican party to pass their sadistic tax bill. And it's only 2:45 p.m.
40
Nothing weird about this, Dems would do the same. You have to understand, these are not evil people, they believe something different than most readers on the nytimes. Simple as that.
3
No, there is a difference. What Republicans believe has no relation to reality. Here are 10 myths that they believe in:
1. Significantly (say, 10% or more) paying down the federal debt has usually been good for the economy.
2. The single payer health care systems of other developed countries produce no better results at not much lower costs.
3. The very high top tax rates after WWII combined with high real (ratio of taxes actually paid to GDP) corporate taxes stifled economic growth.
4. The devastation of WWII caused the output of Europe to stay low for many (>10) years.
5. A small ratio of federal debt to GDP has always insured prosperity.
6. Inequality such as we have today (Gini about 0.50) has usually encouraged entrepreneurship thus helping the economy.
7. Our ratio of our corporate taxes actually paid to GDP is among the highest of all developed countries.
8. Since WWI, the cause of severe inflation in developed countries has usually been the printing of money.
9. As a percentage of GDP, today's federal debt service is the highest in many years.
10. Inequality such as we have today is an aberration; the history of capitalism has shown that periods like 1946 - 1973 with low inequality are the norm.
Not simply as that. What we have is a party representing a mind set that is in decline and it will do increasingly brazen and hypocritical things to hold onto power and relevance. Perhaps their ideas represent a counter belief system but the way they are pushing their ideas are becoming more and more dishonest and detached from empirical reality. Not to mention the embrace of the immoral, the unethical and lack of integrity.
Because Republicans are total liars perpetuating fraud means everyone else does it too?
I have plenty of disdain for Democrats, but Democrats are fundamentally trying trying to help people - social security, Medicare, Obamacare, clean energy - and Republicans are fundamentally lobbyists for wealthy individuals and corporate donors.
There should be liability for lawmakers perpetrating fraud.
I am rapidly losing hope. Everywhere I turn, more dishonesty and corruption by Trump and the GOP. They don't even feign concern at the damage to ordinary folks who work hard to send their kids to school, pay for their homes and health care and put food on the table. We will all lose with the passing of this tax bill. Sen Grassley now says his comments that "those who don't save money spend it on booze, women and movies" were taken out of context. I don't think so. He didn't even consider that those who don't save money live check to check.
Everywhere I turn, life as we've known it - tax reform, health care, climate change, education, conservation - is being destroyed while billions are being added to our defense budget and we are literally handing the keys to the kingdom to the 1% so their corporation can reward their shareholders.
The only way out of this mess, it to unite and vote them all out of office. The women's march was an inspiration but we need many millions more to dig in and show up at the polls. The only way to reignite some balance and do what is truly right is to get Trump and the old guard GOP out of office. It will be time for a fresh start soon. I just hope it's not too late.
27
The republican game plan ( for generations now ) is when presented 1 + 1 = 2 ( which is not favorable to them to get elected\reelected ), then it is imperative to attack and totally destroy the messenger of said truth\facts at all cost.
Pretty soon, there will no one left but republicans. ( their plan as well )
6
To paraphrase an old saw, "Well, our contributors made out well, we ourselves made out well, and two outta three ain't bad!"
4
Lies have been the hallmark of Republican propaganda for at least 30 years. Lies are one of the methods they use to get working people to vote for them (or not vote for them). Now that they have a serial liar at the helm, their lies have reached a new level. There is no limit to their deceit now.
7
How very Trumpian...when you don't like the news, attack the messenger.
9
Orrin Hatch had the gall to say the other day that the government needs to look at welfare spending - social security, medicare, medicaid - after supporting a tax plan that may adds 1.5 trillion to the debt. What do you with people like this, who are full of shot? It's not just Psycho Don Trump, Ryan, McConnell etc. It's the whole Nazi GOP party that continue to perpetuate a con on the American people and we are at their mercy. And the Democrats meekly stay quiet. Thanks.
8
If the US economy grows at 3.5-4% we might tame out debt.
No one knows.
If the US economy lags around 2-2.5% growth, our children will pay a heavy price.
Either way the wealthy win.
5
A big massive wealth transfer is on way this coming decade. Tax cuts to rich to balloon deficit. Cite the ballooning deficits to cut social security,food stamps, medicare medicaid, education. Add a war or two in between for sure - North korea, Iran.
Increase debt burden of US to the point its not sustainable. Engineer deflation so home owners go bankrupt and become renters. Increasingly alienated US will find it hard to find partners to buy debt. Ultimately a weimar republic. Currency becomes Paper. Oligarchy. Monopolies. Technological innovation making cab drivers, waiters redundant. Chaos. Then ultimately or in way gun control so public has no way to revolt.
US turning to likes of Russia. Super wealthy control everything from public opinion, restricted voter rights and really bad choices.
5
As I watch all of this unfold from north of the border, I'm left with the thought that you are reverting to that very society you fought against in 1776. And that all started with taxation too...
I echo another commenter - it is exhausting monitoring what is going on in the USA. But I have no choice, sadly you impact the rest of the world.
Kinda wish we could build a big wall...
26
Yes, 'no taxation without representation'.
Given that this bill had ZERO input from the Democrats, it feels very much like taxation without representation.
It's as if liberals don't even exist right now, for all the input and influence they have on current lawmaking.
Of course, the MAGA types are thrilled conservatives are doing *anything* at all - no matter how deleterious the eventual effects may be.
Whether or not the current one-sided administration burns down the entire country is immaterial to the Trumpsters. They're more interested in delicious liberal tears than they are keeping the country prosperous or happy - which includes themselves, although they curiously don't appear to acknowledge the fact that we are all in this together.
Revenge must taste super sweet to them. I wonder how sweet it will taste when they lose their healthcare, their jobs, their infrastructure, and their homes. Do liberal tears have a high enough calorie count to keep you warm in freezing weather? I certainly hope so, for their sake.
1
A letter to the Editor:
Usually a letter to the Editor is an attempt to make some point to the public. This one is really a plea to the Editorial Board.
Please stop writing that that future generation will have to pay back increases in the national debt.
This is wrong both arithmetically and historically. Prof. Stephanie Kelton has explained the mathematical reasons in her Op-Ed in the Times on October 5, but the history is perhaps even more compelling.
Since the founding of the country the federal debt has usually increased. There have been brief periods when it decreased slightly, but only 6 periods when it decreased 10% or more. Each one of these periods was ended by one of our terrible depressions.
On the other hand, in the most recent long period of prosperity, the Great Prosperity of 1946 to 1973, the debt increased 75%. The generations that followed WWII were not forced to pay back the huge war debt.
I fully understand that the Republican tax bill is economically bad for many reasons. I understand that the Republicans will use the resulting increase in the debt to cut vital spending, but they will do so on the basis of your false statement about paying back the debt.
Please attack the bill on its many economically unsound provisions such as those increasing inequality which decrease the velocity of money and increase risk through financial speculation. Do not attack it using what is perhaps the most pernicious economic belief held by most Americans.
4
How workers will respond to lower taxes? Is this a joke? How stupid do they think we are?
2
What else would you expect from the borrow-and-spend Republicans?
And now they have cover from Mr. Trump, the Bankrupter-in-Chief, the self-proclaimed "king of debt."
$1,400,000,000,000.00 in additional debt.
"Party of Fiscal Responsibility" - what a joke.
10
The GOP descends further into moral depravity...coupling their fortunes with a inept and corrupt pathological liar to achieve their goals at any cost, country be damned. This will not end well...it never does.
8
This is insanity.
9
This is insanity that has been normalized.
The GOP has finally cut itself loose from science and reality. It’s now all about the beliefs of the unholy alliance of mega donors, evangelicals, and neo-Nazis. Our country is going down the rabbit hole with this bunch.
8
If the facts don't support your ideology, then kill the facts. The new GOP--"Atlas Shrugged" meets "1984"
10
Liars, liars, pants on fire!
As we have been seeing repeatedly, "done" can be "undone", so just get rid of the REPUB WELFARE QUEENS OF Washington before they get rid of the middle class and enslave the poor all over again.
We can offer the most needy REPUBs and their Russian keepers free accommodations in Guantanamo along with water spa treatments to cure them.
3
Another milepost on the GOP's path toward their apparent goal of making the US a Banana Republic. Cratering the Middle Class, rewarding the wealthy elites, punishing the opposition (here the Blue States). There should be hell to pay...
6
Republicans are set on chasing their magical thinking regardless of evidence and regardless of how much it damages our democracy, our standing in the world, even the heath of the planet itself. Decency be dammed if it gets in the way of a tax cut for the rich. Pedophilia is fine if it consolidates our grip on power. Sexual harassment, money laundering, collusion, obstruction, fear and loathing of anyone not like you, treason, dictatorship - each become easier to imagine as republican slowly eat away at over 240 years of hard won progress.
7
The GOP has and always will e a RATS NEST.
The biggest rat gets the biggest hat; The Presidency.
4
Republican lawmakers are so desperate to show they can pass a piece of legislation...any piece of legislation...that they've become like a cornered animal. They represent the donor class, the rich who fill their campaign coffers. And those folks want a return on their investment. Never mind the inevitable backlash of the American people when they realize a few years down the road how screwed they got. I guess they'll come up with a new fiction to address that when the time comes.
2
Come on, who did they fool, what thinking person credited any argument they made about the impending deficit, besides possibly the New York Times? Everyone knew that the truth didn't matter and it was going to pass, come hell or high water, because the donors demanded it, demanded it now, and for no other reason.
5
All this rogery to re-election Trump.
3
Republicans fiddle while America burns
4
Trump voters - don't come crying to me when they slash your Medicare and Social Security - which is the ultimate goal of this disgraceful bill. You voted for this. As well as the nuclear holocaust possibly coming our way from North Korea.
Enjoy suckers!
4
cowards playing to the ignorant
karma is coming
and right soon
3
I can only say, NY Times, what in this article is news? It's been clear to this centrist for a long long time that anybody who believes GOP pusbhack against non-partisan assessments and analyses is either terminally naive or ideologically-blindered.
2
There was a headline something like "As the Baby Boomers are Edged out of Government, they are Raiding the Treasury for Loot." That explains this tax bill in full. The Treasury did not do an analysis (they knew the outcome would be bad.) Kansas which was supposed to be the shining example of economic growth due to GOP tax ideas came in dead last of all 50 states in economic growth. (N.C. and Oklahoma are beginning to struggle with insufficient tax revenues.) Top corporations are already publicly stating they will use their tax cuts for buybacks and their stockholders -- not higher wages or more employment.
Sen. Grassley clearly put the GOP attitude towards middle-class America into words: For those Americans who don't have estates they "... are just spending every penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies.”
And Hillary got damned for calling some voters "deplorables."
10
Republicans have become repulsive, one and all. I thought, a few days ago, that there were a few republicans who put the welfare, oh GOD, I used that word, of Americans before party script. But no, they withered and became flaccid. Their spines morphed from bone to gelatin under party heat.
So, did you ever imagine the United States of America under the thumb of several hundred pathological liars, and a demented president?
8
If this tax bill was so good for the country in the very beginning, it would have stood up on its own merit. But the Joint Committee on Taxation showed "the Senate plan would not, as lawmakers contended, pay for itself but would add $1 trillion to the federal budget deficit." And yet, so many Republicans are still in the dark as to why people don't trust them.
7
This "tax reform plan" was one of the greatest thefts in history. The last few weeks of Republican propaganda supporting the bill was beyond scandalous and cruel.
5
Sure they did. And they said they are Christians, and conservatives and on the side of the middle class. They are none of these. Republicans are campaign money grubbing, risk stroking, power hungrey agnostics.
1
Don't like it....vote in the mid term election. Don't like it, vote in the national election. Don't like it, vote in your local election.
Tweets and Facebook posts don't change things.....we do!
9
Typical GOP exchanging Truth to line their pockets.
1
GOP v. American Democracy -- both can't win. As it stands, the GOP won a battle with their oligarchic tax bill, and American Democracy lost. Let's hope that American Democracy counterattacks in 2018 and beyond -- the republic desperately needs the GOP voted out of office, while there still is a republic.
1
GOP does not care one whit about "We the people."
Only their donors matter to this lousy bunch.
2
Just imagine a Federal Government run the way Governor Brownback of Kansas has run it.... What a beauty it will be. The damage being done is epic! The middle class was and will be a figment our past. Aren't you tired of being "trickled down on"?
2
Facts? Scruples? Nothing can stand in the way of rewarding rich donors and a president whose family stands to gain millions, if not $1 billion. This is not a tax bill. It is a legalized bribe.
2
Wishful thinking does not economic analysis make.
Our economy and our personal finances are at the mercy of people who have no regard to careful and transparent deliberation.
We are at the mercy of people with no respect for expertise. If they disagree with an expert, that expert must be wrong--no matter how many experts concur.
I can only hope that the deficit hawks recover their ideals.
2
"I read the news today, Oh boy"...
"Please make him go away,
every day, something bad, but what can you say,
Let us be relieved from something bad, something
"SAD".
I ignored the news today, reading only half
till I fell apart, tired and angry,
not a way to live, every day.
I read the news today, passing every page,
half reading every page, every page.
Hope to hope for everything, hoping against hope,
that the good will beat the news.
I read the news today, make it smart and not hurt those who hurt,
but please make them change
1
It's class warfare--my class lost.
4
I'm amazed at the Born Again deficit hawks at the NYT.
GWB added 5 trillion to the debt. Obama added another 8+ trillion.
Now they are worried about an addition of 1 Trillion to the debt. Where have they been the past 17 years.
Excessive spending has more to do with deficits & the concomitant increasing debt than these tax cuts.
2
Typical tactic, dont like the message, shoot the messenger. And the GOP has plenty of guns, some even carried openly. Sad
2
This story makes it sound like Republicans are just a bunch of con artists and grifters out to transfer wealth to the already wealthy and that the Secretary of the Treasury out-and-out lied about the analysis of the tax cut! If so, it appears pretty accurate.
4
Whatever it takes these days. These hypocrites just keep doing the things they never supported before Trumpty Dumpty came into office. I will be really upset if normal people can't win back at least one of the branches of government in 2018. I think one of the lessons learned from this experience so far is that our laws are weak or non-existent when it comes to restricting what an administration can or cannot do when in power. There has to be legal consequences for what they have been accused of - jail, impeachment, etc. We need a system that does not have so many escape holes - it seems that anyone can wiggle around anything if you have money or connections. A president must be required to release their taxes (10 years?), divest from business investments, etc. No excuse whatsoever is allowed. And they need to do this as a requirement before the election is over. Let's make this country whole again. We're starting to look and feel like Russia where murdering your opponent is acceptable, stealing, cheating, lying, corruption, and all the wonderful things that Putin (Trump's hero) and his oligarchs have put in place to make sure they have the good life while the rest of the country is limping along.
1
Nothing else is expected from those creatures, for whose vileness no adequate word has yet been devised. Go watch DEADWOOD and you'll understand where MAGA will lead. Right back into the sewage.
Is there any recourse that Democrats can invoke to stop this middle-class massacre?
2
Look,we have ample evidence that Republicans has no desire to play by the rules or, at best, simply bend them. It is to be expected that their sanctimonious protestations for regular order, responsibility, observance of rules and regulations simply evaporate into think air the moment they do not coincide with their interests. No use listening to them, we know what they are all about.
2
Did you expect anything different? The facts don't matter and attack the messenger. GOP playbook 101.
2
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So let’s quickly recap tax cut history: Reagan (1980s) massive tax cuts that favor the wealthy aka Trickledown economics. Result = little growth and massive budget deficit. George H. Bush (circa 1990s) coins the phrase Voodoo Economics as even being the good conservative he is he recognized Reagan’s Trickledown tax plan was a sham. George W. Bush (2000s) same old same old, Voodoo Economics aka Trickledown Reaganomics. Result = little to no growth and another huge deficit. George W. Bush’s disaster was exacerbated by he and Dick Cheney entering into to two wars at the same time while simultaneously creating the largest federal government surveillance agency in our history. Result = greatest economic downturn and recession since the great depression and yes, you guessed it another huge budget deficit. Fast forward to man-child Trump (2017). Once again we have the same old same old Trickle Down, Voodoo, Reaganomics approach with the same smoke and mirrors yet somehow this time the result is going to be different? If you slightly believe Trumps claims about Economic NIRVANA resulting from this third round of Trickle Down tax cuts for the wealthy, rooted in and justified by the use Voodoo Economics is somehow going to work out differently this time. I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona that I’d like to sell you!
6
This is not news. the republicans are a corrupt organization in thrall to the wealthy. They lie, cheat, endorse child molesters and gropers - whatever it takes to shovel more and more money to the wealthy. That's who they are, that's all they are.
18
Speaker of the House Paul Davis Ryan and Senate Republican Majority Leader Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr. have been on the government benefits and employment welfare dole all of their adult lives. Paul and Mitch are the reigning ruling Congressional welfare queens. Both men dismiss any other human being on the government benefit and employment welfare dole like them as lazy, ignorant and immoral takers.
Neither Mitch nor Paul have ever been bravely honorable and patriotic enough to ever wear the military uniform of any American armed force. Nor have Mitch nor Paul ever been humble, humane and empathetic enough to volunteer to perform any community human civil rights organization.
Two pathetic parasite scavengers like McConnell and Ryan have been brought and paid for corrupt crony capitalist corporate plutocrat oligarch lobbyists. This tax scam is a House of Barbarian Lords and Organized Crime Families legal license to pilfer, plunder and pillage from the 99.9% by calling out black athletes, Muslims, Mexicans, LGBTQ, Obama, Sessions, Comey, Tillerson, CNN, NYT, etc. as a distraction.
7
For the GOP, as Trey Abu Gaudy said of the Russia investigation, “This is politics.” For them, there is no Truth, just politics and power. That’s it.
4
Don’t you get it? To get what they want, and/or tojustify anything disgusting they have to do to get it, the Republicans will lie about and impugn everything—absolutely without bar. All you have to do is thing of the sick smile pasted on McConnel’s face as he averred that the approval of the Repulican trash tax plan fully followed normal legislative procedure. Remember again, it’s really simple: Anything! Everything!
4
The GOP will use the huge deficit they are creating as an excuse to slash the social safety nets, and will get their supporters who rely on those safety nets to applaud their actions, as they have applauded everything the GOP does which is not in their best interests. It is a phenomenon I still fail to understand.
It has not even been a year since Trump assumed office, and we are witnessing the twilight of the decency this country has always stood for. The Republicans have made it crystal clear that they could care less what the public thinks of them or their actions. They are in control and their only allegiance is to their wealthy donors and corporate buddies. Millions unable to afford health care insurance ? Not a problem for them, they all have first class health insurance policies courtesy of the taxpayers. They have no plans to replace the ACA with anything either. Tax increases on the Middle Class and poor? Make them pay so the wealthy will have more. Further, you better be sure you say Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays, no matter your religion or your lack thereof. (Frankly not really feeling the holiday spirit right now anyway.)
What will this country be like a year from now? I shudder to think. This stolen election has cost the country its soul.
6
They won't even use the deficit as an excuse. When PAYGO cuts kick in, they'll throw up their hands and moan about the automatic processes that they have no control over.
"We would have NEVER touched any of the entitlement programs, but these are automatic cuts, and we were SURE the growth would move past the limits, but it didn't, but golly gosh gee, our hands sure are tied on this one, sorry 'bout that! The Democrats did it! MAGA hruup hruup"
Naturally, no one will ever ask conservatives if they'd even considered the PAYGO cuts while frenetically assembling this cash grab - which they didn't...because their spurious claims of high economic growth are what they're using to "offset" the deficit.
I mean, hey, why not go all the way in and claim 10%, 20%, heck...even 50% forecasted economic growth? MURIKA IS EXCEPTIONAL, right?
You could can slash even more funding for the .1% and corporations... and then feign total shock when PAYGO cuts hit Medicare.
If you're going to sell your soul to the Devil, might as well do it all the way and not by halves.
Is there a special Hell for lying, self-serving Republican lawmakers? If there is, there's a great risk that there will not be enough for all of them, seeing how their ranks are growing daily.
Make America honest again.
2
The Tea Party has NO CREDIBILITY
2
Yup. Turns out the Tea-Party-turned-Trumpers are the most hypocritical people on the planet.
In case you didn't know already.
1
What is especially demoralizing is that the few usually reasonable Senators (Collins, et al) went along for the ride in spite of the evidence. Last-minute promises were made to assuage their doubts, but why in the world do they expect those promises to be kept?
Apparently, no one actually knew what was in the bill, and so the details were fungible. Believe everything you hear from colleagues but claim that the JCT got it wrong this time. I thought fiscal conservatives were supposed to be conservative. Silly me.
5
Facts fail to support Republican trickle down mantra. That's easy to fix ignore the numbers and lie.... Bigly lie and every thing will be alright in Trumpland. MAGA.
1
Apparently facts and truth are secondary to ideology- in a fascist state.
3
Just found out my (healthy) family's monthly health insurance premium will rise next year from $930 to $1300, with a $6800 deductible PER PERSON and pretty much no benefits before that's met. So, for the first time in my working adult life (22 years), I'm going to go without health insurance so we can pay the mortgage.
Would you like to know how much I care about the GOP's stupid tax plan? Better yet, would you like to know what I think they can do with it?
15
That is not a health insurance but highway robbery. I'm sorry for your situation.
What? No one should be surprised that politics is played inside the Beltway.
3
In the late 1970s, Jude Wanniski introduced the GOP to the "Two Santas" concept. He wrote that the GOP would be doomed if it played Scrooge to the Democrats' Nanny State. He advised the GOP to become the party of low taxes and small government. In came The Gipper and deficits and the rest is history. What people don't see is that the stock market boom is a reflection of the federal debt (public debt is private wealth). While stock ownership is broad, it is deep at only one end of the pool. The wealthiest 20% own 93% of stocks, according to Prof. Ed Wolff of NYU. It's a Pareto world.
4
Economists assign probabilities to forecasts not single expected value so it is inaccurate to say a forecast is wrong if an actual number is different from an expected value. That is, if 5 is within the 95% confidence range of 10 it is an excellent forecast.
The GOP coldn't move on Merrick Garland, too little time But no problem with tax cuts for corporations and wealthy and next we'll have destruction of safety net. Should be plenty for Dems to run on, but they'll find a way to blow it I'm sure.
6
Time for a new class of politicians - people who run for Congress on a platform of enacting term limits for all Congresspersons, and permanently terminating the ridiculously expensive perks of the office, including lifetime pension and health benefits for Congress. Congresspersons are no different from lobbyists now - they no longer represent the people. End the gravy train.
6
Term limits will increase the incentive for members of congress to please wealthy corporations. After they can no longer run for Congress they will need lucrative jobs from wealthy corporations. Normal citizens will have NO influence on them at all during their final term because the law will not allow them to run again and therefore they will have NO need at all to convince voters of anything.
Fool us once: Of course we all should reject any kind of professional economic analysis and simply accept the GOP's "assumptions" about how the economy will "grow" with this unnecessary, unneeded, and ultimately damaging tax cut for Big Corporate and the rich.
Fool us twice: And of course, these tax cuts will pay for themselves because trickle-down economics has proven to work so well—for the 1% anyway, if not the rest of us. Just be patient.
Fool us three times: And of course, these tax cuts for the rich will not increase the deficit. But, ho hum, if they do raise the deficit—as happens every time this is done by the GOP--then all the Republicans need to do is cut Social Security, Medicare, all social programs that benefit disabled and needy Americans. Really, this is just what this country needs, and certainly is what the right-wing rich have demanded since the FDR years.
So:
Shame on you GOP for blatantly lying to us again and again.
Shame on you GOP congress persons who caved and once again put party loyalty over truth and the well being of this country's middle class and future.
And, shame on those of us who refuse to let facts, evidence, and truth get in the way of our opinions, hatreds, and suicidal support for the craven, lying GOP.
What happens when there is no shame? We are about to find out.
13
It is not surprising that fact-based public policy is so unwelcome in a GOP-led Congress.
6
Why not just call it what it really is? Lying!
8
The NYT's full on attack on the current tax bill makes me think that I'm reading the Huffington Post rather than the alleged Paper of Record.
There is a lot to criticize/make right about the 2 bills (Senate & House) in Congress. Merely continuing to demonize all of it is not conducive to unbiased reporting. Nor is it helpful in finding solutions that might make the tax reform better.
2
It will never be better until tax cut money that is going to corporations is used instead to rebuild our infrastructure, improve public education, and invest in basic research. If you want to improve the economy, that is how it can really be accomplished. If we are going to add a trillion dollars to the deficit, why don't we spend it on things that will really help the economy.
2
WA, Despite much of the overwrought rhetoric, there are absolutely no reductions in spending on any of those items you mentioned. These are tax cuts, not spending cuts.
Perhaps if the government was focused on actual spending cuts, instead of a backroom deal of shuffling funds so that corporations and the truly wealthy have more money, while the average American gets crumbs, we might listen.
You can't get money from nowhere. If you cut with one hand, you have to take with the other - especially with a budget reconciliation bill, which is what this is. It is not a true tax reform bill.
But the Pentagon got a 700 billion dollar budget, so that's nice, I guess?
With the economy working at near full capacity, nobody in their right mind would try to pump it up now with such totally unneeded tax stimulus. If the Republican corporate tax bill is passed, we can expect greater inequality in our society and rising inflation which will bring on recession.
If Democrats win in 2018 they need to reverse this dumb legislation and actually raise taxes on the rich. With the US maintaining such a great deal of debt, it is very important that we slowly work down the total debt that this country owes. As a baby boomer who is getting up there in age, I do not worry so much for myself as for those much younger than me.
I simply do not understand how anybody can vote Republican. It is hard to find any Republican lawmaker who has any integrity at all.
5
What I love is the current Republican methodology that targets career civil servants, professionals - as corrupt and for sale to the highest bidder. This pattern has been repeated again and again since January last, we see it as recently as yesterday with attacks on the FBI. To get their way, the Administration and its lackeys will lie, demean and cheat anyone who for whatever reason must oppose them. This is only one reason why the Republicans will make little effort to keep the government working - if it's shut down, then there can be no uncomfortable disagreements about tax liability and dynamic scoring. When you destroy experts and expertise, then there's no one left to talk about the President's New Clothes.
3
Here’s what we know will result from this tax bill. The wealthy will get much wealthier. Healthcare will get more expensive. Some of the middle class will see small gains in the next couple of years, but that will fade and further down the road they will pay more than today. The deficit will balloon, and these same Republicans will start wailing about entitlements, and how they have to be cut. Republicans will suddenly become fiscal hawks (now that the wealthy got their’s) and will push for cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, foodstaps, student loans - all of the things that rally help the middle and lower classes, but which mean nothing to the wealthy. And the wealthy will get even wealthier.
6
The point is that the Republican Party does not care what the effects of their bill is on the economy or on the health and welfare of the vast majority of Americans. They just want the benefits for their donor class. In this respect, they are no different than the tobacco industry leaders who didn't care about the damages to smokers' health that studies documented and only cared about their shareholders' profits. Or the auto industry that sought to muddy the findings of studies about the need for seat belts. They can share their stories forever, since they're all headed to the same place.
3
There is not a lie that these radical reactionaries will not tell to get their way. When Trump said he would make America Great Again, he never told us when America was great for the first time. Between the financial activities, the executive orders and the assault on our national parks it is obvious that he and the Republicans are taking us back to the years before Teddy Roosevelt when the country was in the control of the Robber Barons and the Trusts while workers labored in unsafe mines, mills and factories for ever decreasing wages.
1
This tax scam isn't a done deal yet. People need to call their Reps and Senators and light up the phones. They need to do it early and often. They need to make the consequences of a vote clear. The health care town hall meetings should be a mild hint of taxpayer rage that will happen if this ripoff goes through. Too often, we aren't given coverage of what effective strategies groups like Indivisible and our own reps. recommend, until it's too late to take effective action. I'd like to see the NY Times cover this new and important grass roots political movement regularly and in real time; thus informing readers of how to take action, while it's possible to affect change.
4
If we continue down the path that the Republicans are leading us, the USA, as many of us know it, will become a distant memory.
Basically, of everything Trump says, the opposite is true, not the least of which is that he's going to make America great again. He's going to leave it in ruins.
4
Let's hope this tax scam helps destroys the spineless Republican Party, which has already sold its soul to the devil.
3
It looks like our president's reliance on "alternate truths" has spread to the Republicans in Congress. What you wish for becomes the reality! Ignore the hypocrisy of completely contradicting what was said in the not too distant past! Lie about what is happening now! The only solution is to vote them all out of office and hope that the mess they're making is salvageable.
3
Ultra conservatives have been playing a long con, indeed. First, a decade long strategy to elect very conservative Representatives and Senators in small states with Fox controlled media. Use the media to pit rural against urban. Lie about it. Use religion by focusing on a narrow agenda. Once in office, discredit traditional Republicans with dirty tactics. Its a downward spiral. Is it a wonder that the JCT is being discredited?
1
I find it disgusting that these law makers and breakers pick and choose when to support vs. discredit a nonpartisan agency like the Joint Committee on Taxation when it suits them. And folks wonder why the mad dash and rush to get this passed. I never thought I would think so highly of a Republican, but Senator Bob Corker is the only Senator who cares about fiscal responsibility, besides the Democrats. And of course, this $1.5 trillion increase will be felt on the backs of the middle class, their children and grandchildren. Is there no end to the GOP's need for greed? Disgusting and disgraceful.
3
This is news? That Republicans cheat? Ha! They always cheat. They couldn't win elections without cheating: voter suppression efforts in Florida in 2000 helped Bush win. Everyone knows that except for the willfully stupid. Ohio in 2004 when voters in minority neighborhoods had to wait hours in line to vote on a workday? Of course they cheat. It works. Look at the so-called president.
4
Of course - shoot the messenger! It's been working very well indeed for the Tweeter-in-chief; why wouldn't the rest of the flock follow along?
But, hey - they're saying Merry Christmas at the White House again, "unlike in the past," so all is well in Elm City, USA.
1
The Republican Party is as corrupt as can be at this point, at least I hope. They serve their corporate masters and nobody else.
Examples of their corruption... something like 52% of Americans are AGAINST this tax bill and yet it looks like it'll pass. 57% of Americans don't want the current Net Neutrality rules changed, while 16% do want them changed and yet every day on Twitter you seen another Republican Representative or Senator lying about what Net Neutrality actually is. Every single GOP member should lose their job, but they won't because so many of the GOP voters believe the lies Fox News tells them to believe.
3
@ChrisG
So what if ...
"52% of Americans are AGAINST this tax bill"?
- most of them won't bother to vote
"57% of Americans don't want the current Net Neutrality rules changed"?
- most of them won't bother to vote
"16% do want them changed"?
- ALL of them will vote
There is no way that the GOP believes the nonsense that they spout about this horrible bill boosting the economy. If they do believe it, they are stupid. They are lying, and they know it. I am disgusted by every Republican senator, none of whom are working for the American taxpayers. No shame, no scruples, no conscience. Let's see to it that they have no jobs after the next election.
4
Absolutely the most corrupt government in our history. From the administration to the courts to the halls of congress. I cry for my children and grandchildren who will have to pay for these billionaires private jets.
2
Dick Cheney, Bless His Heart (Heart #3, that is), so kindly taught us that "Deficits Don't Matter!" The Cheney Doctrine.
Cheney Doctrine 2.0 :: Truth Doesn't Matter. Math Doesn't Matter.
#DonorLivesMatter
1
This bill, which is not a tax bill at all but a totalitarian boot, is 100% illegal. Taxation without representation is illegal, and the fact that Senators were not allowed to read the bill before voting on it makes this bill illegal. That is taxation without representation. The Senate majority leadership should be sued and impeached for this illegal act against the American people.
4
Since Francis Bacon, the belief system called the sientific method has insisted that when data (the facts) do not support an hypothesis, you believe the data and abandon or change your hypothesis. The Republican party, enamored with a believe system based on the magical thinking , ignores the data (the facts) reported by their own congressional auditors that fails to support their theory. In order to disguise their hypocracy they “kill the messenger”. They claim their experts some how cooked the books even though their report substantially agrees with other Tax experts. Answer this question. Whom shall we trust: The experts or the Republican senators who fathered this tax bill and choose their theory over the facts that refute it?
1
I wish that the NYT - of all people - would not interchange the words "deficit" and "debt"!
3
Why is it that the voters never, ever see the stupendous hypocrisy of the republicon party? Could you just imagine if the Democrats had tried anything like this...or if a Democratic President had spewed even 0.01% of the vile garbage that comes out of the mouth of our Insane Clown Leader?
24
This is a classic example of the utter intellectual dishonesty of these people.
If you have a good, honest plan, why fear analysis?
Their polices and completely disregard of facts are ruinous for the country.
10
If the JCt is consistently underestimating growth, as Cornyn says, then we are not in need of tax payer support for corporate performance.
6
How long are the media going to perpetuate the notion that there are "mavericks", "moderates", and principled, semi-reasonable people among the Senate Republicans? Jeff Flake? A complete phony. John McCain? Phony. Susan Collins? Phony. Lisa Murkowski? Phony. Ron Johnson? Please. Phony phony phony. And these are "the best" of the lot, yes? Liars. Disingenuous. Misleading. Deceitful. And irresponsible. These are people who are willing to say *anything* and not care whether it's true or what people think about it (unless they are a political donor).
46
Liars and Cheaters, each and every ONE.
Thanks, GOP.
10
D.N.'s piece in today's Guardian says it all:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/20...
1
The GOP seems to spend it's existence tripping over inconvenient truths. They're like drunk drivers. Someone needs to take away their keys.
4
Of course this will increase the budget deficit. But the bigger question is what will it do for job growth and economic growth over 10 years. If the deficit is $1 trillion bigger but 10M more people are working -- or millions more have higher wages-- is that good tradeoff? The US spent $2.4 trillion on the Iraq war -- was that money better spent. The key metric is not the total deficit but deficit to GDP, so if the economy grows a lot the deficit won't matter as much. Again -- what does this do for job growth and what does it do for wages -- that is the key.
4
When companies make more money, they share it with the shareholders, NOT their employees.
3
Amen! finally a person that gets it!
The heading is polite to the point of being misleading: republicans are lying.
They are liars and thieves.
9
Trump's promises are worth absolutely nothing, zero. On the contrary each time the guy opens his loud mouth at least one ugly lie comes out. Why would anyone listen to that dude. Lies, liar!
5
I feel overwhelmed by what has happened in the past twelve months as our democratic way of life has collapsed, quite possibly beyond repair. The chief executive can lie with impunity and, in turn, so do a vast majority of the GOP in Congress, not that Democrats don't as well, of course, but not at the expense of making this country exactly this: so far removed from being "great again." We were great when members of Congress understood one of the basic princiiples of a democracy: a healthy debate that consists of opinions based upon facts. We have, historically, evidence of what happens when the people allow for what is happening in Washington, D.C. right now: the rise of dictators. That is exactly what Trump aspires to. And his supporters love that he might in fact become this country's Hitler. We need to be frightened. Very, very frightened.
25
Is this “fake news?” Because the president is getting away with promoting on and in social media it is!!
Easy to solve. The GOP will cut SS and Medicare and give tax cuts to Trump and his pals.
5
The plunderers who see our country as one big resource to exploit for their personal gain have taken over our government and can now forge ahead unhindered by laws, regulations, ethics or concern for anything and anyone other than themselves. The Republicans have handed it over to them, in return for the donations which keep them in office. Now step by step, using their Republican puppets, they will do away with anything that stands in their way, and anything that does not directly benefit them. The wealthy own the country, and it is not our country any longer. The Republicans have turned the government over to them, to dismantle and destroy. I see this as treason.
4
There’s no there there in Trump/ Republican Land.
For Trump, lying is a sport . Right now he is first in the world of lying.
Anti Trump saboteurs need to up their game and out-lie The Don.
3
Republicans keep Truth secret just like who their bosses are.
1
If everything is fake then nothing is real.
1
as soon as the Republicans got the power, they started raping this country. How many years have we heard them block bills because of deficit reasons? Now the mother of all deficit makers is "revenue nuetral"??? This country is doomed.
7
Matters such as tax reform are dry and boring, but very consequential to people's lives. The problem is that voters are not moved by these boring cost-benefit analysis of tax reform. They're impassioned by lies about blacklivesmatter (or bluelivesmatter), death panels from Obamacare, abortion, gun rights and transgenders using the bathroom. These voters are highly motivated on election day, while moderate and liberal voters are apathetic or too cynical to vote. The end result is dysfunctional political system controlled by corporate elites who are unchecked in their rigging of the economy, the tax code and corporate practices that outlandishly overcompensate executives at the expense of workers. All this sums up to gross income inequality, and elites media power to manufacture and highlight cultural issues to distract, confuse and continue to the beggar the masses.
1
Thanks to the NYT for this important reporting. It's too bad this enormously destructive legislation didn't arouse the level of outcry over attempts to kill Obamacare, even though it may effectively do that as well as raise taxes on many low and middle income people, harm education, and pave the way for cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
2
I would urge anyone about to comment here to just take a few minutes to tell your representative exactly what you think of this bill and their stellar "governing" tactics . Make you comment count a little more than just venting on social media. Make your representative's email site your new venting site. Feels good.
4
From the article: "Instead, Senate Republicans questioned the timing of the analysis’ release on Thursday ..."
And when should such a report be released? The only thing questionable was the way the republicans bum-rushed their tax bill through passage. Clearly the republicans had this timed so as to avoid any and all analysis.
5
The result of the tax bill, if passed, will be to increase the share of national wealth owned by the top one percent. This share is already extreme. It, more than anything else, creates a drag on the consumer based economy. The top one percent can only consume so much. One can only expect stagnation, rather than real wage growth pushed by demand, by increasing the wealth of the top one percent.
2
Isn't everyone just sick to death of the spin, the manipulations of the truth, and the outright lies? Don't all tax-paying citizens deserve a thoughtful, well-considered plan that takes every citizen into consideration and that won't harm generations to come? America is so much better than this. GOP, first do no harm!
7
Greed, bigotry and fascism. Hand in hand. Can we hope that we are bigger than this. Do we have to have a revolution? Is the real problem, our over intellectualized world view that really doesn't like getting dirty.
8
Of course it will raise the deficit...how else will Republicans have leverage to call for major spending cuts (most likely to Medicare, Social Security, and the social safety net-things the wealthy Republican constituency do not need). This way, the Democrats will be blamed for out of control spending on entitlements.
The saddest thing is that in the last 18 months, knowingly lying to put forth one's agenda has been normalized and accepted as OK. If you are a high school kid watching all this, you see a man being elected and apparently succeeding by clearly lying and saying many, many things that are simply not true (on illegal immigration as the main cause of low wages and stagnant job growth; on his sexual harassment claims; on the FBI being in 'tatters'; on things like repealing the Estate Tax will help common Americans; on trickle down economics; on the veracity of the Billy Bush tape; on the size of the inauguration crowd, on the Flynn, Comey, Russian thing....one can go on and on). And even though these ongoing lies are clearly debunked and showed to be the untruths they are, Trump and his Republican cohorts are getting what they want out of it all. So we now see that sheer lying is a proven way to win in America.
And now it is more important to elect an alleged child moslester to Congress to keep the Republican majority.
3
The fleecing of America reaches new heights under the shocking and brazenly dishonest, hypocritical, and corrupt GOP. Not unexpected from most republicans in the Senate but shame on "moderates" such as Collins, Murkowski, and McCain. May they all somehow, someday pay for the harm that they're doing every day to all but the richest Americans. And doubly so for our Groper in Chief.
4
No surprises here folks, I have no shock or outrage left, just expectations of seeing more of the same. We are now in full Orwellian mode, the Republicans have been shoveling coal in to that engine for years and are now unabashedly emboldened to hitch a ride on the Trump train.
With the deliberate undermining of the JCT and CBO we have been taught that 2 + 2 does not actually equal 4. With the dissemination of false information and last minute publication of the Senate tax bill with illegible scribblings in the margins we are taught that our ignorance is their strength.
George Orwell is not rolling over in his grave, he is saying I told you so.
4
I am puzzled about the voting of one particular Republican Senator who could have made a difference in this unfortunate outcome.
Senator McCain voted against the efforts of the Republicans to repeal Obamacare, and at the time he said:
"We must now return to the correct way of legislating and send the bill back to committee, hold hearings, receive input from both sides of aisle, heed the recommendations of nation's governors, and produce a bill that finally delivers affordable health care for the American people. We must do the hard work our citizens expect of us and deserve."
Why did he decide to NOT to heed those words regarding this heinous tax bill. He supported this one sided, manipulative, secret, hand written impromptu legislation with no input from the other side of the aisle.
So much for being a man of principle.
5
How do we americans fight back against the most un-democratic Congress and Senate in our history, The whole Republican party has joined forces to create an atmosphere where democracy does not appear in the governing of our country and that the movement, or if you will the legalized stealing or moving money from more than 85% of the American people to probably 10 or less of the population.
Ruling by ignoring the basis of laws, the democratic process and moving people into critical positions who have shown and campaigned against the American people, the health of the American people, the education of the American peole and the lives of the American pweople who have become less able to get even a minimum of decent health care as a result of the one-sided effort to appropriate funds for the wealthy and remove them from the needy.
1
Let's face it, unless this country experiences a dramatic turnaround it is doomed. When the populace can no longer face the hard facts of life, then the populace will suffer the consequences of lying to themselves. That's how we got the 2008 Great Recession.
2
Hypocrisy plays a role in political justifications, but the GOP and its leadership, Ryan and McConnell, have taken it to new levels of absurdity. Ignoring and attacking the agency they created when it's figures don't support the proposed tax bill, is one more lie on the mountain of deceit and shamefulness inflicted on their constituents. We can only hope that the voters provide the fix in the 2018 election.
3
Congratulations to the Times for its early reporting on the tax bill. One can hope there will be more of those with knowledge of the process who are willing to share their stories with the press. It will become clear how cynical the Republicans are. Perhaps the public will rebel in time to avert passage of this catastrophic bill into law.
For starters, Democrats need to demand that the corporate rate be lowered to 28%, not 20%. Rubio pointed to the good that could be done by moving from 20 to 21%. What more good could be done by moving it to 28%, still a massive cut in taxes paid by corporations.
1
Not to worry about the deficit. Medicare, Medicade, Social Security, and all social welfare money for civilians are low hanging and ripe for the picking to bring sanity back to our fiscal mess.
1
I am so tired of all this. So heartsick and weary. But that's what they want isn't it - to outlast us. So the fight must go on. The alternative is unthinkable.
“The people who prepare our cost estimates are the best in the business,” Republicans on the House Budget Committee said on a page that has since been removed from their website, “and they’ve been working on this issue for years.”
But when their analysis isn't lock step with the GOP creed they are discredited. As the other statistics generated by the government's different agencies are embraced or reneged on - as it suits the purposes of the GOP.
Can the GOP hubris know no bounds. Can they not stop trying to change the facts to suit their purpose - to come up with alternative facts - an oxymoron - to defend their positions.
Can they not stop lying about the effects of their tax bill, the intent? Can they not stop this President from despoiling the millions of acres that previous Presidents have preserved for us - we- the people.
Keep on the good fight Democrats and progressives and Gasp liberals, blacks and other people of color, immigrants, women, the educated, the young, the elderly, the sick to win back our country. We are the majority. We've had a long fight that's not over. I'm tired too, but that's what they count on - keep on keeping on.
There are organizations that will help, including environmental organizations and Indivisible and others - accept their help - give to them - resist.
3
Tax cuts for the wealthy are necessary to stimulate growth but it will take a new war to really get things moving!
1
Senate Republicans questioned the timing of the release of the Joint Committee on Taxation's report? Would they have preferred to wait for the Treasury Department's much-promised, but still elusive report?
In a year of misdirection, fabrication, obfuscation, and just plain-old simple bold-faced lying, perhaps the biggest yet.
1
With the Republicans. the hypocrisy and deception never seems to end. I wonder what McConnell sees when he looks into the mirror.
1
The only debt that matters to the Republicans is the one owed to their donors.
In return they get to pursue fixing what’s wrong with America: the rich aren’t rich enough and the poor are too rich. But nothing is richer than the joke they are playing on their middle and lower class base, which has to make do with a war on transsexuals and gay couples. Rocket Man, do you really want to interrupt what Trump and his party are doing to your arch enemy?
1
Is there now any doubt that the GOP no longer cares about FACTS or truthfulness? For me this is a group that has lost all its own credibility.
So SAD!!!
1
>>>Instead, Senate Republicans questioned the timing of the analysis’ release on Thursday<<<
When the heck ELSE were they supposed to release these figures? This tax cut document is so new that some of it was literally handwritten in the margins for crying out loud!
OMG, every time I think I could hate the GOP more, more evidence of their appalling hypocrisy and blatant cynicism comes to light.
1
Million Citizen March on Washington, next up.
1
And the Congress still hasn't talked about the cost of rebuilding our infrastructure. They live in fantasyland. Secondly, let's take medicare and social security out of the general budget, both their cost, the income from the SS and medicare taxes, and the trust fund that holds our past contributions. If we need to raise those two taxes to support those two programs let's let the American people decide. Fund the balance of the government from the regular income tax.
1
I've always been Leary of "fast talkers." Can't trust them. They have to get their message out and approved of before you can actually comprehend what their message is. Beware the "fast talking republicans." Selling goods which are only beneficial to them. What amazes me is there are still people not in the higher brackets swallowing their lies. Can they really believe giving more money to the wealthy, benefits, and destroying the environment benefits them? Since when have businessmen been in it for anyone but themselves? Time to wake up and smell the ..., well I wouldn't say coffee. You can figure it out. This congress definitely played their constituents along with their fast talk. Shame. We the middle, lower income , will pay the price.
1
The experts are predicting huge deficits as a result of the Repubs corporate and plutocrat tax cuts. Not gonna happen. They plan to compensate by gutting all the social programs.
1
At this point, with all the negative reviews about Trump, his very low approval rating, the sexual harassment scandals that have brought powerful men down and which loom over the president, why do the Republicans choose to support anything that he promotes? Is beating the Democrats more important than the welfare of the nation? Is putting another Republican in the Senate (Roy Moore) more important than distancing oneself from an accused pedophile? If we know nothing else about Republicans now it's that they are only about themselves, the wealthy and corporations, not the average American. Not surprising. What we suspected about them before is now available, thanks to social media and the internet, for all to see.
3
The only economic policy Republicans have been interested in these last two decades is one dedicated to shoveling money to plutocrats. All that ever changes is the size of the shovel and the size of the lies they tell.
1
Deficit spending is to fiscal hawks as morality is to much of modern evangelism (see Alabama). It's what is preached, not what is practiced, and the two need not be related in any way. In this alt-Republican world, facts, and even Truth, are little more than what one prefers them to be, just as are economic workings. So, of course tax cuts will pay for themselves, the benefits of resulting accelerated growth will gush down to the lower economic echelons, and Trump will take a hit -- bigly.
1
"'I’m totally confident this is a revenue-neutral bill,' Senator Mitch McConnell ... 'Actually a revenue producer.'"
Based on what study? Three studies show the tax bill adding to the deficit. Where does Mr. McConnell get his information?
Did the GOP commission its own study to prove otherwise? Or are they legislating based on their gut feelings now? The Treasury's study has never materialized.
5
Wait, I want to play, too:
If I eat more ice cream, I'll have more energy and move around more, so I'll lose weight. Right?
This game is fun.
6
Maybe there is still hope. Hope that by the time the Republican lies are evident to almost everyone, the Democrats will hold a strong majority in both houses. Hope that Trump is out off office, and living in Russia to avoid the American justice system. Hope that Trump has not left the next Democratic president with an even bigger economic mess than did our previous Republican savior.
1
I would say, "Fine, Republicans, you own this now," except I know there is absolutely zero (0) chance any of them will ever own up to the inevitable results of this scheme: the rich will certainly get much richer, the poor will scrape along as always, and the middle class gets hammered once again because (evidently) we don't have a choice in the matter.
3
The GOP, like the president, knows no other way to deal with opposition than to attack. Due deliberation? No. Respect for others. No. The best for the average American? Don't be silly. Democracy? What's that? Get your way, or attack.
1
One simple question: Whose side is the Republican Party on, the side of a million fabulously wealthy individuals who cocoon themselves inside corporations and pass-throughs, or the other 311 million other Americans who are trying to get ahead in a system that increasingly hostile to them? Inquiring minds want to know.
1
So despite thousands of studies and the consensus of the scientific community, the Republicans do not believe in global climate change.
Despite reports from the JCT and all reputable economists, they don't believe it will lead to bigger deficits.
Amazing to have a modern 21st century nation rely on speculation and unfounded beliefs.
If the Republican Senators do not believe in gun control, environmental regulation, taxes, etc, etc., they should go to a country that has similar beliefs, there are dozens of them. South Sudan, Afghanistan, most of Pakistan, etc. Any Senator who really wants to enjoy unlimited freedom and move to one of these countries, please call and I will buy you a one way ticket.
1
I've about had it with being insulted by corrupt, vindictive old men. The are no longer fit to steward our nation. And the irony of them rapping about people sitting around wanting handouts is stunning when compared to the handouts of our future they just gave away to the Koch brothers and their other masters.
1
Will this be enough to motivate the missing 49% of Americans to vote? We'll see.
4
Actually, Trump is their perfect President.
Talk about corruption.
May the republican leaders receive all they deserve. This is my prayer this Christmas.
1
The combination of Koch brothers, the Evangelical bigots, and intellectually isolated middle America have brought "The American People" to a point where ignorance, hate, & isolation are the more important than thought, reality, and truth.
1
perfectly understandable, but let's not forget the usa is the most right wing country of any western democracy.
it's also the easiest to pull the wool over the citizens' eyes. repeat the big lie often enough and soon you'll a huge % of the 'folks' repeating the lie erbatim.
Hussein 9/11, Hussein 9/11 and so on, for example.
1
The Party leadership suppresses or discredits anything that ruins counter to the party line and the rank and file unquestioningly follows. The Republican and Soviet Communist parties look more alike every day.
4
My God. There is no depth to which these hypocrites won't lower themselves to fleece the American public, whom they constantly claim to "serve" and "speak for" and to pay back their rich donors and handsomely line their own pockets.
They are repulsive.
54
I'm afraid this is precisely true. At this point, there really does not seem to be a limit to what they will do. The hypocrisy is stunning. There will be consequences, but so much suffering and loss to come before then.
1
The GOP has acquired all the credibility of its new master.
19
Actual president Charles Koch said 'boys, go attack the JCT and his puppets said no problem boss'!
13
In the Republicans' defense, I think they've pretty much declared their policy as "public-be-damned" since the "catastrophic success" of Warpresident Bush. Furthermore, everybody knew Trump was a Russian agent when "we" elected him president.
Thank you, New York Times, for your thorough reporting. I turn to you multiple times a day to get a clear understanding of what Trump and the Republicans are doing to desecrate our government and safety nets. They are hell-bent on undoing all of the good we’ve accomplished to make this the greatest country in which to live. I, for one, am seriously thinking of leaving before it gets any worse. Unfortunately, I suspect I will not be alone.
19
To get vote from the rich give them what they want -money and rest of the voters-prayers
4
When the facts don’t support your public agenda, just ignore the facts. Just look at republicans and climate change. What a joke the GOP has become.
9
Don't need no edjakashun, don't need no 'riten, no 'rithmetic, says the GOP and they have Betsy De Vos to make sure this happens.
11
I never want to hear another white, rich, comfortable Republican or conservative whine and moan about being the victim of "class warfare" ever again. This legislation is an attack on the middle and working class that may permanently enshrine the oligarchical, fascist ruling class we have allowed to capture the government that was once of, by, and for the people -- the latest triumph of rapacious capitalism over democracy.
21
Right. The middle class that doesn't invest because they're spending all their pennies on booze, movies and women. -- Charles Grassley (R) Iowa.
We are under attack. Buy off the lower tier actors and someday you’ll be able to buy a “President.” Destroy order. Destroy political process. Destroy public lands. Destroy Net Neutrality. Destroy all sense of a Collective and sow cynicism and rage. Repeat, because people will eventually come to believe whatever is repeated over and over.
Now What?
10
We all know the drill:
The GOP will lie. (Trickle down, Bush tax cuts, Preemptive war not paid for, Medicare Part D not paid for, etc.)
The effects will be devastating:(16 years of war with no end in sight, the Great Recession, etc.)
The Democrats will take over and try to fix it. (Obamacare, Financial sector reforms, etc.) The GOP and its media arm will blame the Dems for the very problems they are trying to solve. Enough of the public will believe it, and will give the GOP the next election cycle.
Rinse, repeat.
32
Republicans lie so easily and believe these lies so easily. What they are doing is now at the booming economy is what they were against after the collapse of our economy, saying Obama's unfunded debt increase as emergency fiscal measure would slowdown our economic recovery. They were against other emergency acts done by the Fed such as sharp rate cuts and QE. Are Republicans right? History proves that they were wrong. Against Obama planned then, now they say that the economy grows faster if they cut taxes for corporations and very rich people by increasing tax and other financial burdens of the middle/under class. It is sad that a large number of American families would suffer from their actions. In 10 years after the full implementation of new tax system, our income/wealth disparity will further increase and more and more people will encounter stagnant income growth. Sadly those middle/under class Republicans that lent the rich their voting power will also suffer sharply. Only Trump families and other rich families would enjoy these tax cuts. However, they would not say "Thank you!" to those ignorant Republican voters, and they would praise themselves that how smart they are.
3
You would think that the Kochs have guns to the Repub. heads. While in the face of incontrovertible evidence, they still stick to this egregiously wrong tax bill. Reality is the least of their interests.
8
Another opinion laden article by the Times. Of course Tankersley fails to mention that these projections are almost always wrong. The Republicans are correct to doiminish them.
When has the Times ever followed up and compared these types of projections to what actually happened after the fact? Never. If they did their readers will finally realize that projections like this or for example the CBO's projections regarding Obamacare sign up (9 million vs. 21M projected) are woefully inaccurate. The Times does not want its readers to know that since it always runs counter to what Democrats say.
4
Yes, because the estimate for one study was off by a factor of two, we should ignore all estimates and just rely on wishful thinking and what “feels right”.
How about looking at past evidence for how this strategy has worked in the past to grow the economy? Oops. Cf. Kansas, etc.
Yes, because their estimates are almost never even close. Did you even read what I wrote?
Just like the Iraqi oil income would pay for the 'preventative war' the Republican's lied us into 15 years ago. They are unrepentant liars and can not be believed on anything.
6
GOP joins in Trumpian delusions.
Be absolutely sure to vote out every single supporter of this bill in 2018.
8
I may be naïve here but I refuse to join in the hand-wringing defeatist attitude that it's a given, that republicans will again get away with yet another knife in the back to ordinary Americans and the democrats who historically support them.
I heard Sherrod Brown, Claire McCaskill, Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders, Liz Warren and many others raise hell right to the faces of Hatch, Grassley, McConnell, Brady, Barrasso, etc. We need to echo and amplify their voices.
Republicans will lie, cheat and steal every time. They're good at it and have gotten away with it for far too long, because we've let them. Yes they have fox, and hate radio and many courts in their arsenal of weapons. But we the people have the numbers, the majority, and if we use it, the loudest voice.
I don't and won't accept their cutting SS, Medicare, Medicaid and aid to those who need it most in exchange for Dollars from Donors. They've rolled us too many times. I wouldn't care so much if it were just the trumpsters - but it's all of us.
The special elections last mo. showed it can be done. We can and must wipe the floor with them in 2018 and send them home. If not, we will no longer have a country, much less a home or a future anyone wants to live in.
It's all on the line this time. Giving up is not an option. Fight fire with fire if that's what it takes. But fight we must.
6
So the Republicans lied? My Lord, what a surprise! Legislate in haste, repent at leisure! Vote in 2018 and throw the bums out!
3
I agree. But trying to un-ring this bell will take a Democratic president, and Democratic congress. It’s long-run, guaranteed damage.
It seems that Trump's toddler-like behavior has influenced the entire Republican Party.
In a nutshell (say in your best toddler voice):
"If I don't like it it's bad and fake!"
5
The problem for America - the 99%'ers - is that this bill is bad (very bad) in the out years, but might reduce the average family's tax bill by a few hundred bucks in the near term. If I have learned anything it's that the American voter is as forgetful as they are gullible. By the time the hangover hits the Repubs will have a new strategy to blame the Dems - "welfare queens" will make a roaring comeback i'm guessing - and the voter will again be duped. I'm sufficiently exasperated that I can't even get angry over this anymore. The US has the government it deserves. It pains me to think of what country my daughter will grow up in.
6
So the Republicans just lie to get the result they wanted. Who would think the GOP would do such a thing... Wait until it's the Dems turn....
1
There is nothing novel or surprising about this approach in todays environment. Ideology is rarely supported consistently by data, and data can always be white washed as poorly researched or even ideologically driven. The Republicans needed a "win" at whatever cost. The gall to criticize the timing of the reports release is unimaginable; the fact that a report could come out in the amount of time this bill was manufactured is a miracle in itself. In a few months, when welfare reform to pay for the deficit is front and center the costs of social programs as determined by the same organization will again have it in good standing with republicans.
I wish I had a measure of confidence that the GOP would pay for its craven lying and hypocrisy, but I'm pretty sure they won't. Red states will vote red no matter what. In can't say what I'd like to say on this public board, but I'm guessing readers will have no difficulty guessing.
1
Like clockwork, a new article in the WSJ:
"Dollar General targets consumers who make less than $40,000. And they've been massively successful because, as Dollar General's CEO puts it, "The economy is continuing to create more of our core customer.""
Thanks GOP!
6
I like how the Pod Save America crew calls the bill by it's most accurate name, "The Donor Relief Bill."
4
Last week, the NYTimes surveyed 25,000 middle class taxpayers and discovered that although the effect of the Tax Act depends on a particular taxpayer's facts and circumstances, the majority would benefit from it. Not surprisingly, the relatively wealthy from Blue states get hit the hardest( which probably explains the reason why Democrats are so opposed to the bill).
On the corporate side, the bill uses a carrot and stick approach: The carrot is a lower corporate tax rate which will induce US multinationals to locate more of their operations in the US( e.g., China's corporate tax is now 25%). As an international corporate tax lawyer for almost 40 years, I know that relative tax rates(i.e., US vs non-US) are a big factor in the manufacturing sourcing analysis. The "stick" consists principally of the tax on earnings retained by foreign subsidiaries of US multinationals and the expansion of the types of income that are earned by them which will be taxed currently in the US. For example, this will tax the $ 2.6 trillion of cash hoarded offshore by the Googles, Apples et al) and will also discourage them from transferring valuable intangibles to tax havens like Ireland. Again , 'another reason for Dems to hate the bill, i.e., their biggest donors are the big tech companies on the Left coast.)
1
I feel like I hear the same hyperbolic comments every time there is a new administration in the White House. I suspect that most people would not even notice there was a new tax bill if there were not the exasperated screaming about it all month. I just have more important things to worry about.
As a single person, who has a mortgage on a modest one bedroom in NYC....I am about to get crushed @ross. Open your eyes!!!
Surely Mitch McConnell, genius economist, would have said exactly the same thing if this committee had said that a bill that Obama wanted would add a trillion to the deficit. Or should I say, Mitch McConnell, shameless hypocrite.
3
Anyone who says that these tax cuts will be paid for by growth is either lying for ideological reasons, or they're an idiot. The deficit will balloon. What's really happening here, and why Republicans are so reluctant to criticize Trump, is that he's taken lying to levels they never imagined. They can now lie about anything and everything. If they don't like a report that came out, no problem, just lie about it. We're headed downhill.
1
It'll take a generation, but we will erase this stain called 45cm.
So, Senator Collins, what say you? Having appeared on Meet the Press to assure the American public that this bill was not just a wholesale giveaway to the rich, and that the bill would, indeed, pay for itself, as you were assured by the dean of the Columbia Business School who has, no doubt, the studies to back up what you claim he told you (and by all means, please do release those studies so we can all appreciate the evidence you have to support your statements, because no one else has been able to back up these wildly optimistic forecasts with anything concrete). Or, would you care to rethink your support, now that we know that you are all making it up? And you Senator McCain? How about you, Senator Flake, long a deficit hawk yourself? How long do you think it'll be before your sham/scam is revealed? Is this why you went into public "service"? To sell your souls to the highest bidders? Or, in McCain's case, to secure further tax breaks that preserve your family's already considerable wealth? #deplorable
3
I'l take my hypocrisy straight up in the form of Mitch McConnell, and not histrionic hand-wringers like Collins, Flake and McCain, who were bought off with "assurances".
Is it possible to indict for treason all the Congressmen who endorse this tax plan because they know that there is a large possibility it may eventually destroy the American economy? Isn't this as deleterious to the country's welfare as someone who detonates an atomic bomb in a public square?
Sad to say, but nobody cares anymore if republicans don't play by the rules. There are no rules. We're in a street fight to save what's left of this country. Democrats need to start winning elections. When republicans go low, we need to go lower. Dirty tricks, obfuscation, whatever it takes. We must save this country.
1
This is the world we live in now. If Republicans don't like the facts, they just claim the facts are wrong.
3
So, the disease that is Donald Trump has infected the entire GOP.
Don't like the fact, attack and discredit the sources.
Republican Congress passed Tax Hike for majority Americans.
GOP Tax Bill is Tax Hike.
This mess of a tax bill was inevitable, as the GOP needed to end the year with something, actually, anything. But in a way it makes perfect sense that they support this bill and the staggering budget deficit that will result from it. Now the deficit gives them the excuse to destroy Medicaid, Medicare, environmental protections, education, health care, scientific research, etc, etc, to "balance the budget". It is hard to believe that those that keep repeating "God Bless America" and "America First" are so heartless and oblivious to the needs of the majority of the people of this country.
Welcome to the Third World!
The irony of this is perfect. The Joint Committee on taxation, a brain child of congressional republicans to provide accurate measures of tax legislation in order to hold democrats feet to the fire, has now roasted the republicans by its analysis that their tax plan will increase the deficit by $1 trillion.
1
Of course deficits matter. That was one point that Republicans made for decades and that may be the one thing they got right. Now the Republican Party has become the Party of Do Anything so you don't appear to be doing nothing. But, the deficits that will follow from this ill-conceived tax plan will hurt all of America's children in the future. Tax cuts are nice if everyone benefits. But this appears to be short term benefits (mainly for a few) in exchange for long term pain for most who don't put their wealth in off-shore accounts and have estates outside of the U.S. where they can spend all of our hard earned dollars. When the Americans who voted for this Congress find out how they have been hoodwinked these Congressmen and Senators will be long gone, perhaps sipping Pina Coladas in the Caribbean.
Their actions give new meaning to the term "unprincipled."
So we learned some time ago that the Republicans are the anti-science party . Now it is clear that they are also the anti-math party. They seem to have become the Ayn Rand Party; and while I enjoyed her novels, I understand they were FICTION.
The GOP 100 Year Plan is right on target. By the time the damage becomes unavoidable and obvious, Americans will have forgotten this tax bill, Democrats will be in power, and will take the blame for the devastation. Yet another Republican demagogue will sweep into power on a wave of skillfully misdirected anger, and the cycle begins again, ratcheted up another couple of clicks, until there is no one left to swindle. Just the way GOD (and St, Reagan) intended.
The Republican controlled House and Senate merely did what they were told to do by their donor class and corporate masters. All to protect and propagate their tax payer funded jobs and the benefits that go with them.
Next year they'll have unlimited resources at their disposal to counter any opposition research Democrats might expose.
It's all very simple, really and it's disgusting.
Just think, we've got 7 more years of this torment. If we don't get blown up by somebody.
1
If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it. That's the Republican approach at this point. Spread lies, discredit the creditable, and assert ideology over facts and evidence. The worst of it is that this approach is working.
This bill is a disaster - the entire Trump presidency is a disaster.
I don't know how Mitch McConnell sleeps at night - one of the most unethical people ever to serve in the United States Senate. He's a disgrace. Who knows why the people of Kentucky have kept this horrible man in office - he doesn't serve their interests. He serves only his rich donors.
Keep up your work, Robert Mueller.
1
The sad truth is that no one would ever vote for republicans if they told the truth.
The Republicans clearly have decided to behave as dishonorably as their dishonorable president. The whole lot of them are the devil's helpers---and I say that as a shamed former Republican who will never vote their way again.
1
It's pretty clear that the Republicans have decided to openly wage class war against the rest of us before Mueller indicts and convicts the entire corrupt Trump administration. Right out in the open, the multi millionaires and billionares in the senate and house just gave themselves such enormous tax cuts that it will increase the deficit a trillion dollars. Trillion with a T people. Such greed and avarice, and a lack of compassion in their control of government! Out of control, and giddy with power. Are you watching, America? Do you understand whats going on? Probably not if you're watching Hannity Alternate Reality TV.
Wait...Republicans deliberately lied, and actively attacked data they didn't lke, for politcal gain and to serve their wealthy masters?
Say it ain't so, Joe.
Who ya gonna believe, real economists or a bunch of political hacks bought by the Koch brothers?
It is really depressing to read the news these days. Not for the faint of heart. Liars and thieves in a government.
3
These people are dangerous - really dangerous.
1
Now playing in the 21st century, what happened in the Roman Republic, before the rise of Caesar. Unabashed corruption, deception and lies. The founding fathers tried to prevent a repeat, but Citizen's United changed all of that. Like, the Roman Republic, America is rotting from within. It is only a matter of time, America takes on characteristics of the Roman Empire; if it hasn't already.
4
Trump and the Repropagandacan ($R) Party have turned government into the biggest con game going.
9
One thing I'm sick of. The Republicans keep bragging how they doubled the standard deduction but...they never tell you that they are doing away with the exemptions. So for a single taxpayer, while the standard deduction goes from $6350 to $12000, the exemption goes from $4050 to $0. Correct me if I'm wrong, that means if one can't itemize, the amount that is deducted for a single taxpayer from adjusted gross income goes from $10400 to $12000. Only an increase. Only an increase of $1600. Yet the Republicans keep bragging about they have doubled the standard deduction and hardly anybody calls them out on this. Shame on you media for not pointing this out.
46
Also if you are currently in the 10% bracket, your tax rate goes up to 12%.
And if you are a family of four, taxable income goes up not down. The exemption for 2018 is (was) going to be $4,150. The deduction for married couple $13,000. For a family of 4, $4 x $4,150 + $13,000 = $29,600.
Taxable income jumps by $5,600. Yes, the tax credit increases (we don't know by how much yet - a lot can happen in conference). But in the current proposals, the credits are not inflation adjusted (and anyway they expire).
Truth, finally, means nothing. Facts are dispensable. Last week's statements are inoperable. I am in my 70s. I fear I may live to see the end of the republic.
38
I'm skeptical about the tax plan causing growth to offset the cost of the tax cuts. But crazier things could happen. No one saw how important the internet was going to be at the time Al Gore invented it. And now look.
3
As long as we can make snarky comments invoking the Al Gore meme, we don't care what's in the tax reform.
As a Seattle Times columnist said, it seems likely that the Republicans, after creating over a trillion dollars in new debt with the tax revision, will go after Medicare and Medicaid to offset the tax benefits for the wealthy. I wonder what will happen in next elections? People paid money into Social Security all their working lives. an happen in lifeWhat will they have to say by their votes when that old age security is taken from them? People with disabilities, both physical and mental, did not sign up for disabilities, they were just unlucky. Do they belong on the street? What would Jesus say?
18
GOP tax plan provisions to end the ACA insurance mandate will increase the number of uninsured people 50 to 65 years old — just the age when chronic conditions can be diagnosed and managed efficiently and inexpensively.
These uninsured people today will cost Medicare more tomorrow. Chronic diseases account for 90% of all Medicare spending.
Without diagnosis, prevention and management of chronic illnesses among those 40 to 65, Medicare will pay more for their health care later. As the current 44 million Medicare beneficiaries grows to 79 million, expect a combination of unaffordable higher premiums and greater co-pays for Medicare beneficiaries, plus higher Medicare taxes for workers.
A third of Medicare patients with low chronic disease — no chronic conditions or just one long-term health concern — are responsible for less than 10 percent of annual costs and spend less than $2,000 yearly.
The 17% of Medicare patients with more than six chronic conditions, account for half of all spending and $26,000 per capita.
We need more, not less, chronic disease interventions - the sooner the better - for the double today's number of beneficiaries that we will see in 12 years.
thanks.
1
What did Jesus say?
"Take ye therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow will take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." And right now we are seeing a lot of evil! Time for prayer and action!
We're all seeing the largest transfer of wealth in American history, a bill largely written by Wall St. and by lobbyists representing the wealthiest GOP donors. The Koch Bros. had their lobby team in the backroom with McConnell actually calling the shots...don't dare add this, cut this, etc.
This is what you voted for, Trump supporters? Really? Tax hikes for the wealthy, financed by the middle class and big deficit blowups?
23
The transfer will be from Social Security trust funds to the Kochs, Mercers, Trumps and most of Congress.
1
Wow what a big surprise! Politicians lying! What has the world come to?
3
As an educated informed member of the elite (before that meant having a post graduate degree and a professional career; now it is anyone who has at least a college degree and reads) I am reminded by a prescient comment by a visitor from Asia to the US thirty years ago: he observed that the US is about individuality not the common good and inequality will only increase over time. While his country is not perfect by any means, the ruling class does spread the largess to as many as possible - the concentration of wealth and power is not as gross as in the US. For example, medical care - a basic level of healthcare is guaranteed for all citizens. In the US now it is every person for him or herself.
8
We need a new rule in Congress: the adverse effects of any tax change hits senators and representatives personally. 50% of their annual salary should be placed in escrow. Ten years from now, if the deficit is worse, they forfeit the cash. If the deficit is not worse, they will be paid. This is true even if they leave Congress for any reason. Let's see if they are willing to put their money on those lies.
17
Won't work. They get way more from tax cuts.
The JCT analysis assumed a projected ten-year GDP growth rate of 1.8% annually. The GDP growth for each of the last two quarters was 3.3% and 3.2% respectively. Of course, The JCT seriously underestimated economic growth and overestimated the deficit that would result from the tax reform bill.
With deregulation under the Trump administration and the positive effect of tax cuts (even if small), there is little to suggest the U.S. economic expansion will encounter significant headwinds going forward. Also, energy prices have halved in the last three years. Global economic growth is accelerating to levels not seen in years.
Oh, and when the NYT writes about something like 37 of 38 prominent economists agreed that tax reductions would have little stimulus on the economy, well, it just reminded of the old toothpaste commercials - you know the ones that started with "Nine out of ten dentists agree.."!
Depends on which dentists you ask...
And we are also in the longest sustained period of growth in our history. It cannot last forever. What happens when it falls and the deficit skyrockets and revenues fall because we cut taxes for the only ones who have it to pay?
A state like New York will simply have to make the tax bill revenue nuetural for its middle class citizens by enacting some sort of Windfall Recovery tax on the corporations and the most wealthy who will benefit from it in order to offset necessary state and local tax cuts for the middle class. This will not be a partisan issue as middle class families with children in say Nassau and Suffolk, heavily Republican, will be murdered financially by what the President signs. The collateral damage to real estate prices alone will be astounding.
13
Cleary America has "de-volved" into a country in which politics/ideology has become very "tribal" in nature and especially with Republican supporters who strangely continue to vote against their self-interest, where facts mean little and vote for a party that although they continue to claim otherwise, plainly cares little or nothing aout them. Why would voters continually repeat this behavior?
It would seems the experts are now pretty unanious about this in that when you have a group of people who are more than willing to give up freedom of thought, avoidance of the facts and blindly believe everything they are told, the "Tweetster" and his Republican cronies no longer can be given the titles of President and a political party. They can now be more correctly described as a "cult".
5
If this country is the Titanic, the Republicans are both sinking it and looting as much of it as they can before it slips beneath the waves. Their next act will be to commandeer the lifeboats and leave the rest of us to drown in the icy waters.
8
The Republicans have declared war on the very concept of objective truth. They want a world in which they can just say that their bill will make money, and it will become truth regardless of the actual merits of the claim. It would be laughable if it weren't so terrifying.
They see power as an end in itself, not as a means to an end. Mitch McConnell has shown no qualms about breaking every (small d) democratic norm that stands in the way of getting what he wants, and the inevitable end result of this will be a fascist one-party state, which should terrify everyone.
Mitch McConnell's continued power is a threat to the very foundation of our country: our democracy. It's time for the media to stop being cowards and call him out for what he is.
13
Orwell was off by 33 years.
Finally, 2 + 2 = 5.
Thus 1984 + 33 = 1984
Let's hear it for alternative facts.
7
So, the GOP knows this bill is a massive scam against taxpayers.
Not surprising, the GOP has nothing.
Our state rep, Peter Roskam (IL-06), refuses to reply to constituent calls and emails about the bill. When presented with evidence or questions about the flimsy bill in interviews locally, he simply says "I disagree". As if there are no experts he could consult for something, anything, to prove to his constituents that the bill will help them.
The GOP has nothing. This bill (both House and Senate versions), is not the GOP "governing". They wrote them both in secret, amended in handwriting at the 11th hour, and still haven't produced a Treasury assessment (Mr. Mnunchin, we're waiting!).
The GOP has nothing.
They are paying back the donor class for helping install them in power, are attempting to hold that power via gerrymandering and devious electioneering, and nakedly put the interests of Corporations over their own taxpaying human constituents.
It's disgusting, and these GOP Representatives and Senators will have to live out their retirements (they won't be re-elected) in shame, explaining to their grandchildren the horror they've let loose on America.
Of course, thanks to the estate tax repeal those grandchildren will likely be sitting in gilded rooms and unaffected.
For shame, GOP. For shame.
You govern not.
6
Everyone's eyes are on tax analyses and Republican shenanigans. But confronting these things--by exposure of the behavior, reporting the truth, shaming, outrage, and the like--won't fix the situation.
This is because those actions don't penetrate to the underlying corruption which drives these shameful, destructive behaviors -- namely the domination of rich donors and lobbies over the political system.
Until that is fixed, no economically just legal or political actions will see the light of day, regardless of what the populace wants. (Remember, the health care bill which almost passed was wildly umpopular; and the just-passed tax bill has the support of only a small minority of the general population.)
Politicians will only continue to do what is in their own interest (which is to say in the interest of their wealthy backers) at the expense of the rest of us.
4
I have no confidence in the Republican plan for all the typical reasons, but what I'm really curious about now is what thoughtful people think about how this plan will affect our political culture. I wonder if any conservatives are worried that this bet on radical supply side economics with come back to haunt them when the rosy predictions don't come true. Are any Republicans worried that they promised more than they can deliver?
5
I am hoping that once Republicans pass this tax bill, they next defund Social security and get rid of medicare and medicaid and the like programs.
Hopefully in a decade or two that would leave us with a population that would be willing to vote once every two years. We would be back to enjoying the benefits of democracy.
1
"'How is it,' they wrote in their response points, 'that J.C.T. found the time to produce and make public its macroeconomic analysis of the Senate bill, when it has yet to produce the same analysis of the House bill that passed weeks ago.'"
Translation: We don't want your analysis. We already know what it's going to show, and we need to get these bills passed before the public sees it. Your job is to keep your trap shut until the deed is done.
3
Despite promises by the Trump administration that an analysis of the Republican Tax Plan would be provided by the Treasury, no analysis was ever made. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin lied repeatedly that his department was working on an analysis to show how the tax cuts would not add to the deficit. Trump and Mnuchin just talk and pose and Republican senators let them. Trump has violated his oath of office again.
3
By the time GOP tax laws are fully implemented,The rich and corporations will have ravaged this country. The middle class will be history, taking whats left to help the poor.
8
Greed, avarice, and obligations to donors (not voters) have so desperately riven the GOP, they have completely sold their souls and must complete their coup de grace of American Democracy before the inevitable backlash.
I don’t believe a suspense novel author could have dreamt such a perversion of our (formerly) great nation.
Winston Churchill’s quote about American’s finally doing the right thing may be true. But I sincerely worry what the “right thing” is when we reach that point.
3
This is a ruthless push by backers to have their way. How does an entire party sell out?
4
There is a foul stench dishonesty in the air, like the fallout from a massive volcanic eruption. This stench is now worldwide; we in Canada are not the only ones to smell it. It emanates from the Trump presidency and the Republican party. It is pumped out like hot foul air by their mean spirit, their lack of care for ordinary people, their obvious lying, their manipulation of the poorly educated and their marketing to unknowing opportunists. It is reflected in this tax legislation. This foulness has seeped over the airwaves and through the internet to the rest of the world, most of which once admired the U.S. Sad.
10
Win-at-all-costs tribalism on full display. Meanwhile Trump keeps telling everyone his sole motivation for supporting Roy Moore is political. The GOP will embrace an alleged child predator as long as he votes the party line. GOP leaders called for Moore to leave the race only to avoid the risk of his seat turning if they field a wounded candidate. It's all so cynical.
5
Don't you feel sorry for Republicans when the evil evil FACTS get in the way of what they WANT to believe?
It must be so infuriating for all those "elite" people who "know things" to spoil all the Republican's imagined benefits of tax cuts with something as petty as the truth.
3
If only the Democratic Party had a voice. All I hear is crickets. It is truly amazing how one political party has a total monopoly on public relations.
4
Some people here seem to think that THIS time voters will teach the GOP a lesson because THIS time their plans will inflate the deficit and THIS time tax cuts only benefit the rich and THIS time they even lie about it? You're just a gullible as the people who vote Republican. Nothing has changed and nothing will. Sure, Democrats might win the next one, but that's OK, as long as you get voted in at least every 8 years and add another 1 trillion or more to your countries debt (admittedly, it's a good one this time, the Koch's probably can't even believe their luck) and give them away to your donors.
3
Republicans are placing a land mine for future Democrat administration and congress. The corporate tax cuts are permanent and individual tax cuts are temporary. That means they will force the democrats to raise corporate taxes (explicit action) and if they do nothing they will be accused of raising taxes as individual tax cuts expire. So republicans in minority will have a strong hand as if they just obstruct everything, their donors are already taken care of (corporations and pass throughs) and then they can shout to high heaven that democrats are raising taxes on individuals.
I don't see much attention being paid to this divide and conquer approach which is very nefarious. Already they are talking about exploding deficits and need to cut SS, Medicare, Education and you name it. Just such a deceitful political discourse.
8
It is a sad day when nothing but donor money matters. And Democrats are supposed to be the "urban elite? Open your eyes voters!
1
Just keeps getting worse.
2018 mid-terms are almost here- time to take back our country!!!
3
If the Democrats would have done this, the Republicans would be holding censure hearing and calling for the resignation of House an Senate leaders. But, it is okay for the Republicans to look the other way, when it comes to scandal in the White House, or scandal among their own members. Or, even among people who have abused women; Moore of Alabama.
Anyone paying attention knows what so called "tax reform" will do; add to the deficit. It was clear from the onset. Republicans tried to shove it under the rug, and they got caught. Their plan to take care of the deficit? Cut Medicare, Social Security and just about everything else, so the wealthy, themselves and corporation get $1,000,000,000,000 in their pockets, as well as creating a new landed aristocracy by eliminating the estate tax. And doing this on the backs of middle class and working class Americans.
Thus, before the Republicans, and Trump, try to destroy America, and its way of life, The Democrats, and the media, need to bring the Republicans to account. Unless massive changes are made, the Democrats should start an investigation of their own, before the tax cut bill is allowed to move forward. The lies of the GOP, and conservative talking heads, need to be brought out in full view, to prevent a would be disaster.
17
Will NYT ever show more concern for our country and convey the real urgency of our current situation, as opposed to making its bottomline? After 11 months, your matter-of-fact reporting on the GOP (or the President) that once more used amoral or illegal technique to perpetrate a fraud upon the country is not news. NYT should begin galvanizing the population to action before the U.S. completely loses its way of life, and you your journalistic bread and butter
4
Of course, impeaching republicans for enacting laws that harm the country is polite and in the spirit of civil society. Arresting them as domestic terrorists gets closer to who where dealing with.
13
Republicans - the lying liars that lie to pander to donors and line their own pockets. Unbelievably evil cruel and a total going out of business strategy for America. I am sick of the lies. All the time. Every time one of them opens their smug creepy mouths. America, wake up before it is too late!! Vote every election and vote out these lying liars that lie.
9
Once again the true losers will be the American people. Keep voting GOP folks---soon you'll have nothing left....although for the life of me, I can't figure out who will buy or need the rich folks products if they're all dead. Can someone please explain that to me?
6
I hope that just about everybody's wrong about what they have wrought. Before last week, I thought about explaining that the Republican plan was to eliminate all the incentives for being poor,so that no one would want to be poor anymore. Now that I can see the punchline, it's not so funny anymore. I used to joke that if all the perks are eliminated for being rich, no one will want to be rich anymore. Also not funny, in light of last week. In my Pollyanna world, I hope that I'm wrong, still.
So to make the rich richer, they made "a concerted push by Republican lawmakers to discredit a nonpartisan agency they had long praised."
How can anyone support the Republican party? The Republican president just endorsed a child molester. Not to mention that the leader of the Republican party is a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, compulsively lying, racketeering fraudster who bankrupt several of his companies, is on tape bragging about his success in sexually assaulting women, and who has said on radio and television that his own daughter has a "great body" and he would be dating her if she weren't his daughter. And then there's the mounting evidence of a conspiracy with Russia in violation of the Logan Act, campaign finance laws, and laws prohibiting obstruction of justice.
The Republican Party is morally bankrupt, accepting indecency and possibly treason to aid Russia, and they are now ballooning the federal debt to give tax breaks to themselves and their uber rich friends.
Disgusting.
9
The subject should be about "The Federal Budget" a budget being where most people thinking of budgets, they think of a typical household budget – given a certain amount of money, how much should be allocated to various expenses? This system usually works fine for individuals, but in the business world there needs to be a lot more involved. Determining how much to spend on various expenses is only half the battle. The other half is for a company to be able to effectively judge its spending financial performance. Regardless of the type of business, the ability to gauge performance using budgets is a matter of life and death in the business world. The uber rich via the GOP are using the American tax system to optimize THEIR corporate spending financial performance. The American tax payers are being made to carry "all" of the corporate debt. The people of this country don't mean anything of human value to these people. It's not personal...it's business. The Federal Budget should be "The People's Budget"... " A government for the people by the people". People need to boycott all industries taking "The People's" money.
1
That's going to be all of them now.
Gotta love republican strategy: ignore the news; shoot the messenger.
13
I can’t like this enough!!!
2
A party of liars, led by a liar.
7
What is good for the goose is good for the gander Ahhhhhhhhh such sweet justice
Your comment is too subtle to be clear. Might you clarify for those of us who don't get it?
1
Well since the republicans came up with this idea (2ND paragraph) now it will be used to slow down the train they're running in the Senate for tax bill. Goose are democrats and the gander are republicans. Is that clearer using an analogy
Tell us more, Bob.
At what point did the Republican double talk confuse people? McConnell has been perfectly clear about his leanings since the day Obama was elected, "If you ain't white, you ain't right". Paul Ryan has made his fandom of the Ayn Rand world of make believe part of his core values. Destruction of the social safety nets has always been high on the Republican hit list and all they had to do was give a huge gift to the wealthiest among us to forge the blade to do the job. "What? A deficit? We will have to slash social security, medicare, medicade, welfare, CHIP.... have we missed anything? Oh yes, and education"!
I have never understood the working man who votes Republican but here we are.... Chop, chop! That ax is coming to a neighborhood near you voters!
29
"Instead, Senate Republicans questioned the timing of the analysis’ release on Thursday..."
Right. You guys put together this bill with lots of handritten amendments... all of it at the last minute.... where no one has time to read, review, revise... or public commetn or full senate hearings.... And You question the timing.
12
Much of this is thanks to Citizens United--unlimited and virtually unrestrained financing of political campaigns by wealthy individuals and their PACs and SuperPACs. You can bet that if Congressional election campaigns were funded by limited modest contributions, then, instead of the current "representatives," we would have representatives who truly represented and listened to their constituents--the folks back home who voted for them. Instead, we get this disaster. Republican Senators McCain, Collins, Murkowski, Flake, and Graham should be ashamed of themselves for selling out--the others did a long time ago.
25
So, you mean they lied? The Republican senators lied to the American public just to give enormous gifts to the 1%? How could that be? Someone as steadfast and honorable as John McCain? Lied to us? Wow! This must be fake news! I can't imagine our leaders ever lying to us!!!!
8
Ugh. Shame on them. Trump is emboldening these idiots to discredit factual sources and rely on alternate facts, all to placate their donors. What a nightmare we are living in.
5
2.5 million more people voted for Clinton, to even the most simple person more means above and additional. So what does our president and our Senate do, cater to a minute, uber rich, self serving, investor group. This group of marauders are undermining the fabric of America as we have known it for hundreds of years. There's not a scent of compassion from this group of thieves, not one iota of logical thought from these old, white, men. These times will be known as the day democracy took the last train for the coast. The utter of compassion to several classes of America that keep the Walmarts, Whole Foods, Costcos humming get diddly. Term limits for our Congress and Supreme court so we can rid the swamp every 5 years or so. These people are truly despicable.
8
New American motto...get all you can while you can...Thanks GOP
1
And so the looting begins.
3
Our congress is a bunch of sneaky crooks.
4
They're not sneaky anymore. Trump gets away with outright lies, that signals to the other liars that lying in the dark isn't necessary anymore. Now they lie in the open. They create their own "alternate facts" which will eventually lead to an" alternate reality,"
Just a collection of thugs in business suits who should be behind bars, not looting A nation on behalf of their owners, the Koch Brothers..
4
Republicans are working on the Russian model, where nothing is true and everything is possible. All hail the new ten-year plan!
5
Dumbfounded....but not surprised.
NOT my president
4
This is a 3rd world government we now have where lying and deceit at all levels of government is acceptable. Never mind the law, never mind ethics, and never mind the Constitution that this President and his GOP Congress took an oath to uphold. All that and our democracy means nothing to them. They should all be removed from office. We should NOT have to endure a government that is run by a dictator and his willing accomplices. This is America, not a dictator's paradise. How could we allow such a great nation, where many made the ultimate sacrifice to be trashed and thrown under the bus. This President is completely mentally unfit and morally corrupt and bankrupt of any American values and ideals. God help America and us all.
4
It is now a dictators Paradise.
Why bother discrediting the deficit analysis since deficits do not matter? At least that is what the NYT's Paul Krugman spent the 8 years of Obama's presidency telling us. Remember? According to him anyone who was worried about the ballooning federal debt was just stupid. So which is it?
3
Deficits are less important when the economy is tanking and unemployment is double digits and borrowing is cheap. No need for deficit spending now considering unemployment is the lowest it's been in the past 17 years. And if we were to deficit spend now it should be on something that would stimulate the economy (70% of GDP is consumption) like lower taxes for the middle class or infrastructure. And if we cut defense spending we could do both and achieve revenue neutrality.
Your assertion is backwards. The real hypocrites here are the deficit scolds who suddenly have amnesia.
1
Sure it's stupid, but the question you're asking is stupid too. As interest rates rise, interest debt increases in value, this tax "cut" is almost certain to increase debt, increase inflationary pressure, and therefore, increase the value of the debt.
Of course they undertook a concerted strategy to discredit this report.
And of course, they will use the resulting fiscal mess to achieve their holy grail:
Slash social security, Medicare and other safety net programs for those who need help.
And btw, this lot of Republicans have shown us and continue to show us that they are Republicans first and America be da**ed! They have just about ALWays, in the recent past, put their thirst for power above the greater good of our nation. As always, on the wrong side of history and completely lacking moral courage... any peep about one molester endorsing another?Speaker Ryan? sen.McConnell?
Didn't think so.
1
Clinton was impeached for a lie. Hopefully 2019-19 brings us full circle. But the most disturbing trend it the GOP's imitation of the Nazi propaganda machine. It started when Reagan was President. Ballooned under Bush 43 and more so under Bush 45. Trump is in a class alone. Newt Gingrich, Murdoch, the Mercer family, the Mercers are all part of the right-wing GOP propaganda unit.
Create lies or distortions; criticize educational and research institutions. Cut research funds. Finance efforts by partisan mouth pieces. The GOP attack on American values goes unanswered. Mudock's Fox News and the WSJ have an open platform and Bannon runs the most reactionary pieces. This country will fall apart - it is now - when lies are said to be true and all views are not heard or respected.
1
“We think they lowballed it.” OK, John Cornyn, why don’t you simply get rid of all agencies entrusted economic projections?
As famed wit Ashleigh Brilliant put it so well, “if you don’t know what the target is, shoot first, and whatever you hit, call it the target.”
1
A Ponzi Scheme of the highest order.
1
Like the old saying goes: If you don't like the message, shoot the messenger.
1
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, told reporters early Saturday morning after the vote. “Actually a revenue producer.”
This guy has got to go.
5
Here Are 6 Of The Most Radical Provisions In The GOP Tax Bill
Dramatically reducing the corporate tax rate.
Creating a big new tax deduction for private school tuition.
Encouraging corporations to automate ― without any help for displaced workers.
Setting the stage for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Rejecting a proposal to expand a tax credit for families with children in order to reduce the corporate tax rate even more.
All but eliminating the estate tax for the country’s wealthiest households.
COMPARE
David Koch 1980 Libertarian Platform
TO BE ABOLISHED:
Taxation
Public Schools
All socialized medicine to include Medicaid/Medicare
Social Security
Welfare
Department of Energy (DOE)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Federal Reserve
All branch of military except the Army
8
I no longer believe this government has any integrity in any area. Environment, finance, foreign affairs, it really doesn't matter. No one in the ruling party has any interest in objective realities, otherwise known as facts. They just want their philosophies confirmed. Objective findings are not welcome! It reminds me of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, when early scientists were burned at the stake for their heretical views that contradicted Church doctrine. I just hope other countries have the strength to contain this, what by any definition would have to be considered, a "rogue" regime, that may well precipitate WWIII, in addition to its other destructive iniitiatives. I no longer feel this country has the moral character to correct itself, and we are hurtling down a path to annihilation- environmentally, politically, perhaps financially, diplomatically certainly, etc., etc. And I wonder how it is democratic to have a minority of the people tell the majority who the president is going to be? That is another archaic element of the Constitution that needs to be updated, we well as the Second Amendment (which of course we do not have a functional enough political system for that to happen).
8
As this tax bill rolls out or should I say over people are already talking about voting out the republicans... all of them. With that the republicans along with the russian trolls they are just beginning to attack the voting system again. This time it is imperative that people opposing trump/The russians/The gop all in concert vote together against them. While there are good reasons to vote independent or green for these parties represent noble causes and some good philosophies but philosophy needs to be set aside for the overall good of the nation. But still, hold the feet of the democrats to the fire to support more (compromise) of the goals of the independent and green parties. But to rid ourselves of the trump/the russians and the gop, we, the people of this nation that actually care for the whole of this nation must come together. Save this nation from the "Greatness": eminence considerably above the normal or average... to which those presently supporting trump are more in the category of grandiose. Instead, together let’s make this nation a "Good": to be a desired or approved of Nation.
2
The involuted group-think of this Republican Congress is that of a cult. When will their willful disconnection from facts and from their own experts' analyses get them voted out of office? Do Republican voters not have a survival instinct?
3
It has been decades since the GOP leadership thought in terms of truth or honesty. They think solely in terms of propaganda & manipulation. They don't win the debate; they control the debate.
3
This kind of embarrassing and shameless behavior that puts politics above reason and common sense would not be tolerated in any other area of American life. Another sad day for US.
3