11/29 News Roundup – Bernie Debuts A ‘Marshall Plan’ For Puerto Rico, Sanders Clashes With Cruz On Taxes & More
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren Propose $146 Billion “Marshall Plan” for Puerto Rico
Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday unveiled a massive $146 billion “Marshall plan” for Puerto Rico with several other senators. The plan includes immediate relief for the island’s cash-strapped government, billions more for economic development and renewable energy and Medicaid and Medicare parity, a key priority for the island.
“More than two months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, half of the people there—American citizens all—still have no electricity,” Sanders said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
“Many are struggling to get clean drinking water, and more than 100,000 people have left Puerto Rico alone. This is not acceptable, and we are here today to tell the people of Puerto Rico and tell the people of the Virgin Islands that they are not forgotten, they are not alone, and that we intend to do everything possible to rebuild those beautiful islands.”
The far-reaching legislation would grant $62 billion to the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, $27 billion to renovate infrastructure, and $13 billion in additional FEMA funding to rebuild the electric grid “with more modern, resilient technologies,” instead of the Stafford Act’s requirements that the grid be restored to its condition before the storms, according to a summary of the bill from Sanders’s office.
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“The bill that Senator Sanders has introduced in the United States Congress is a comprehensive plan that provides the blueprint for the transformation of Puerto Rico,” Carmen Yulín Cruz, mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, said in a statement. “Senator Sanders also shows a great deal of respect and faith in us when claiming that the recovery or Puerto Rico must be in Puerto Rican hands.”
More news/video/etc. in the comments, including:
*Jealous names Susan Turnbull, a former vice chair of the DNC, as his running mate
*FEMA forced to cancel $30 million contract to another newly formed two-man firm
*Nina Turner On 2020 and the Fight Within the Democratic Party
*In ‘Blow to American Consumers,’ Trump-Appointed Judge Sides With Trump on CFPB
*Study Shows Corporate Cable Networks Largely Ignoring FCC Plan to Kill Net Neutrality
*Pipeline updates, Water Protector News & More
(Still fighting a bug in the comments, so if they do not load try clicking the ‘sort by newest/oldest’ option and they should pop-up)
Tips, Comments, Complaints, Etc!
Bernie Sanders Unveils Massive Puerto Rico Reconstruction Bill
Bernie Sanders has a $146 billion recovery plan for Puerto Rico
Sanders proposes lifting Medicaid cap for Puerto Rico
RNs Applaud Sen. Sanders Bill for Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Relief with Crisis Continuing 2 Months Post-Storm
Fla. company failed to deliver on Puerto Rico relief contracts: report
Company that won FEMA contract never delivered emergency tarps to Puerto Rico
If it’s a Florida-based LLC, it’s crooked. That’s how bad it has been down here for a long time. Too long!
FEMA forced to cancel $30 million contract to another newly formed two-man firm
A massive exodus of Puerto Ricans is on its way to Orlando – which could change the island, and Florida, forever
Puerto Ricans arrive in Florida to find affordable housing is scarce
Number Of Students Coming To New England From Puerto Rico Continues To Climb
They are also settling in New York where they have had support systems in place for decades. I have dear friends who are first generation “New Yorkricans” as they proudly call themselves. They are educated, true democrats, bilingual, and staunch Americans. In short, very good people. 🙂
Florida public school enrollment has jumped by 8,000 post-Maria
Most Hurricane Maria evacuees will not count in Florida’s school accountability system, Education commissioner says
Rick Retch(Vomit) Scott and his cronies better hurry up and get the charter/religious/dumbed down schools cracking. They’ll need them. Educated Puerto Ricans vote democratic unlike Cubans.
Not good for PR, but at least they will able to vote in FL
Senators debate likely effects of GOP tax plan
Here’s a few minutes that’s CNN decided to put on their youtube page:
And to avoid you having to download the CNN app… heres where you can watch the entire thing (though in segments)
CNN Tax Debate Hosts Tapper & Bash Part 1: Ted Cruz & Tim Scott vs Bernie Sanders & Maria Cantwell
CNN Tax Debate Hosts Tapper & Bash Part 2: Ted Cruz & Tim Scott vs Bernie Sanders & Maria Cantwell
CNN Tax Debate Part 3: Sanders – “Stop Telling People The Tax Rate is 35%:
CNN Tax Debate Part 4: Maria To Ted Cruz ” You Have the Right Goal But Just Give It To The Middle Class
CNN Tax Debate Part 5: Removal Of Indiviual Mandate For ACA
Part 6: Bi Partisan Collation
CNN Tax Debate : Part 7 Closing Summary
Full Debate: Bernie Sanders, Maria Cantwell vs. Ted Cruz, Tim Scott on Tax Reform
New link w/ video & transcript.
A thousand thanks–once again!–to LD for posting these links. Just finished watching the whole thing!
If I can offer an opinion here, I think that this format is too media-driven. Who really is influenced by this dog-and-pony show? Personally I’m disgusted by the Republicans trying to leverage Americans against one another–this time, the losers are the bottom half of the economic field in this country, and the next up 25% will soon feel the pain. Republicans are going to lose in the long run, as that middle tier realizes their own decline as a result of this disastrous tax “reform.”
If you’re in the 50K to 100K income bracket and you support lawmakers who vote for this bill, then you’re getting bought off, and your gain is coming off the backs of those less well off than you. If you’re in the 100K+ contingent–the top 25%–and you support this bill, you’re still getting bought off and your gain is still coming out of the welfare of those further down the ladder from you, but your gains are bigger. Without even mentioning the moral disgrace stemming from tax benefits going to the 1% and to corporations, the republican strategy is to encourage Americans to live off the deprivations that their well-being visit on those less wealthy.
Cantwell is a moderate who appears unwilling to touch this moral argument with a 10-foot-pole. Bernie leans more towards being a moralist, along with lots and lots of people in this society, but this media-controlled “debate” format stymies such an argument from coming to direct expression.
Sorry about the rant, you good people. Thanks again to LD and all the loyal progressivewingers!
we lurvs rants here. :O)
A righteous rant it was! I agree with you 100%.
CNN hosted it. More Craporate media for you. I won’t watch any of them. It’s been going downhill since Rayguns, and now we’re stuck with Maggot Brain and cabal. I don’t know if the country can crawl out of this self-inflicted Dark Age, I really don’t!
I didn’t watch the debate, forgot it was on. However, watching this clip with all talking/yelling at the same time, maybe I was fortunate to forget it. Thank goodness for Bernie, he can keep up with the 2 against 1 talking at the same time. Who is the female, next to Bernie. In this clip, she was very quiet.
Cantwell joins Sanders in sparring with GOP over tax plan
Cantwell was actually better than I anticipated, at least what little I could watch. She was even toned and she raised many good points about small business and how they would not benefit from the bill. Bernie was best at calling Cruz out for distorting comments and explained why he voted for ACA. He also got some licks in about his campaign in what he would do for the American people, since Cruz went down that road.
Scott (R-SC) was not bad either, but it was clear he couldn’t explain how the tax cuts would grow the economy or would guarantee better wages. Cantwell made incisions into Scott’s arguments on the wages problem. To me, yes, more people would be employed but current employees would not necessarily see wage increases at the Fortune 500 companies. I didn’t see any discussion about how foreign investors benefited even more.
Cruz talked about JFK and Reagan, and how they cut taxes for corporations. I wanted to hear from Bernie to point out the mistruths that Reagan was able to cut taxes at first, but then led us into wars and the deficits ballooned.
I am puzzled by the omissions in the arguments. Guess Sanders, et al, should drop by here more often if they want some great debate points.
It’s possible there were discussions about the benefits to foreign investors, but I only viewed the second half of the debate.
Cruz kept trying to pin the label of socialism on the Dems but that seemed to be tuned out by the audience, as well as the moderators. Cantwell didn’t appear concerned about it either, although she still used the centrist talking point of investments in the communities & workers (which is socialism). Yet, that’s progress.
Since Cruz was using “selective History I wish Bernie would have use some of his own like that the tax rates for corporations were 70% area during the JFK admin. Bring up the disastrous 73 Nixon law for insurance with has led to our greed driven health care system of today, Bring up that his hero Reagan after the initial tax cuts he did he ended up raising taxes several times during his term and the frosting
“Major companies including Cisco Systems Inc., Pfizer Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. say they’ll turn over most gains from proposed corporate tax cuts to their shareholders, undercutting President Donald Trump’s promise that his plan will create jobs and boost wages for the middle class…. Instead of hiring more workers or raising their pay, many companies say they’ll first increase dividends or buy back their own shares. […]
John Bogle, founder of Vanguard Group, said Tuesday that the Republican tax plan is a “moral abomination” in part because companies will hand over the proceeds to shareholders.
Bogle added yesterday, “One of the flaws is that corporations are putting their shareholders ahead of the people that built the corporation.
Bernie Sanders returning to Reading
Bernie Sanders in Dayton Saturday for rally against tax plan
Sen. Bernie Sanders To Hold Louisville Rally Opposing GOP Tax Plan
One of Bernies qualities that is always seen but rarely mentioned is his drive and work ethic, just that alone compared to The golfer in chief or fancy dinner Hillary just shows he would get a lot done as president, not because its easy but because he works hard.
Jealous names Susan Turnbull, a former vice chair of the DNC, as his running mate
Jealous picks Democratic Party stalwart as running mate
Safe choice. I would have preferred Donna Edwards, but I can understand Ben’s rationale.
Jealous picks former Democratic Party chair Susan Turnbull as running mate
Our Wisconsin Revolution endorses Tim Burns for Wisconsin Supreme Court
This will be decided on indy and Dem Turnout, as the Kock owned Walker cant control this thru the gerrymandering he enjoys. So hopefully WI will turn out and win this.
In ‘Blow to American Consumers,’ Trump-Appointed Judge Sides With Trump on CFPB
Warren Urges CFPB Defenders to Fight Trump’s ‘Double Kiss to Wall Street’
The CFPB Case Is a First Look at Trump’s Legal System
What “legal” system? Surely, you jest.
BTW, FRightwingnut judges can be removed from power peacefully. The statutes are hoary cos lack of use.
Study Shows Corporate Cable Networks Largely Ignoring FCC Plan to Kill Net Neutrality
What’s so surprising about this? Really? They are not news broadcasts. They have been dumbed down for decades like the public. They are simply for-profit, reality show infotainment and nothing more. Politico is barely an improvement. It’s a RW rag that’s semi-intelligently written. End of rant for today. 🙂 T and R to all the usual TPW Suspects!!
‘Sham’: EPA Ripped for Holding Lone Public Hearing on Clean Power Plan Repeal in Coal Country
Clean Power Plan Hearing is Trump’s Latest Desperate Act to Save Dying Coal Industry
Dirty Energy and Pollution are Taking a Deadly Toll on Low-Income, Working Class and Communities of Color, Speakers Tell EPA Panel
We Will Fight Scott Pruitt’s Attempts To Scrap The Clean Power Plan In Charleston
US government uses Project Veritas video in trial of anti-Trump protesters
Hopefully they can prove that it’s false. I worry when people say evidence should be excluded solely on the source, though.
Rex Tillerson: state department can be cut as we will soon solve global conflicts
LOL. That’s the ticket
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2017/11/rex_tillerson_is_making_a_great_case_for_himself_as_worst_secretary_of_state.html
I get the feeling that their are going to be a lot”worst of” awards for this administration. If we survive it they may set records that may never be approached again if were lucky.
Hate monger in chief at it again
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/29/trump-account-retweets-anti-muslim-videos-of-british-far-right-leader
Trump’s lost InfoWars & Piers Morgan…. is his firewall finally cracking?
Top InfoWars editor criticizes Trump after anti-Muslim tweets
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Piers Morgan rips Trump for sharing videos made by ‘disgustingly racist far-right extremists’
Justin Trudeau apologizes for Canada’s program targeting LGBTQ civil servants
Atlanta Police Suddenly Enforce Old Law and Hand Out Tickets to People Feeding the Homeless
Ahh yes, the old argument that homeless people want to stay homeless so they can get the occasional free meal. Makes complete sense…..
The Politics of Boycotting Israel Are Creeping into the Race for Georgia Governor
The Zionist campaign to demonize the BDS movement in this country is obscene. It’s not enough to take billions of taxpayer money and use every facet of our government to defend their ethnic cleansing campaign. Their stooges, in the Democratic Party no less, would now have Americans pledging allegiance to Israel.
What bothers me is that its so self destructive to Israel who are continuing to make itself the bad guy and though im fine with its existence im not fine with its horrible treatment of the palistinians, so what was a nation founded with great support right after the the horrros of WWII has become the king of human rights abuses among the most developed nations.
In just 70 years it went from a practically humanitarian creation in the aftermath of the holocaust to mind bogglingly among the least humanitarian of nations, which has eroded my once strong support to indifference but slowly drifting towards ‘just give it back to the Palistinians already’ since at least they understand peaceful coexistance’
Sports Tax Scams Laid the Groundwork for Amazon Bidding Madness
Maybe Sanders and Warren can make this illegal as Prez and VP.
Astoundingly Wealthy Corpses Bleed Cities Dry and Continue to Blend Corpses and Government While Pretending to Help Them.
Yep 3 billion for foxxconed in WI 25 years to get that back if they stay viable, with how fast tech changes I doubt they will last that long.
Corporations Make a lots of Promises on Climate. This Study Tracked Down What Happens Next.
After Insulting Native Americans, Trump Goes After Their Sacred Land
Predatory. It’s as though the dybbuk of Jackson has emerged in Trumpland.
At One End of the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline, There Is a Scene You Must See to Believe
Report: Keystone Pipeline Leak Likely Caused by 2008 Damage
So we shouldn’t be worried because there was no water to contaminate, though the pipeline was damaged by something to help prevent problems created by water. Makes complete sense!
Former TransCanada worker says company compromised Keystone Pipeline’s integrity
Makes complete sense! And Im not being sarcastic this time!
No your not; How cheap they can construct and how fast to get the black gold flowing for $$$$ leaks be dammed that’s what they have corporate lawyers for.
China’s Solar Surge Hits New Heights
A Tiny Island Used as a Nuclear Dumpsite Is About to Be Submerged by Water
Keith Ellison Calls Out Proposed Minnesota Pipeline After Keystone XL Wins Approval
Virginia’s most powerful company runs “campaign to elect a pipeline”
Bribe and scare them first. If that doesn’t work, simply kill them.
TransCanada engages Nebraska landowners on new Keystone XL route
Washington State Panel Calls for Oil Terminal Denial
How abortion could tip the scales in Alabama
Yet it is OK down the road for politicians to look away because some predator donor contributed to a campaign, or worse, they are the stalkers themselves. Nothing is more precious than the healthy life of a child into meaningful adulthood, holistically, not just at birth.
The so-called ‘Christians’ raise holy h3ll over the unborn, but once these kids are born…here come the hypocrites. The stupid Christian Fundies voted for Maggot Brain. Might as well vote for the Alabama version of a maggot brain.
Pelosi amps up pressure on Conyers to resign
Congressional Black Caucus chairman won’t press Conyers to resign
I sincerely hope a democrat derails Pelosi in the primary. She’s beyond pathetic and senile. She looks and sounds like it, too.
Another one bite’s the dust.
NBC Fires Matt Lauer Over Sexual Misconduct Allegation
But Fats the Dummy couldn’t refrain from tweeting:
In case folks aren’t familiar with my metaphor, Fats the Dummy is a character in the thriller, “Magic” from 1978.
I wish I could find the clip where Fats keeps talking even though he’s told to be quiet.
FBI feared ‘black supremacist extremists’ would ‘violently co-opt’ Democratic and Republican conventions
Documents show US monitoring of Black Lives Matter
FBI Officials Feared ‘Black Supremacist Extremists’ Would Attack RNC And DNC, New Report Reveals
Wait a second, are they trying to conflate Black Lives Matter with “black supremacist extremists”? supremacists?? Where’d that come from?
“commitment to their racial identity”…..
Black “supremacists”? Talk about projection!
What a load of bullhockey!! It would be a cold day in climate change h3ll before Repukes would allow enough AAs in to even consider rioting. Barf on them–bunch of worthless liars!
Randall Woodfin sworn in as Birmingham’s 30th mayor
woo hooo!Go Woodfin.
A profile & interview of Candidate for IL-5, Sameena Mustafa:
Satyagrah Souls: Indian Americans Making A Difference
What Warren should do.
Go Bernie Go! Here’s hoping more sign on as sponsors. This is vital, not only for PR, but as an example of how relatively little money can change things drastically, and in the right direction.
Bernie: tell me GOP colleagues that you have no intention of cutting Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Education as a result of the heavy deficits this bill will cause! Tell me I’m wrong!
Bernie’s speech on the floor courtesy of FB.
crickets from the GOP as expected
A Bernie Sanders Ally From Chicago Is Now Eyeing Washington
We can sign Bernie’s petition to Congress to reject the tax bill here.
Media Erase NATO Role in Bringing Slave Markets to Libya
Ben Norton details the media reports, and some outlets did hint at what was coming. The rebels were openly racist from the beginning, even as we supported them.
Supreme Court Must Understand: Cell Phones Aren’t Optional
Has Puerto Rico suffered through one too many power failures? You BET it has! So, go semi-off-grid with solar.
Solar power can meet 90-100% of your needs [Solar Electric, Air Conditioning, Heat and Hot Water].
Use the Grid only as a backup for your Solar panels when it has been cloudy for multiple days.
Store Heat or Cold in a large water tank(s) [water can store much, much more energy per dollar [as heat/cold] than batteries].
Have full electric power during the day and enough electric power at night for lights and appliances.
Puerto Rico should rebuild by building small neighborhood Solar Powered mini-grids.
What I plan for my high power consumption house would be enough to provide heating, cooling,
hot & cold water and electricity for 5-10 small houses or 10 apartments in Puerto Rico.
The cost is $3000 per appartment/house in groups of 10 appartments or houses.
[$30,000 total equipment cost, this presumes that people rebuild themselves like Habitat for Humanity] .
Here is how to do it:
1) A 12kW Solar array sufficient to power:
a. A 36,000 BTU heat pump + heat Exchanger + fans [5kW]
b. 4kW for 40 5W LED Lights, 5 LCD TVs, 1 Large or 10 small Refrigerator/freezers, 5 Laptops
c. 2kW for High Power appliances [toaster, vacuum, etc.]
d. 1kW for charging batteries for lights at night
2) A 36,000 BTU Heat Pump [water to water or split air to freon]
If you have a nearby lake, use a water to water heat pump instead of an Air Source heat pump
since a water to water heat pump has about twice the efficiency.
3) A 8’x8’x6′ lined box Water Tank with R15[foam-board]+R50[fibreglass Insulation
for storing Cold Water for cooling or Hot Water for heating.
NOTE: an 8’x8’x6′ Water Tank at [25 degrees F] stores 900,000 BTUs
[18 hours * 5000 BTUs * 10 Apartments for summer cooling.
The same n 8’x8’x6′ Water Tank at [165 degrees F] stores 1,650,000 BTUs
[33 hours * 5000 BTUs * 10 Apartments for winter heating.
4) Two 120 Gallon stainless steel lined water storage tanks with Freon heat transfer coils for storing
potable domestic hot water for sinks, and non-potable hot water for washers, toilets and baths.
5) A 100 Gallon [above ground] Rain Catcher water storage tank with coarse and fine screens.
A 800 Gallon [below ground] water storage tank with medium fine filter for non-potable water
for baths, toilets, washers and garden.
A 800 Gallon [below ground] water storage tank with fine and ultra fine filters and UV sterilizer for
potable water for drinking, cooking and dish washing.
6) Either a Tesla Powerwall 2 [AC or DC] or a 48 Volt – 400 Amp-hour Lithium Iron Phosphate battery
to provide 12 hours of nighttime power for 20 5W LED Lights, Water Pumps, Heat Exchanger
Fans, 10 small refrigerator/freezers, and 5 laptop computers.
7) Inverters, Charge Controllers, Grid Cutoff Switch, etc. configured to use the Grid as a backup for Solar
and to only use Grid power when there multiple days with no sun.
8) The Heat Pump, Inverter, Solar Charge Controller, Batteries and Water Tank should all be in a small
utility building located in the center of a group of 10 small houses or apartments.
Contact me by Email for Plumbing/Electrical Diagrams:
douglasgodfrey *at* lycos *dot* com.