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11/10 Progressive Wish List

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In the past day or so on twitter, there are tweets about what progressives want and especially, what Pelosi must do to garner their support if she wants to regain the Speakership in Congress.

Winnie from People for Bernie started the wish list this way:

David Sirota went outside the box with this thought:

I’m making this thread separate…something we can chew, nibble, etc.

Personally, I like Sirota’s idea, but given that’s unlikely, I know one thing right away I want: amend the 2017 tax law. I want SALT (state & local taxes) to be completely tax deductible again. Additionally, raise the minimum wage and MFA. Long-game: to add more members to the House to properly represent the American people. The last revision of the numbers in the House was 1911.

What else?

11/6 Midterm Election Night & Open Thread

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Birdies–

Tonight we find out how much of a check the American people want to have on our Executive Branch. Or put it another way, how many of the 1000 legislative seats will the Dems gain from the last 10 years of losses? Will voters feel comfortable with the economy and overlook Trump? Will Trump’s divisiveness prevail and turn out his base?

Will we see our first women Native American Congressional Reps? First AA governor of FL and first female gov of GA? How well will the OR candidates perform in this cycle?

Of course, we hope there are no machine irregularities, but it’s anticipated that some will occur. And election lawyers will be on hand just in case.

In the Senate, Democrats are defending 26 seats while Republicans are only defending nine.

(those are predictions if they are filled in with red or blue, gold signifies toss-up)

In the gubernatorial races, there are 33 races, in which Dems could possibly pick up 9 of them.



(those are predictions if they are filled in with red or blue, gold signifies toss-up)

First polls close at 6ET in Indiana, VT and KY. Most in the MSM are saying to watch the 6th district in KY, but the bellwethers will be in VA 4 GOP races and FL 4 GOP races when the polls close at 7 ET.

Larry Sabato of Crystal Ball expects Dem pick-ups in the gubernatorial races, including Kansas.

Big races:

TX Sen – Beto vs Cruz
NV Sen – Rosen vs Heller
FL Sen – Sick Rott vs Nelson
AZ Sen – McSally vs Sinema
CA Sen – DeLeon vs Feinstein
MO Sen – Hawley vs McCaskill
TN Sen – Breesan vs Blackburn
VT Sen – Sanders vs a pack of Indies (well, not a big race, but it is Bernie’s re-up)

FL Gov – DeSantis vs Gillum
GA Gov – Kemp vs Abrams
MD Gov – Jealous vs Hogan
WI Gov – Evers vs Walker
IL Gov – Pritzker vs Rauner
AZ Gov – Garcia vs Ducey
ID Gov – Jordan vs Little
MI Gov – Whitmer vs Schulette
IA Gov – Hubbell vs Reynolds

MN AG – Ellison vs Wardlow

Add the races you are keen about in the comments!

12/21 News Roundup – Bernie Blasts The GOP’s Handouts To Billionaires, 10 Amazing Social Movements To Give Us Hope & More

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Bernie Sanders Calls Tax Plan ‘Great Victory’ For Billionaires Like Trump

Senator Bernie Sanders excoriated the $1.5 trillion Republican tax bill, which cleared Congress Wednesday, calling it a “looting” of the American Treasury and a “victory” for prominent Republican campaign donors such as the Koch brothers.

“Today marks a great victory for the Koch brothers and other billionaire Republican campaign contributors who will see huge tax breaks for themselves while driving up the deficit by almost $1.5 trillion.” he said in a video posted on Twitter. “Today is also a victory for the largest and most profitable corporations in this country like Apple, Microsoft, Pfizer and General Electric who despite record-breaking profits will see hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks.”

Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who challenged Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, also had harsh words for his congressional colleagues. He said some with substantial investments in real estate voted to “further enrich themselves” by lowering the taxes they owe, referring to a last-minute addition snuck into the bill to benefit people who hold real estate through a limited liability company. Trump and his family along with a number of senators such as Bob Corker are expected to make significant gains from the provision.

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Sanders stressed the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center’s findings that 83 percent of the benefits of the tax bill will enrich the top one percent of Americans, and that in eight years taxes will once again increase for 93 percent of middle-income households while corporate tax cuts are permanent.

Nearly 13 million Americans are expected to lose their health insurance under the tax bill due to the loss of the individual mandate, Sanders warned. Trump called the plan “basically a repeal of Obamacare” during a celebratory speech Wednesday. He claimed he told his Republican allies to “be quiet with the fake news media because I don’t want them talking too much about it.” But “now that it’s approved, I can say that,” he said. Those losses could cause healthcare premiums on the individual market to increase by 10 percent.

The full clip of Sanders on CNN and other news/video/tweet/etc. will be in the comment below.

12/20 News Roundup – Sanders: “Tax Bill A Victory For Corporate Campaign Donors” & More

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Sanders: Passage of GOP tax bill a ‘victory’ for Koch brothers, campaign donors, corporations

Sen. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersSchumer: Franken should resignFranken resignation could upend Minnesota racesAvalanche of Democratic senators say Franken should resignMORE (I-Vt.), on Tuesday, blasted the GOP tax overhaul bill, arguing that its expected passage is a “victory” for the Koch brothers, Republican campaign donors, large corporations and even some lawmakers.

“Today marks a great day for the Koch brothers and other billionaire, Republican campaign contributors who will see huge tax breaks for themselves while driving up the deficit by almost $1.5 trillion,” Sanders said in a video posted on Twitter.

“Today is also a victory for the largest and most-profitable corporations in this country like Apple, Microsoft, Pfizer and General Electric, who, despite record-breaking profits, will now see hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks,” he added.

Sanders also indicated that some of his own colleagues had a personal financial interest in passing the bill, pointing to lawmakers who have real estate investments and will benefit under the new plan.

“Today is also a victory for a number of members of the United States Congress who have significant investments in real estate who, with this vote, will substantially lower the taxes that they pay and will further enrich themselves,” he said.

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments.

12/15 News Roundup – Sanders: Process for Tax Reform Bill ‘Just a Disaster’, The Campaign For Congress to Overrule FCC Vote & More

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Bernie Sanders: Process for Tax Reform Bill ‘Just a Disaster’

The process to pass landmark tax reform legislation “has been just a disaster,” as the American public does not understand what all it involves, Sen. Bernie Sanders complained Thursday.

“Are you suggesting that a bill that impacts the entire economy, virtually every American, should be read before people vote upon it?” the Vermont independent and former presidential candidate told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

The bill was discussed and determined “around back doors,” Sanders continued. “Some 5,000 lobbyists have participated in it, but the American public does not know what’s in it. Bottom line, and I think some of the Republicans have been honest enough about acknowledging this, this is a gift for Republican wealthy campaign contributors.”

“At the end of 10 years, 83 million middle class families will be paying more in taxes,” said Sanders. “This means 32 million people will lose their health insurance. Premiums will go up by 10 percent with people in the individual market. This is going to exacerbate incoming wealth at a time when we have to protect the middle class and working families.”

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Sanders also sounded off against the FCC’s vote to end net neutrality provisions, saying it’s “almost unspeakable” to speak about what a disaster the ruling will create.

“The internet has been a real effort to enhance democracy and level the playing field in this country,” he said. “It means that if you are a small business person right now, you were a start-up company, you can use the internet to get the word out about why people should come to your business. You can have the same opportunities on the internet as Walmart does, or as a large corporation … they’re going to do away with that and it’s going to be much more expensive for the little guy to play and compete against the big corporations.”

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments.

12/11 News Roundup – Bernie Sanders On “Meet The Press”, Leading Economists Demand End to All Fossil Fuel Investments & More

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Starting off the News Roundup today with Bernie talking taxes, impeachment & resignations on ‘Meet The Press’:

In wake of Al Franken’s resignation, 3 senators — including Bernie Sanders — call on Trump to step down

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, and two of his Democratic colleagues have suggested that President Donald Trump should consider resigning, after a run of sexual harassment scandals that has driven out some members of Congress.

Sen. Al Franken “felt it proper for him to resign,” Sanders said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, referring to the Democrat from Minnesota. “Here you have a president who has been accused by many women of assault, who says on a tape that he assaulted women. He might want to think about doing the same.”

Sanders’ comment, which built on a tweet he’d sent last week, came after Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley, Ore., and Cory Booker, N.J., suggested that the “#MeToo moment” should prompt another look at the women who accused Trump of sexual harassment during the 2016 presidential campaign.

“The president should resign because he certainly has a track record with more than 17 women of horrific conduct,” Merkley said last week in an interview for the weekday version of “Meet the Press.”

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments, including:

*Nuclear annihilation ‘one tantrum away’, Nobel peace prize winner warns
*FCC Commissioner Urges Fraud Investigation Ahead of Net Neutrality Vote
*Battle for Democratic Party: After the Unity Reform Commission
*Report Shows Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Death Toll Likely In Thousands, Far Higher Than Official Count
*Pipeline news, Water Protector Updates & more

12/7 News Roundup – Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren On Fighting ‘Morally Bankrupt’ Republicans & More

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Tax Scam Not Passed Yet, But GOP Already Salivating to Destroy Anti-Poverty Programs

While tax experts continue to exclaim with horror as they sift through the “legislative monstrosity” Republicans rammed through the Senate last week, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday hosted a Facebook live event aimed at detailing the next steps in the fight against both the GOP’s tax plan and the party’s broader economic agenda.

One of the most significant battles ahead, Sanders and Warren note, will be over Republican efforts to pivot from “tax reform” to the pursuit of devastating cuts to safety net programs that low-income and middle class families rely upon to put food on the table and afford life-saving medical care.

“Literally minutes after they passed this disastrous [tax] bill in the Senate, the discussion escalates. Of course they’re going to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” Sanders said. “And you know why? This is shocking: the deficit is too big.”

“That’s right,” Warren added, calling the Republican tax plan a “pay off” to right-wing billionaire donors. “They want to run up the deficit and then say a high debt is the reason they’ve gotta cut all the things for working people.”

More news/videos/tweets/etc. in the comments, including:

*Bernie & Ben Rally In Baltimore
*Hundreds Arrested in Peaceful Protest as Thousands March Demanding ‘Clean’ Dream Act
*Opposite of Peace as Trump Accused of ‘Kicking Hornet’s Nest’ in Middle East
*Two Months After Nation’s Deadliest Mass Shooting, GOP House Passes ‘Dangerous’ Bill to Undermine Local Gun Control Laws
*‘We’re fighting for our way of life’: Republican tax bill presents grave threat to Alaska’s tribal groups
*Pipeline updates, Water Protector news & More

12/01 News Roundup – Sanders Calls Out GOP Efforts To Cut Social Security/Medicare & More

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Bernie Sanders: Republicans Need to Guarantee They Won’t Cut Entitlements

Sen. Bernie Sanders challenged Republicans not to use deficit increases to justify future cuts to entitlement benefits Thursday in a heated exchange during a debate on their tax reform bill.

Senate Republicans are nearing a final vote on their bill to overhaul the tax code – with the promise that it will help people across the country by reducing rates and boosting economic growth. Democrats and other critics warn the bill mostly just benefits the rich and large corporations. Sanders, while speaking on the floor prior to an expected vote, argued that deficit increases from the bill would be used to justify cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

“It is my absolute belief that as soon as this tax proposal is completed and drives the deficit up by $1.4 trillion, I have zero doubt that my Republican colleagues are going to come back to the floor of the Senate and suddenly say, oh my goodness, the deficit has gone up, we are going to have to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” Sanders declared.

Sanders has proposed an amendment to the tax bill that would establish a rule requiring a two-thirds vote in order to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. He promised he would withdraw the amendment if Republicans could guarantee to the American people that they won’t make those cuts – singling out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. He yielded his time to talk so they could answer.

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“I will not support any cuts to people who are on the program and need those benefits,” Toomey answered. “But I want this program to survive. We need this program for the next generation.”

Sanders prompting interrupted the senator to reclaim his time, arguing his answer clearly indicates he would cut benefits for future recipients, since he said he wouldn’t support cuts to people who are on the program. Sanders added that people in their 50s could soon see cuts to benefits since they haven’t yet reached retirement age and therefore aren’t recipients.

“He just let the cat out of the box, or whatever the phrase is,” Sanders shouted. “He just told you he’s going to cut Social Security. That’s it my friends. He will not cut it, what he just said is he will not cut it for people who are on Social Security right now. I hear that.”

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments, including:

*Whistleblower: Mnuchin’s Touted Analysis Claiming ‘Tax Cuts for Rich Pay for Themselves’ Doesn’t Even Exist
*Bernie Sanders endorses Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia for Congress
*In US and Worldwide, Study Shows ‘Never a More Dangerous Time to Be a Journalist’
*A Newly-Elected Democratic Socialist On How to Win in Trump Country
*Defending the Land, 50 Feet in the Air
*Pipeline news, Water Protector Updates & MOre

11/29 News Roundup – Bernie Debuts A ‘Marshall Plan’ For Puerto Rico, Sanders Clashes With Cruz On Taxes & More

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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)

11/28 News Roundup – Sanders Hits The Trail To Fight The GOP Tax Bill, Keystone XL Operators Push For Preferred Path & More

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Bernie Sanders hits the trail again, this time to fight GOP tax bill

Sen. Bernie Sanders is traveling to Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania this weekend to rally against the Republican tax bill, his office told NBC News, keeping up a brisk pace of political activity since leaving the presidential race last year and ahead of a potential second one in 2020.

Sanders, who held a similar series of rallies across the country this year to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, is using his “Protecting Working Families Tour” to pressure on-the-fence GOP senators before a vote on the tax bill, President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority.

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In addition to condemning the bill for reducing taxes on the wealthy, Sanders is hoping to use the tour to argue the tax plan would pave the way for cuts to Social Security and Medicare, which have proved politically deadly for Republicans in the past.

The bill is expected to raise the deficit by $1.4 trillion, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently say could trigger an obscure budget rule that Democrats warn could force Medicare cuts.

“This legislation goes well beyond taxes,” Sanders wrote in an email that will be sent to supporters Monday. “Mark my words. If passed, the Republicans will then rediscover the ‘deficit crisis,’ and push aggressively for massive cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education — higher education in particular — nutrition, affordable housing and more.”

“That is why I am going on the road this week to talk directly to working people,” Sanders added.

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments, including:

*Bernie Sanders, Ben Jealous to hold Medicare-for-all rally in Baltimore
*New Study Shows How Taxing Rich Saves Lives, While Trump’s Tax Plan… Kills
*Meet the Socialist Marine & Anti-Police Brutality Protester Who Won Democratic Seats in November
*Protesters Slam Trump Attempt to ‘Vaporize’ CFPB as Agency Power Struggle Begins
*Pipeline updates, Water Protector news & more

(If the comments do not load, try clicking either the comment box itself or the ‘sort by newest/oldest’ and they should then pop up. Apologies for the inconvenience, still waiting on a patch to fix the issue!)

GOP Tax Bill & Thanksgiving Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Frankly, I would hope that the GOP tax bill doesn’t come up around your Thanksgiving table. Personally, I prefer just enjoying each other’s company, catching up, good food, and as much laughter as possible. But, if talk around the table does turn to the tax bill, here are some talking points/facts to counter the misinformation and perhaps give someone pause who is buying the GOP’s selling of it. Although corporate tax cuts are frequently touted as a good thing, something that would ‘Benefit Ordinary Americans’. That just doesn’t pan out in real life. Sure, the corporations COULD use their windfall to raise … Continue reading →

11/22 News Roundup – John Fetterman On The Issues, Sen. Sanders/Cantwell To Debate Cruz/Scott On Taxes & More

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Starting off today with John Fetterman (Candidate for Pennsylvania’s Lt. Gov) discussing immigration, dreamers, job creation & more:

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments, including:

*Internet Defenders Vow to Fight FCC’s “Scorched-Earth” Attack on Net Neutrality
*Trump’s “Frightening” Pick for Top Census Job Thinks “Competitive Elections Are Bad for America”
*Corbyn Demands End to US-UK Complicity in Yemen’s Suffering
*Keystone Pipeline Permit Could Be Revoked After Last Week’s 210,000-Gallon Spill
*Costa Rica Runs Entirely on Renewable Energy for 300 Days
*Pipeline Updates, Water Protector News & More

(If the comments do not load, try either clicking the comment box or the ‘sort by newest/oldest’ option, and then they should pop up… apologies for the inconvenience!)

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