It is no coincident that the readers of PolitiDose know who the big spenders really are in Washington. And like wise, not surprising when Trump's Treasury Secretary announced this week that the federal deficit at the end of Trump's very first fiscal year (9/30/18) came in at $779 billion, the highest deficit in 6 years and 17% higher than President Obama's last fiscal year deficit that ended on 9/30/17. It was all predicted in commentary by PolitiDose many times because of precedent.
Other information given out by Treasury: (1) Corporate tax collections fell 22% in fiscal 2018. A result of the Trump-GOP tax cut that reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. (2) Interest paid on the national debt was the highest ever at $523 billion. (3) The total federal debt which combines annual deficits was 78% of the nations entire gross domestic product in June, the largest since WWII. (4) The Trump administration reported next years deficit will be over $1 trillion.
It should be remembered that President Trump and the republican controlled congress promised the tax cuts would produce more revenue and pay for themselves. Reagan and Bush 43 promised the same fairy tale after their tax cuts but it never took place. William Gale, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution said, by cutting taxes in 2017 when the economy was already strong, congress and the Trump administration not only missed a golden opportunity to begin to address the fiscal problem, they actually made the problem worse. And most news media people still try to pass the republican party off as conservative and that they are the party of balanced budgets. It is also worthwhile to remember that no republican President has balance a federal budget since Dwight Eisenhower in 1960, well over 50 years ago.
But PolitiDose told the true republican story for the last 8 years in commentary. And Trump continues the lies of Reagan, Bush 43 and the GOP in congress. PolitiDose also informed its readers the republican strategy is to bankrupt the federal government so as to have an excuse to repeal and or cut severely Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And sure enough, after the Treasury announcement concerning the deficit, Mitch McConnell, republican leader of the Senate said that after the Nov. 6 elections the republicans in congress would move to cut those programs.
In the next month or so the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget will come out with their final numbers for fiscal 2018. We will then know if the numbers furnished by Treasury are accurate or not. The shame of the republicans tax cuts since Reagan is the big lie to their own base. And in the case of President Trump, who lies about everything, it has become policy.
PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary will continue to inform its readers what to expect in the future if Trump and the republicans still control both houses of congress after the November 6 elections.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Federal Judge Slaps Down Another Attempt By The Trump Administration To Affect A Student Loan Rule
A federal judge ordered immediate implementation of a rule designed to help students cheated by for-profit colleges get relief on their education debt. The rule was put in place by the Obama administration and delayed by education secretary Betsy DeVos after Trump took office. Eighteen states and the district of Columbia sued DeVos over her actions.
The rule was known as the Borrower Defense Rule that outlined a way for student borrowers to apply for student loan forgiveness if they were defrauded or misled by their college. About the same time. DeVos actions took place, President Trump had to settle out of court a multi million dollar law suit against his Trump University brought by students. The suit alleged fraud, false advertisement and empty promises.
The actions that DeVos took was criticized by the Democrats and consumer groups. This writer believes DeVos was following Trump and the GOP ideology as usual. Consumer protection comes last because they cater to the wealthy. The Trump-GOP tax cuts are another reminder.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The rule was known as the Borrower Defense Rule that outlined a way for student borrowers to apply for student loan forgiveness if they were defrauded or misled by their college. About the same time. DeVos actions took place, President Trump had to settle out of court a multi million dollar law suit against his Trump University brought by students. The suit alleged fraud, false advertisement and empty promises.
The actions that DeVos took was criticized by the Democrats and consumer groups. This writer believes DeVos was following Trump and the GOP ideology as usual. Consumer protection comes last because they cater to the wealthy. The Trump-GOP tax cuts are another reminder.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Orleans Parish School Board Denied A Tax Break For Bollinger Algiers
The school board voted to reject Bollinger Algiers application for a 5 year property tax exemption under Louisiana's Industrial Tax Exemption Program. The board said they rejected the request because the application did not meet two of four rules for tax break approval by the board. The story was carried in a Times Picayune article of 10/14.
The school board did not have the power to review industrial tax exemptions until Governor Edwards changed the process. It was the right thing to do because before he acted other state boards could make the decisions that would cause school districts to lose out on taxes that support public education without having a say so in the matter. It should be obvious that local government should have a say so in tax matters that affect them.
Bollinger, like other business received a 14% federal tax break when Trump and the GOP lowered the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. But the business community is never satisfied. They always want more from the states and the federal government. The Baton Rouge area is facing the same kind of tax relief filed by EXXON for the tax exemption. And all know EXXON is one of the largest corporations in the world and very profitable. The school district in that area should reject EXXONS request. Louisiana needs the tax revenue, EXXON does not need the exemption.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The school board did not have the power to review industrial tax exemptions until Governor Edwards changed the process. It was the right thing to do because before he acted other state boards could make the decisions that would cause school districts to lose out on taxes that support public education without having a say so in the matter. It should be obvious that local government should have a say so in tax matters that affect them.
Bollinger, like other business received a 14% federal tax break when Trump and the GOP lowered the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. But the business community is never satisfied. They always want more from the states and the federal government. The Baton Rouge area is facing the same kind of tax relief filed by EXXON for the tax exemption. And all know EXXON is one of the largest corporations in the world and very profitable. The school district in that area should reject EXXONS request. Louisiana needs the tax revenue, EXXON does not need the exemption.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, October 15, 2018
Times Picayune Opinion Writer Tim Morris: It Now Becomes Clear
Morris, in his opinion column of October 14 writes it has become clear former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal does not have the character or instincts to be a successful politician on the national level as compared with Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Really??? Morris, like other conservative writers in Louisiana loved Jindal when he served as governor and supported Jindal's policies.
Very few good things happened in Louisiana under the Jindal administration and Morris never did allow himself to realize that Jindal never had the character to be a successful governor. Morris finally opened his eyes after Jindal left office when he could finally see clearly. Conservative opinion writers never see the light of day when republicans are in office, they rather blame democrats for every thing. Ideology can be blind.
Morris takes it to a new low in another column dated 10/12 titled, Our Political Choices Are Now Between Anger and Depression. No Tim, the column describes republicans only. Because the people do have a better choice in the November elections with the democratic party, the party of progress, accomplishments, the rule of law that respects our constitution and our institutions. When conservative writers have nothing positive to write about republican administrations, they always try to link democrats with the republican failures.
As for Nikki Haley, she will be remembered as the U.S. Ambassador who carried out Trump's rage before the United Nations and then resigned after two years in Trump's cabinet so she could
put some distance between her and Trump for the sake of her future political ambitions, hoping people have a short memory.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Very few good things happened in Louisiana under the Jindal administration and Morris never did allow himself to realize that Jindal never had the character to be a successful governor. Morris finally opened his eyes after Jindal left office when he could finally see clearly. Conservative opinion writers never see the light of day when republicans are in office, they rather blame democrats for every thing. Ideology can be blind.
Morris takes it to a new low in another column dated 10/12 titled, Our Political Choices Are Now Between Anger and Depression. No Tim, the column describes republicans only. Because the people do have a better choice in the November elections with the democratic party, the party of progress, accomplishments, the rule of law that respects our constitution and our institutions. When conservative writers have nothing positive to write about republican administrations, they always try to link democrats with the republican failures.
As for Nikki Haley, she will be remembered as the U.S. Ambassador who carried out Trump's rage before the United Nations and then resigned after two years in Trump's cabinet so she could
put some distance between her and Trump for the sake of her future political ambitions, hoping people have a short memory.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The United States, Mexico and Canada Trade Agreement
President Trump earlier this month with Corporate America, his Treasury Secretary and trade representatives at his side announced that the U.S., Mexico and Canada had agreed to a new trade deal to replace NAFTA, the much maligned agreement. Trump painted a bright picture for the new agreement and like a little kid took the opportunity to bash past administrations decisions on trade.
But the American people were not told that it will take several years before we actually know the results of the new trade deal if in fact turns out to be better than NAFTA. Congress will actually hold hearings on the issue next year and that is when we will learn what the fine print says. In the mean time Trump's commerce secretary said America's trade imbalance with Asia and Europe will probably be the largest at the end of this year than in the last 10 years even though Trump raised tariffs on trade originating in those countries.
Trump's trade war of words with China is not going well and Trump is back tracking. His economic advisor Larry Kudlow said last week Trump is now trying to arrange a meeting with China in November at the G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires where the U.S., China and other nations will meet. China cancelled the last trade talk meeting with the U.S. that was set up and said they would not be intimidated by Trump's threats.
Transparency concerning the agreement will not beknown until next year when congress meets to take up the issue. And even than, if republicans are still in control of congress, the American people may still be in the dark.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
But the American people were not told that it will take several years before we actually know the results of the new trade deal if in fact turns out to be better than NAFTA. Congress will actually hold hearings on the issue next year and that is when we will learn what the fine print says. In the mean time Trump's commerce secretary said America's trade imbalance with Asia and Europe will probably be the largest at the end of this year than in the last 10 years even though Trump raised tariffs on trade originating in those countries.
Trump's trade war of words with China is not going well and Trump is back tracking. His economic advisor Larry Kudlow said last week Trump is now trying to arrange a meeting with China in November at the G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires where the U.S., China and other nations will meet. China cancelled the last trade talk meeting with the U.S. that was set up and said they would not be intimidated by Trump's threats.
Transparency concerning the agreement will not beknown until next year when congress meets to take up the issue. And even than, if republicans are still in control of congress, the American people may still be in the dark.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, October 13, 2018
The Appointment Of Judge Brett Kavanaugh: Trump's Malignancy Spreads To The U.S. Supreme Court
A malignant President is the way journalist Carl Bernstein described President Trump in an on air appearance on CNN last year. And after 20 months in office the malignancy continues to spread and this time to the Supreme Court with Trump's appointment of Brett Kavanaugh. It also infected the republican controlled Judicial Committee that handled the confirmation hearings.
It is the latest malignancy and the worse so far because it has infected the highest court in the land that has the final say so on the rule of law that Trump attacks and undermines every day. This writer can not remember another Supreme Court appointee taking the bench so tainted by his own actions and testimony. We know that the republican controlled congress and Trump's cabinet are ditto heads who have accepted and supported Trump's malignancy and in the very near future we will find out just where the majority stands on the U.S. Supreme Court.
As this writer said in a previous commentary, it only takes one so called conservative justice to neutralize the Kavanaugh malignancy. And time will be the judge.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
It is the latest malignancy and the worse so far because it has infected the highest court in the land that has the final say so on the rule of law that Trump attacks and undermines every day. This writer can not remember another Supreme Court appointee taking the bench so tainted by his own actions and testimony. We know that the republican controlled congress and Trump's cabinet are ditto heads who have accepted and supported Trump's malignancy and in the very near future we will find out just where the majority stands on the U.S. Supreme Court.
As this writer said in a previous commentary, it only takes one so called conservative justice to neutralize the Kavanaugh malignancy. And time will be the judge.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski Stood Tall
Lisa Murkowski, the republican Senator from Hawaii stood tall as a member of the republican controlled Senate Judiciary Committee during the confirmation hearings of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. She voted against cutting off debate that her party was successful at doing, and then she opposed the confirmation of Kavanaugh when the full Senate cast their vote which approved the appointment.
As the lone republican Senator to oppose Kavanaugh she towered over her remaining male republican Senators who all voted yes and had the wisdom to use the judicial reason to do so. After listening to Kavanaugh's hysterical testimony on Sept. 27 before the committee and his alleged claim against the democrats and the Clintons, Senator Murkowski referred her colleges to Rule 1.2, the code of judicial conduct and said Kavanaugh did not meet the standard. This writer believes Kavanaugh's testimony failed the test of being impartial and lacks the temperament to seek the truth which comes with the responsibility of a judge.
Senator Murkowski did not feel the need to use Dr. Ford's testimony one way or the other to make her decision. She knew what the judicial test was and why it mattered and was established and based her decision to oppose the Kavanaugh nomination on that basis. The Senator represented her state and the nation with character and integrity. Her republican colleges just wanted to confirm Kavanaugh for the political reasons of ideology and their leadership took the position that they would confirm Kavanaugh no matter what.
Yes, the lady Senator from Hawaii was a true lady. And she is also a better person than her republican colleges. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
As the lone republican Senator to oppose Kavanaugh she towered over her remaining male republican Senators who all voted yes and had the wisdom to use the judicial reason to do so. After listening to Kavanaugh's hysterical testimony on Sept. 27 before the committee and his alleged claim against the democrats and the Clintons, Senator Murkowski referred her colleges to Rule 1.2, the code of judicial conduct and said Kavanaugh did not meet the standard. This writer believes Kavanaugh's testimony failed the test of being impartial and lacks the temperament to seek the truth which comes with the responsibility of a judge.
Senator Murkowski did not feel the need to use Dr. Ford's testimony one way or the other to make her decision. She knew what the judicial test was and why it mattered and was established and based her decision to oppose the Kavanaugh nomination on that basis. The Senator represented her state and the nation with character and integrity. Her republican colleges just wanted to confirm Kavanaugh for the political reasons of ideology and their leadership took the position that they would confirm Kavanaugh no matter what.
Yes, the lady Senator from Hawaii was a true lady. And she is also a better person than her republican colleges. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Trump And The Republicans Blame Game In Full Campaign Mode As The November Elections Near
Less than a month before the November 6 congressional elections, Trump and his ditto head party are sending out emails blaming the democratic party for everything negative that is taking place on their own watch. They are doing what they do best, lie They read the latest news where their party is behind in the Iron Belt states that Trump won in the 2016 election.
Regardless how the elections turn out, Trump will not be the cause. Congressional elections are local and in general voters are not thinking about national or international matters but look to what is taking lace in their state. Plus and a big plus, is the fact that most voters do not have a handle on the issues. They either like the candidate or they don't. A good example: Voters think President Reagan balanced the federal budget. (He did not, not even one); The democratic party are the big spenders; Republicans are best at creating jobs; Republicans are best at keeping America safe; But the facts tell the opposite story.
But this writer believes there may be a key element in this election with women and the young first timevoters. If they turn out in numbers like they say they are going to do and actually believe in what they have been protesting their vote may be the determining factor on November 6. That is when the news media starts its non stop reporting and tries to tell the people what really took place and why. The spin will take over and distort it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Regardless how the elections turn out, Trump will not be the cause. Congressional elections are local and in general voters are not thinking about national or international matters but look to what is taking lace in their state. Plus and a big plus, is the fact that most voters do not have a handle on the issues. They either like the candidate or they don't. A good example: Voters think President Reagan balanced the federal budget. (He did not, not even one); The democratic party are the big spenders; Republicans are best at creating jobs; Republicans are best at keeping America safe; But the facts tell the opposite story.
But this writer believes there may be a key element in this election with women and the young first timevoters. If they turn out in numbers like they say they are going to do and actually believe in what they have been protesting their vote may be the determining factor on November 6. That is when the news media starts its non stop reporting and tries to tell the people what really took place and why. The spin will take over and distort it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, October 8, 2018
U.S. Job Creation Fell Back In Septembr
The U.S. Labor Department announced that the economy created 134,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate fell to 3.7%. It was the 96th straight month of positive job growth for the economy. September was the lowest job creation month since March 2018 when 103,000 jobs were reported created. Economist predicted 185,000 jobs would be created in September.
So far, in Trump's 20 months in office 3,632,000 jobs have been created for a monthly average total of 181,600 jobs created per month. In President Obama's last 20 months in office 4,007,000 jobs were created for a monthly average total of 200,350 jobs created per month. In other words, there is no job creation boom from the tax cuts like Trump brags about. What the country is enjoying is the economic expansion that began on President Obama's watch and in its 9th straight year of expansion.
And just think, when President Obama took office the economy was losing 700,000 jobs a month thanks to the record recession of President Bush When Trump took office the economy was creating and adding approximately 200,000 jobs a month and positive job growth had taken place for over 70 straight months. The next comparison can be made when the CBO releases the final budget information and numbers on Trump's first fiscal year budget which ended September 30. And PolitiDose will be there to keep the pubic informed.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
So far, in Trump's 20 months in office 3,632,000 jobs have been created for a monthly average total of 181,600 jobs created per month. In President Obama's last 20 months in office 4,007,000 jobs were created for a monthly average total of 200,350 jobs created per month. In other words, there is no job creation boom from the tax cuts like Trump brags about. What the country is enjoying is the economic expansion that began on President Obama's watch and in its 9th straight year of expansion.
And just think, when President Obama took office the economy was losing 700,000 jobs a month thanks to the record recession of President Bush When Trump took office the economy was creating and adding approximately 200,000 jobs a month and positive job growth had taken place for over 70 straight months. The next comparison can be made when the CBO releases the final budget information and numbers on Trump's first fiscal year budget which ended September 30. And PolitiDose will be there to keep the pubic informed.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, October 7, 2018
The U.S. Senate Confirms Brett Kavanaugh For The U.S. Supreme Court
The republican controlled Senate on a 50-48 vote confirmed President Trump's nominee Brett Kavanaugh for a seat on the United States Supreme Court. Will the vote put an end to the issue, fuel other protests or continue the debate and divide the country. Will the legal profession who took the position that Kavanaugh disqualified himself with his out bursts and accusations at the September 27 hearing and will they continue to express their concerns.
Will Kavanaugh be a tainted Supreme Court Justice that ends a judicial system that is overall thought to be fair and respected. This writer thinks the big question will fall to the present four so called conservative justices including the chief Justice John Roberts. Will one of the four be a true conservative and not let the court be swayed by Kavanaugh's extreme views about the constitution. It would only take one conservative vote to break away from Kavanaugh's views to keep him in check and keep the court's decisions truly in line with the constitution. This writer believes there has to be a conservative on the court who understands what Kavanaugh's extreme views could do to the court's image and would not let Kavanaugh's views remake the court in his own image.
Although conservatives on the court today do not compare to the ones before the Gingrich era which served the country well with the democratic party, there still has to be one today on the court who puts America first. The four most talked about decisions by the Supreme Court in the last 64 years were: Brown vs. Board of Education; Miranda; Roe vs. Wade; and the Affordable Care Act. All four decisions were led by republican appointed chief justices who voted with the majority. Those conservative justices put the constitution and facts first above the politics of their party. That should be a clue to the conservatives who sit on the Supreme Court today and how to deal with Kavanaugh.
Note: Brown vs. Board of Education ended public school segregation in the 1954 decision. The vote was 9 - 0. Chief Justice Earl Warren was appointed by President Eisenhower and voted with the majority.
The Miranda decision gave those arrested the right to remain silent in a 1966 decision. The vote was 5-3. Chief Justice Earl Warren voted with the majority.
Roe vs. Wade (The abortion decision) was decided in 1973. The vote was 7 - 2. Chief Justice Warren Burger was appointed by President Nixon and voted with the majority.
The Affordable Care Act: Up held by the Supreme Court in 2015 and was found constitutional. The vote was 6 - 3. Chief Justice John Roberts was appointed by President George W. Bush and voted with the majority.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Will Kavanaugh be a tainted Supreme Court Justice that ends a judicial system that is overall thought to be fair and respected. This writer thinks the big question will fall to the present four so called conservative justices including the chief Justice John Roberts. Will one of the four be a true conservative and not let the court be swayed by Kavanaugh's extreme views about the constitution. It would only take one conservative vote to break away from Kavanaugh's views to keep him in check and keep the court's decisions truly in line with the constitution. This writer believes there has to be a conservative on the court who understands what Kavanaugh's extreme views could do to the court's image and would not let Kavanaugh's views remake the court in his own image.
Although conservatives on the court today do not compare to the ones before the Gingrich era which served the country well with the democratic party, there still has to be one today on the court who puts America first. The four most talked about decisions by the Supreme Court in the last 64 years were: Brown vs. Board of Education; Miranda; Roe vs. Wade; and the Affordable Care Act. All four decisions were led by republican appointed chief justices who voted with the majority. Those conservative justices put the constitution and facts first above the politics of their party. That should be a clue to the conservatives who sit on the Supreme Court today and how to deal with Kavanaugh.
Note: Brown vs. Board of Education ended public school segregation in the 1954 decision. The vote was 9 - 0. Chief Justice Earl Warren was appointed by President Eisenhower and voted with the majority.
The Miranda decision gave those arrested the right to remain silent in a 1966 decision. The vote was 5-3. Chief Justice Earl Warren voted with the majority.
Roe vs. Wade (The abortion decision) was decided in 1973. The vote was 7 - 2. Chief Justice Warren Burger was appointed by President Nixon and voted with the majority.
The Affordable Care Act: Up held by the Supreme Court in 2015 and was found constitutional. The vote was 6 - 3. Chief Justice John Roberts was appointed by President George W. Bush and voted with the majority.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)