Thursday Open Thread

8 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. Breaking out Scalia on the SCOTUS:

   https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/01/politics/supreme-court-trump-14th-amendment-scalia/index.html

   Log in to Reply

2. Politico notes a rare achievement

   The House passed bipartisan tax legislation Wednesday evening that would expand the Child Tax Credit and restore several business tax breaks — a rare feat in an otherwise bitterly divided Congress that has frequently suffered crippling dysfunction.

   This is a bill supported by Sen. Bennet – a "half a loaf is better than none" compromise that "could lift as many as half a million kids out of poverty, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities."

   But, there's still the Senate. 

   According to a senior Republican aide, granted anonymity to speak about private procedural considerations, the Senate is unlikely to move on the package until March because of other priorities like passing government funding bills.

   GOP tax writers in the chamber have also demanded a committee markup of the package, which, the aide said, is only fair given that the House did so

   Log in to Reply

   1. Yes, indeed, there was bipartisanship in passing the bill and in opposing it.

      When else do you find Andy Biggs, Cori Bush, Lauren Bobert, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, Ralph Norman, AOC, Andy Ogles, Chip Roy, and Rshida Tlaib all voting the same way.

      Go far enough to the left and far enough to the right and the two sides meet up.

      Log in to Reply

3. Colorado Republicans filed their YEAR-END report (3 times).  The most recent has a summary position showing

   6. (a) Cash on hand, January 1, 2023
    
   325,747.68

       (b) Cash on hand at Beginning of Reporting Period
   582,840.49
    

       (c) Total Receipts (from line 19)
   121,227.18
   869,090.45

       (d) Subtotal (6(b) + 6(c) for A, 6(a) + 6(c) for B)
   704,067.67
   119,4838.13

   7. Total Disbursements
   40,079.64
   530,850.10

   8. Cash on Hand at Close of Reporting Period
   663,988.03

   663,988.03

   The financial position is substantially better — so much so that Chair Dave Williams is taking a payment

   Fox Group Ltd, … 12/08/2023, consulting/chairman services, $9000.00.

   And they have two entries for "Payroll" to Greg Allan … $940.31 and $1138.71

   Log in to Reply

   1. FWIW … the table shows up cleanly in draft, even showing the code to display.  When I Post Comment, it turns into the display above. 

      Any chance this new & improved software could either show tables or, failing that, could show the draft as it will actually appear?

      Log in to Reply

4. Put him down as a solid "No" until he changes his mind.

   Ken Buck says he’s a solid ‘no’ on Mayorkas impeachment | The Hill

   Log in to Reply

   1. Daily Kos also has the story of Ken Buck telling off the Republican Party.

      Given that on some days, there have been more Democrats than Republicans in the chamber, Buck's defection is even MORE significant.

      Log in to Reply

5. Listening to how the GOP doesn't want to pass anything that would help Biden reminds me of the Key and Peele sketch where Obama's in negotiation with GOP lawmakers who insist on disagreeing with everything Obama wants.  So he says he's in favor of small government and they disagree.  He's in favor of tax cuts for the rich and they disagree.  He's pro-life and they disagree.  Etc.  it's hilarious.

   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B46km4V0CMY

    

   Log in to Reply