Accusations fly as Congress investigates Planned Parenthood (Daily Caller)
A Short History of the Income Tax
Whether the "millionaires and billionaires" are actually paying their fair share of taxes is a matter for the electorate to decide. After all, fairness is hardly an objective standard.Before the modern era, however, the federal tax system was manifestly unfair by any reasonable standard, grossly biased in favor of the well off. Ironically, attempting to fix that unfairness is what has brought us to the present moment, with a federal tax system that is grotesquely complex, often arbitrary, and corrupted by mutual back-scratching between members of Congress and influential lobbyists.
Obama to Congress: Return my jobs bill, passed (AP)
AP - Capping a campaign trip for his economic plan and his re-election, President Barack Obama on Tuesday tried to keep pressure on Congress to consider his nearly $450 billion jobs bill, saying it had been two weeks since he sent the bill to Capitol Hill "and now I want it back."
Who Are The Job Creators?
As President Obama pushes Congress to pass his jobs bill, Republicans argue the administration's policies hurt "job creators." The phrase "job creators" comes up often these days in political rhetoric. So we wanted to understand who exactly the jobs creators are. Melissa Block talks with Justin Wolfers, professor of business and public policy at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Gov. Chris Christie Just Another Sarah Palin (ContributorNetwork)
What Happened To The Political Left?
As unemployment and economic malaise persist, many Americans say they're frustrated with Congress and the president. On the right, the Tea Party and other groups give voice to that frustration, but that level of national mobilization is all but unseen on the left.
Terrible Ten in Congress (The Nation)
Hot Topics: September 27, 2011
Public Notice Hot Topics
Not Left, Not Right, Just Concerned
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Victoria Coley
press@thepublicnotice.org | (571) 970-6490
Topics for Tuesday, September 27, 2011
In today’s issue:
- Groundhog Day in Washington: Senate Deal Reached To Avert Government Shutdown
- Did You Get Your Money’s Worth From Congress Last Week?
- Little Appetite Among American Voters For New Regulations
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Expert: Gretchen Hamel, Executive Director of Public Notice
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1.) Groundhog Day in Washington: Senate Deal Reached To Avert Government Shutdown
With the threat of a government shutdown, the Senate voted to fund the government for just four days into the new fiscal year, lasting until October 4. The measure is expected to pass the House later this week.
“Our nation will never be able to get our fiscal house in order if we continue to budget and spend day-to-day or week-to-week. It’s time that Washington put this nation’s fiscal health and economy first and put politics to the side.,” said Gretchen Hamel.
2.) Did You Get Your Money’s Worth From Congress Last Week?
Congress is running out of time to pass the 12 annual appropriation bills that fund federal discretionary spending programs for the year. As the fiscal year comes to an end at the end of this week, Congress must pass these bills, or, yet another CR to keep the government running. Last week taxpayers spent roughly $107.8 million on Congress; in addition to the CR, The House voted to pass eight bills and resolutions that would cost more than $3.2 billion over five years. So, did you get your money’s worth?
3.) There Is Little Appetite Among American Voters For New Regulations
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency has said new greenhouse gas regulations would require 230,000 new government employees at an expense of $21 billion taxpayer dollars.
In a recent national poll on government regulations, an overwhelming majority of voters – 74% – believe that businesses and consumers are over-regulated. Voters are simply unaware that Congress is not taking a lead position with regard to regulation, as a majority (52%) says that Congress creates regulations. There is a strong desire for checks and balances in creating regulations, as 65% favor requiring regulations be approved by Congress and the President before they are enforced. See all poll results HERE.
Public Notice, an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit dedicated to providing facts and insight on the economy and how government policy affects Americans’ financial well being.
To schedule an interview with Gretchen Hamel, executive director of Public Notice, please call Victoria Coley at (571) 970-6490 or email at press@thepublicnotice.org.
Congress Dodges Shutdown After Disaster Aid Fight
A Senate-approved bill would release some $2.7 billion in FEMA disaster money Saturday and avoid a government shutdown Friday. But it isn't certain when the House will vote on the legislation, since it's on a weeklong break.
Obama: No jobs bill means elect a new Congress (AP)
AP - President Barack Obama promises to "keep pounding away" at Congress to pass his $447 billion jobs plan. If lawmakers don't do enough to help the economy, he says, "then we'll get a new Congress."
Congress Attempts To Avert Shutdown
With FEMA running out of disaster money at some point this week and the whole federal government starting a new fiscal year on Saturday without an accompanying budget, Congress muddles through another budget standoff. NPR's Tamara Keith joins Michele Norris to bring us the latest.
On spending, Congress can’t agree on easy stuff (AP)
AP - Congress is once again allowing shutdown politics to bring the federal government to the brink of closing.
Obama & Dems Need to Wake Up and Do Their Job
"˜This Congress, they are accustomed to doing nothing, and they're comfortable with doing nothing, and they keep on doing nothing," President Obama whined at a September 15 Democratic National Committee gathering in a private Washington residence.Now that his "Blame Bush" hobby horse finally has retired to the glue factory, Obama resorts to pinning America's woes on the "Do-Nothing Congress." If only these parliamentarians would stop taking endless lunches, sipping cocktails at Capitol Hill happy hours, and napping at their...
Who’s the Obstacle to Recovery?
"˜This Congress, they are accustomed to doing nothing, and they're comfortable with doing nothing, and they keep on doing nothing," President Obama whined at a September 15 Democratic National Committee gathering in a private Washington residence.Now that his "Blame Bush" hobby horse finally has retired to the glue factory, Obama resorts to pinning America's woes on the "Do-Nothing Congress." If only these parliamentarians would stop taking endless lunches, sipping cocktails at Capitol Hill happy hours, and napping at their...
Small Donors Slow to Return to Obama
They were once among President Obama’s most loyal supporters and a potent symbol of his political brand: voters of moderate means who dug deep for the candidate and his message of hope and change, sending him $10 or $25 or $50 every few weeks or months. Edward Blair, says he is "bewildered" by the president. The latest on the 2012 election, President Obama, Congress and other news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion.Adnan Alasadi says he now sees the president as "just an opportunistic...
Without Dealmakers, Can Congress Compromise?
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, a seasoned dealmaker in the Senate, announced his intention to step down from a key leadership role this week. It has prompted a question going around Washington: Are the best deal-brokers giving up?
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Can this Congress do anything right? (Politico)
Amateur Hour at the White House
A small secret. In writing about the White House or Congress, I always feel completely free to attempt to see things clearly, to consider the evidence, to sift it through experience and knowledge, and then to make a judgment. It may be highly critical, or caustic, even damning. But deep down I always hope I'm wrong—that it isn't as bad as I say it is, that there is information unknown to me that would explain such and such an act, that there were factors I didn't know of that make bad decisions suddenly explicable. Or even justifiable.I note this to make clear the...
What Happens If FEMA Runs Out Of Money?
Unless Congress acts, it will happen early next week, putting a halt to projects in communities around the country still struggling to recover from this year's spate of hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires. And it would leave FEMA unable to respond to new disasters.
Bill Clinton Strikes Again!
Slick Willy does it again! He has now managed the fancy footwork of both agreeing and disagreeing with President Obama at the same time, but on just one issue. In this case, Obama made it easy. Bill Clinton publicly said that Obama and Congress should not raise taxes during these tough economic times. This is the polar opposite of the position Obama announced Monday when he proposed funding yet another spending spree along with $1.5 trillion in tax hikes. But Clinton knows how to get around this little conundrum. He can legitimately say he agrees with Obama — the 2009...
Friday Funnies: 5 jokes about the economy
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“Congress’ approval rating has dropped to 12 percent. The other 88 percent are withholding judgment until Congress actually does something.” – Jay Leno
4
The Onion: U.S. Economic Recovery Resting On Man Currently Perusing Sears Power Tools Section
3
“President Obama described himself as an eternal optimist. He then explained that he’s the kind of person that sees the country as ‘half employed.’” - Conan O’Brien
2
“The Tea Party is forming its own debt super committee that will meet this week at a Florida Denny’s. You do not want to be the waiter that adds the tax to their check.” - Conan O’Brien
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“President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly. He opened up with a joke: ‘The American dollar is strong.’” - Jimmy Kimmel
Obama Lies about the ‘Do-Nothing Congress’
‘This Congress, they are accustomed to doing nothing, and they’re comfortable with doing nothing, and they keep on doing nothing,” President Obama whined at a September 15 Democratic National Committee gathering in a private Washington residence.
Now that his “Blame Bush” hobby horse finally has retired to the glue factory, Obama resorts to pinning America’s woes on the “Do-Nothing Congress.” If only these parliamentarians would stop taking endless lunches, sipping cocktails at Capitol Hill happy hours, and napping at their desks, America might have some chance of returning to normal.
Keep reading this post . . .
Romney, Perry Go After Each Other In GOP Debate
They accused each other Thursday night of flip-flopping on Social Security and health care. The two men run one-two in the public opinion polls — Perry ahead, Romney a close second — and compete daily for endorsements from members of Congress and other party luminaries.
‘Flawed’ Military Rape Law Leaves Courtrooms In Turmoil
Six years ago, Congress tried cracking down on rape in the military. Prompted by disturbing reports of sexual assaults in military academies and war zones, lawmakers rewrote the rules. They wanted to protect victims and help prosecutors.
