Even on Thanksgiving, Donald Trump could not escape his worst nightmare: 10 months into his presidency, his predecessor Barack Obama remains significantly more popular. Likely adding insult to injury, the latest evidence of Trump falling short came on the platform he values most: Twitter. Related: Trump Golfs, Tweets on Thanksgiving Eve, While Obama Fed Homeless Veterans…
Obama Trounces Trump's Thanksgiving Tweets
List of Community Thanksgiving Meals
List of Community Thanksgiving Meals
Poverello
Thanksgiving Day Meal Thursday
2 seating's available
11:15a
12:15p
Contact 954-561-3663 to reserve your space *limited space available
Florida Community Support Organization
Thanksgiving Holiday Orphan Meal Locations
Jarvis Hall - 4501 North Ocean Drive, Lauderdale By The Sea, FL 33308
Sunset Hills - 3710 N.W. 21st, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33311
1116 N.W. 17th Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311
Christian Life Center - 2669 West Commercial Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
4301 N.W. 48th Avenue, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
Gaililee Ministry - 2121 West Oakland Park Blvd, Oakland Park, FL 33311
STATEMENT OF FORT LAUDERDALE COMMISSION CANDIDATE GEORGE CASTRATARO ON 2017 TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
George Castrataro, a candidate for Fort Lauderdale City Commission in District 2, issued the following statement on the 2017 Transgender Day of Remembrance:
“Today we remember our transgender brothers and sisters who have lost their lives because of prejudice toward the transgender community. Here in Fort Lauderdale, the LGBT community — all of it — is an integral part of the fabric of our city. We honor and support each other daily. Sadly, that is not always the case in other communities.
“Anti-trans crimes in the US increased 43% between 2015 and 2016, according to the FBI’s 2016 Hate Crimes and Statistics Report, which compiles data from more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies across the US. So far this year there have been 25 transgender murders, compared to 23 in all of 2016. That’s shameful and disturbing.
“The welcoming environment we have in Fort Lauderdale should be a model for the nation. I will continue to work with all members of our LGBT community, our straight allies, law enforcement, businesses and residents to ensure everyone feels safe to be themselves here in Fort Lauderdale.”
Do 103 proposed constitutional revisions to Florida Constitution represent public input
The head of the panel now eyeing the state’s constitution for changes says “more than 50 percent of the 103 proposed constitutional revisions filed by (its) commissioners represent public ideas.”
Carlos Beruff, chair of the Constitution Revision Commission(CRC), this week recounted how his board “traveled the state listening to Floridians and reviewed thousands of public proposals and comments.”
“Much like the previous CRC in 1997-98 advanced ‘general concepts’ based on public input, we identified general themes and ideas that were submitted by Floridians and then crafted proposals in the appropriate legal language,” he said in a statement.
“More than 50 percent of the 103 proposed constitutional revisions filed by (its) commissioners represent public ideas,” says CRC chair Carlos Beruff.
Sounds like Beruff still is smarting from a Miami Herald story last month that dinged the commission for accepting only “a few” ideas from the public to improve Florida’s governing document.
“In a swift, 20-minute meeting, the panel ... rejected all but a few of the 2,012 public proposals submitted ..., advancing only six of them, after months of encouraging the public to submit ideas,” that story began.
“Proposals are now being referred to CRC committees for further review and consideration. We encourage Floridians to stay engaged in the CRC process as we move forward.”
The commission is formed every 20 years to review and suggest changes to the state’s governing document. Any amendments it places directly on the 2018 statewide ballot still must be OK’d by 60 percent of voters to be added to the constitution.
A spreadsheet organizing the topics can be viewed at flcrc.gov/Reference.
Rep. Deutch Statement on Vote Against GOP Tax Scam
Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement after voting against H.R. 1, the Republican tax plan to give massive tax breaks to multi-national corporations and the top earners while scrapping crucial deductions that help millions of Floridians reduce their taxes:
“Plain and simple, this Republican tax scam is a massive giveaway to multi-billionaires and big corporations, paid for by tax increases for thirty-six million working class and low income Americans.
“Unfortunately, it is far removed from the reality of hundreds of millions of Americans. Why don’t we ask the nearly one million Florida households if they are willing to pay more in their taxes so that large corporations can evade paying taxes on billions of off-shore dollars?
“Republicans drafted this bill behind closed doors, without any input from Democrats, showing how far they’ll go to please special interest lobbyists rather than working on real bipartisan reform of our nation’s tax code.
“Aren't Republicans worried about what shrinking the mortgage interest deduction will do for the millions of prospective home buyers in Florida?
“What does this bill say to the nine million Americans, including the over 630,000 Floridians, who save thousands of dollars with the medical expense deduction to cover exorbitantly high medical costs?
“Are Senate Republicans really proposing to kick 13 million Americans off their healthcare insurance just to give an additional $100,000 to the top 0.1% of earners?
“How will the over 600,000 student loan borrowers in Florida dig out from their debt when the Republicans cut the student loan interest deduction?
“What about the nearly 200,000 Florida teachers who will lose their on average $257 deduction to help pay for classroom supplies out of their own pockets?
"How about seniors, whose access to care will be threatened by this bill's $25 billion cut to Medicare?
“In short, this plan will give huge tax breaks to those who don’t need it – the wealthiest Americans and large, multinational corporations – at the expense of those who desperately need it.
“If this bill passes, there is real harm coming to hardworking Americans fighting every day to keep food on the tables and a roof over their heads, and it will burden future generations by adding trillions to the national debt.
“We deserve a better deal - one that brings more jobs to America and higher wages to American workers. I opposed today's tax bill because it does the opposite."
From Senator Eleanor Sobel - Please join me
Dear friends, Many have asked, “Why do we need a “Friends” group?” We believe in the benefits of Topeekeegee Yugnee Park- the park we love. Many of you have expressed making TY Park more than it is now with the introduction of innovative environmental programs and cultural events. And the Park will be much more with your help! Progress takes time, money and commitments. Become a friend. Eleanor Sobel
George Castrataro for Fort Lauderdale Commission Kick Off Party
George Castrataro for Fort Lauderdale Commission Kick Off Party
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| Photo Credit MarksLists |
Longtime Fort Lauderdale lawyer and advocate George Castrataro hosted a Kick-Off Party at Cafe Vico for his campaign for Fort Lauderdale City Commission District II.
Campaign Manager William Green, said "we are off to a good start, with just a few days in the race we have raised almost $20,000.00"
George's Website https://www.gc4ftl.com/
Dan Rather at Miami Book Fair
The Miami Book Fair International, that smorgasbord of authors, artists, media people and other guests from the entertainment world is descending upon Miami, from Sunday, November 12 through Sunday, November 19. In its 34th Year, the Book Fair delights people of all ages with its different offerings, appealing to a multi-ethnic and multicultural audience. The Fair’s venue is the Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College.
The Book Fair’s kickoff was on Sunday, November 12, with newscaster Dan Rather, and will close next weekend with former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Al Franken. Tickets for Joe Biden, who will speak off campus, are long sold out. Other tickets are available for other authors and other guests during the time the Book Fair is in Miami. Other guests over the time frame include Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Angela Davis, Donna Brazile, Van Jones and many others. Brazile will speak on Wednesday, November 15, and her speech will be with co-panelist Anna Navarro. Brazile’s comments about the 2016 election may overshadow her visit to Miami. Former White House photographer Pete Souza also will visit the Fair on Sunday.
On Sunday night November 12, Rather sat down with Tom Hudson, of WLRN fame, to talk about many things, including his prominence on Facebook, the 2016 election and the state of the country following that election. Rather spoke about how he came from humble beginnings, growing up in a middle-class Texas home, and how his teachers were a huge asset to him growing up. He also spoke about the need for people to turn to books as an equalizer, and how books and education were “embers of hope” for many poor and middle-class families. In speaking about books and education, Rather seemed to be looking around at where he was that evening, at a book fair surrounded by authors and many books.
“Books reminds us of what unites us,” said Rather. “I was introduced to books at an early age. I do think we overwhelmingly need to recognize the importance of books.”
Rather, was asked about his new popularity on social media, and said he was surprised how many people visited his Facebook page and interacted with him and other members of that community. As a person who spent a huge bulk of his life having one-way conversations with the screen and a home audience, Rather said that he found it empowering and educational that so many people enjoyed interacting with him on line. He said that the social media was a tremendous tool to educate other people and reach them. The social media, he said, like the television and radio of past eras was a powerful tool, but it depended on how you used it.
“My idol, Edward R Murrow, spoke of television and how it can educate and illuminate, and how it can be a strong weapon against injustice and poverty, so it is with the Internet,” said Rather. “A lot of it depends on how you use it.”
Rather spoke about the lack of civility in the recent campaign for the presidency, and its impact on the political environment in the country. Rather also addressed the ongoing negative comments that the current President was making about the media, and in particular how the President had been targeting journalists as “enemies of the people.” Rather called these comments unprecedented and dangerous to the state of democracy, and smacking of authoritarianism and fascism.
“The Trump presidency so far has been unique,” said Rather, “but part of what Trump and the people around him work hard to do is convince pepe that this is normal. This is not normal. The tone and tenure of this administration and the acts of this administration are unprecedented in American history with the unrelenting attacks on a free and independent press. Nixon had problems but even President Nixon never reached this consistent level of attacking members of the press and journalists in general and calling them enemies of the people.”
Rather spoke about the troubling times that the country had found itself in, but was optimistic about the future of the country despite what was going on at the national level and also about the people in the country who would guide her through the rough times. Rather noted that if people were unhappy with the direction the country was going in, that they could show their dissatisfaction at the ballot box by voting out the people who displeased them. The president of the United States was a powerful person, he said, but not as powerful as the people who elected him.
“No president is stronger than the country as a whole,” said Rather. “If folks are dissatisfied with the leadership, they can vote them out.”
Rather spoke about the waves of elections that swept people into power, sometimes moving to the right and to the left, but usually moving back to the center. He also spoke about the institutions in the country, such as the legislative branch and the judiciary and other institutions that served as a check to the people in powerful positions who thought they could implement drastic changes. Rather spoke of the Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War, and how the country came through those dark times better than what it was.
“Even in the dark times, we will come out the other end,” said Rather. “We will get through it even better.”
THANKSGIVING GROCERY GIVEAWAY
The Sanctuary Church, 1400 N Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Date 11/18/2017 10:00 AM End Time 1:00 PM
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
In the United States, one in six people struggles to get enough to eat. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel wants to help fight hunger, so he’s partnered with the Wayne Barton Study Center’s Good News of Christ Ministries, WSVN 7 and Cox Media Group to distribute free food, via the Grocery Giveaway Food Distributions.
The goal of the event is to enhance the health, welfare, and education of the community through healthy eating. Participants are encouraged to bring bags and carts to fill with meat, produce, bread, dairy, and frozen foods.
CLICK ABOVE TO ENLARGE OR PRINT
Everyone is welcome to attend this free community event. The Wayne Barton Study Center was founded by former Boca Raton police officer Wayne Barton, who has created a safe recreation and education venue for youth to study, learn and play. These Grocery Giveaways are taking place throughout South Florida. For a complete schedule of the Broward County Grocery Giveaway, visit sheriff.org or call the Broward Sheriff’s Office Community Services Department at 954-831-8901.
Miami, Miami Beach voters elect two mayors
“Miami, Miami Beach voters elect two mayors” via Ana Ceballos — In what came as little surprise on a busy election night in Miami-Dade County, voters overwhelmingly picked two new mayors. In Miami Dade, former state representative Dan Gelber got 82 percent of the votes. Gelber will replace Mayor Philip Levine, who last week announced his bid for the governor’s mansion. In Miami, Francis Suarez took 85 percent of the vote.
Rick Kriseman wins re-election for mayor of Saint Petersburg
“Rick Kriseman wins re-election for mayor of Saint Petersburg” via WFTS Tampa Bay — In an epic battle of the Ricks for Mayor of St. Petersburg … unofficial results show Krisemanreceived 51 percent of the vote and Rick Baker received 49 percent of the vote. On Tuesday, Baker conceded to Kriseman and said he said he would always be St. Pete's biggest supporter. Kriseman told Action News he hopes to continue to focus on growth in target industries like marine and life sciences, manufacturing, financial services, data analytics and creative arts and design.
Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Victims of the Sutherland Springs, Texas Shooting
In honor and remembrance of the victims of the unprovoked act of violence committed in Sutherland Springs, Texas during the morning church service of November 5, 2017, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida. The flags shall be lowered immediately and remain at half-staff until the expiration of the President’s national directive at sunset onThursday, November 9, 2017.
Please see the Proclamation by President Donald J. Trump directing flags to half-staff: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
I Don't Know It For a Fact | Real Time with Bill Maher
"Long before Donald Trump was ""hearing things,"" Bill Maher was making baseless assertions in a segment called ""I Don't Know It For a Fact...I Just Know It's True."
Update on my legislation supporting LGBT elders
LGBT older adults face significant barriers and disparities, including fewer support services, higher poverty rates, more dangerous social isolation, and inadequate access to health care services compared to the rest of older Americans. Because of these profound challenges, LGBT older adults require community-specific services that are scarce and severely underfunded in every part of the country.
That's why this week, I reintroduced the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act. The bill will decrease the isolation faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged LGBT older adults, improve their health, and increase their access to culturally competent services and supports. The legislation permanently establishes the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country’s first and only resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to LGBT seniors. Finally, the legislation also addresses the lack of accurate information on LGBT seniors by instructing the Assistant Secretary of Aging to collect data on LGBT older adults to determine the needs of the population.
As Chair of the Congressional LGBT Aging Task Force, I'm especially proud that this bill is named in honor of Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz, a South Florida couple leading the charge for LGBT seniors’ rights.
That's why this week, I reintroduced the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act. The bill will decrease the isolation faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged LGBT older adults, improve their health, and increase their access to culturally competent services and supports. The legislation permanently establishes the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country’s first and only resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to LGBT seniors. Finally, the legislation also addresses the lack of accurate information on LGBT seniors by instructing the Assistant Secretary of Aging to collect data on LGBT older adults to determine the needs of the population.
As Chair of the Congressional LGBT Aging Task Force, I'm especially proud that this bill is named in honor of Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz, a South Florida couple leading the charge for LGBT seniors’ rights.
Deutch, Bonamici, Crist Reignite Efforts to Improve Services for LGBT Seniors
| Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act Establishes Safeguards for Aging Population |
Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22), Chair of the LGBT Aging Task Force of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici(OR-01) and Congressman Charlie Crist (FL-13) to introduce legislation that aims to improve the Older Americans Act (OAA) by better serving LGBT elders and increasing access to culturally competent services and support programs.
This bill is named to honor LGBT activists Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz. To learn more about Ruthie and Connie's story, click here to view the trailer for the documentary Every Room in the House featuring their relationship and fight against discrimination.
LGBT older adults face significant barriers and disparities, including fewer support services, higher poverty rates, more dangerous social isolation, and inadequate access to health care services compared to the rest of older Americans. Because of these profound challenges, LGBT older adults require community-specific services that are scarce and severely underfunded in every part of the country. The Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act will decrease the isolation faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged LGBT older adults, improve their health, and increase their access to culturally competent services and supports. The legislation permanently establishes the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country’s first and only resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to LGBT seniors. Finally, the legislation also addresses the lack of accurate information on LGBT seniors by instructing the Assistant Secretary of Aging to collect data on LGBT older adults to determine the needs of the population.
“When Congress passed the Older Americans Act, it was intended to help protect our seniors and ensure their access to essential health services,” said Congressman Deutch. “LGBT seniors are at even greater risk of discrimination. They face immense obstacles in their twilight years, like higher rates of poverty and social isolation. I’m especially proud to introduce this bill, named in honor of Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz, a South Florida couple leading the charge for LGBT seniors’ rights.”
“Unfortunately, the same generation of LGBT people who fought for workplace fairness, marriage equality, and societal recognition, and non-discrimination are once again marginalized as they age,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “In an effort to address the complex issues that arise as the number of LGBT seniors grows, I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation. Everyone deserves to live their life with dignity, and that includes our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults.”
“The Older Americans Act provides critical support and services for our seniors. But due to institutional barriers and a lifetime of discrimination, the specific needs of LGBT seniors are not being met,” said Congressman Crist. “With inadequate access to support and healthcare services, LGBT Americans are more likely to face isolation, poverty, and poor health outcomes as they age. Proud to introduce legislation improving programs to better care for ALL seniors, paying tribute to Floridians Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz – trailblazers in moving equality forward!”
The bill is endorsed by SAGE USA, National Center for Transgender Equality, and National LGBTQ Task Force.
SAGE CEO Michael Adams said: “LGBT elders, whose courage in the face of danger and adversity paved the way for progress on LGBT equality in recent years, deserve to be taken care of as they age, no matter where in the United States they live. Our LGBT elder pioneers did not lead the movement birthed at Stonewall by being silent. We at SAGE follow their example by raising our voices in support of the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2017 and to demand justice for this growing population. SAGE applauds Senator Bennet and Representatives Bonamici, Deutch, and Crist for re-introducing this legislation and for being champions of LGBT older adults.”
You can read the text of the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act here and a summary of the legislation here. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
What Goes Into an Ivanka Trump Appearance?
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| Ivanka Trump (Youtube) |
What Goes Into an Ivanka Trump Appearance?
Ever wonder how many government employees, employee hours and bits of correspondence it takes to get an hour and a half of Ivanka Trump’s time at a public event? A new cache of hundreds of emails obtained from the Department of Education (DOE) through the Freedom of Information Act shows that for one brief event at…
Rep. Deutch: How Dare the Judiciary Cmte Ignore the Russian Attack on Our Elections?
This morning, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, slammed his Republican committee colleagues for failing in their responsibility to investigate Russian meddling in our elections and possible obstruction of justice of ongoing investigations.
Video of Congressman Deutch's remarks can be viewed by clicking the image. Below is a transcript of his remarks.
Congressman Deutch: "Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the Committee’s attention to this legislation.
I helped to introduce this bill with my colleagues Representatives Kilmer, Kustoff, Poe, McMorris Rodgers, and Kennedy.
The Combating Anti-Semitism Act, as renamed, will address the surge of bomb threats that occurred earlier this year against the American Jewish community.
A threat to the Jewish community, or any religious community, is a threat to us all, and this bill appropriately adds “community religious centers” like JCCs to protected sites under hate crimes statutes.
I’m proud to see the committee act on this crucial legislation.
But even as we engage in this important work, the House Judiciary Committee has shamefully abandoned its oversight responsibilities in other areas.
300 days ago the nation learned that Russia directed attacks at the United States during the 2016 election.
Russia sought to take away the rights of the American people to choose their own destiny, to make a government of their own democratic free will, and to be free from the influence of a foreign power.
How dare this Committee ignore that attack?
This week, Special Counsel Mueller unveiled his first indictments and conviction.
So what does this Committee do in response?
Absolutely nothing.
I am embarrassed and I am ashamed.
But I suppose it is not entirely true that the Judiciary Committee has done nothing.
This Committee and its members have announced investigations into Hillary Clinton, a private citizen.
On the President's efforts to thwart the operation of the United States Department of Justice;
His firing of the acting Attorney General;
His firing of the FBI Director;
And now threats to the Special Counsel?
Nothing.
This committee has filled its agenda too often with red herrings, and turned to scapegoating in an effort to change the subject.
This committee, with its important history, has degenerated into little more than a show trial like those, I might add, they still hold in Russia.
Every week I watch as this Committee fails the American people.
Even now we are ignoring the ongoing threats to the independence of the Special Counsel.
Instead of investigating, this committee’s inaction gives sanctuary to those who would seek to obstruct justice.
As Members of Congress, we swear an oath to protect and defend the United States Constitution.
It seems that some have chosen to prioritize a different oath—an oath to their own political party.
As a member of this Committee, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas said at the start of President Nixon’s impeachment proceedings, “I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.”
Now, 43 years later, each member of this Committee should be reminded that we are active participants in the writing of this chapter of American history.
When future generations of Americans look back, it will be easy to see who among us stood on the side of the facts;
Who sought out the truth;
Who worked to defend the integrity of the American republic; and
On the other hand, who were so desperate to bury the criminal actions in our elections that they stained our Congress and our democracy in the process?
Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, led the Republican investigation into Watergate four decades ago.
And in a op-ed—from June, before we learned of indictments and guilty pleas—he said this:
“At the outset of the Watergate hearings, there was a strong measure of bipartisan commitment to the truth in Congress. When I listen to tapes of our sessions, I am struck by how difficult it can be to distinguish between a Republican and a Democratic questioner."
Later, he went on to say, that "some politicians took advantage of this" cynicism "to play down or excuse the president’s actions, and even to smear or block the investigations.”
Today I would ask the members of the majority to look into the past, and then look into the future. Where do you think this is going?
Witnesses are cooperating.
Guilty pleas and indictments have been secured.
My colleagues, at this critical moment in our history, will you let cynicism continue to strangle the work of this committee or will you join in the search for truth?
Video of Congressman Deutch's remarks can be viewed by clicking the image. Below is a transcript of his remarks.
 |
Congressman Deutch: "Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the Committee’s attention to this legislation.
I helped to introduce this bill with my colleagues Representatives Kilmer, Kustoff, Poe, McMorris Rodgers, and Kennedy.
The Combating Anti-Semitism Act, as renamed, will address the surge of bomb threats that occurred earlier this year against the American Jewish community.
A threat to the Jewish community, or any religious community, is a threat to us all, and this bill appropriately adds “community religious centers” like JCCs to protected sites under hate crimes statutes.
I’m proud to see the committee act on this crucial legislation.
But even as we engage in this important work, the House Judiciary Committee has shamefully abandoned its oversight responsibilities in other areas.
300 days ago the nation learned that Russia directed attacks at the United States during the 2016 election.
Russia sought to take away the rights of the American people to choose their own destiny, to make a government of their own democratic free will, and to be free from the influence of a foreign power.
How dare this Committee ignore that attack?
This week, Special Counsel Mueller unveiled his first indictments and conviction.
So what does this Committee do in response?
Absolutely nothing.
I am embarrassed and I am ashamed.
But I suppose it is not entirely true that the Judiciary Committee has done nothing.
This Committee and its members have announced investigations into Hillary Clinton, a private citizen.
On the President's efforts to thwart the operation of the United States Department of Justice;
His firing of the acting Attorney General;
His firing of the FBI Director;
And now threats to the Special Counsel?
Nothing.
This committee has filled its agenda too often with red herrings, and turned to scapegoating in an effort to change the subject.
This committee, with its important history, has degenerated into little more than a show trial like those, I might add, they still hold in Russia.
Every week I watch as this Committee fails the American people.
Even now we are ignoring the ongoing threats to the independence of the Special Counsel.
Instead of investigating, this committee’s inaction gives sanctuary to those who would seek to obstruct justice.
As Members of Congress, we swear an oath to protect and defend the United States Constitution.
It seems that some have chosen to prioritize a different oath—an oath to their own political party.
As a member of this Committee, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas said at the start of President Nixon’s impeachment proceedings, “I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.”
Now, 43 years later, each member of this Committee should be reminded that we are active participants in the writing of this chapter of American history.
When future generations of Americans look back, it will be easy to see who among us stood on the side of the facts;
Who sought out the truth;
Who worked to defend the integrity of the American republic; and
On the other hand, who were so desperate to bury the criminal actions in our elections that they stained our Congress and our democracy in the process?
Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, led the Republican investigation into Watergate four decades ago.
And in a op-ed—from June, before we learned of indictments and guilty pleas—he said this:
“At the outset of the Watergate hearings, there was a strong measure of bipartisan commitment to the truth in Congress. When I listen to tapes of our sessions, I am struck by how difficult it can be to distinguish between a Republican and a Democratic questioner."
Later, he went on to say, that "some politicians took advantage of this" cynicism "to play down or excuse the president’s actions, and even to smear or block the investigations.”
Today I would ask the members of the majority to look into the past, and then look into the future. Where do you think this is going?
Witnesses are cooperating.
Guilty pleas and indictments have been secured.
My colleagues, at this critical moment in our history, will you let cynicism continue to strangle the work of this committee or will you join in the search for truth?
Trump's CUT CUT CUT Tax Plan is already in trouble and it isn't even out yet
update READ THE PLAN
The GOP’s math (and process) problem on taxes
As House Republicans are set to release their tax bill today, they have a problem that goes well beyond the early tough poll numbers for the tax plan — math.
The New York Times: “The tax rewrite is pitting businesses against individuals, as lawmakers look for ways to offset trillions of dollars of personal and corporate income tax cuts by limiting popular individual tax breaks, including preferential treatment for 401(k) plans and the state and local tax deduction. Business groups, meanwhile, say lawmakers run the risk of putting the United States at a global disadvantage if it does not reduce the corporate tax rate to a level commensurate with other industrialized nations.”
As NBC’s Kasie Hunt, Leigh Ann Caldwell and Alex Moe add: “President Donald Trump has made it clear he doesn't want to hit middle-class families with tax hikes, but he also won't compromise on the 20 percent corporate tax rate... Many Republicans don’t want to raise the deficit — and the tax plan's total pricetag can't exceed $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years, according to the budget rules. It’s all led to the last-minute scramble to find more money.”
Our take: The reason the GOP has a math problem is because they have a PROCESS problem. Why do they have to find offsetting funds? Because, just like with health care, they’re pursuing a partisan bill via reconciliation (so they need only 51 Senate votes instead of 60).
But if the GOP was shooting for a bill that could get 60 Senate votes, they wouldn’t have these kinds of problems.
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