Money given to those who need it goes back into the economy. Money given to the rich makes them richer and goes to their already spoiled offspring for generations to come.
We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me. George Orwell, 1984. This sums up Trump and crew. My only thought at the moment is that things are going to have to get very bad for people to realize the depth of corruption and cruelty from this current administration. May God give us strength and resolve to end this and may we all look out for those who cannot fend for themselves.
If Murkowski got a carve out so Alaska is not effected from the medicaid cuts, why can't other states demand the same from their states??? Soooo shameful!!! She voted for a bill that saved her state but hurt all the other states. No moral compass!!
Excellent coverage Jennifer! Thank you. Ritchie Torres, thank you for your excellent input and clear explanation of the facts. Wish you were my congressman!
It is not just the billionaires, it is the misogynistic, bigoted, poorly informed and the, unfortunately, white Christian nationalists who are driving the big ugly bill.
If the bill carved out Alaska to prevent cuts to medicare, why can't other states do the same in the House?? They gave Murkowski a deal in the middle of the night. So shameful of her, so incredibly shameful, no moral compass. She voted for her state not to get hurt but she voted to hurt everyone else!
Rep. Torres comment about this bill being representing something "profoundly evil" is the perfect summation of the bill, the DJT administration and the GOP Senators and Reps making this possible.
Here is a list of hospitals by state most likely to close due to Medicaid defunding. It may be helpful to know this information as you contact your representatives.
67% of Rep Torres constituency is on Medicaid. A high percentage of people in lower Alabama are also on Medicaid and one of the highest poverty rates in America. This area is also more sparsely populated than the rest of the state.
I wrote to "my" fascist congressman. You may be interested in the response I received from one of his minions: Unfortunately, it is very lengthy (as in "dazzle them with bullshit").
1 of 4
Dear xxx:
Our nation faces serious fiscal challenges. Decades of unchecked spending have placed an enormous strain on taxpayers and put future generations at risk. Moving the budget towards balance and reducing the national debt must remain a priority if we are to restore confidence in the economy and free working families from over-taxation, that is why I voted in favor of H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This reconciliation process has provided an important opportunity to revisit and build on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a law that lowered taxes for Arkansas families, made our businesses more competitive, and brought jobs and investment back to the United States. I firmly believe that instead of engaging in more inflationary spending or raising taxes on family farms and small businesses, we need to return to the pro-growth, pro-worker policies that created one of the strongest economies in decades.
Federal Government spending as percent of GDP has been pretty stable for five decades so your congressman is lying. Since the 1970s it has been about 20% of GDP except for a spike during the 2008 or 2009 recession and after Covid.
Federal expenditures on debt service as a percentage of GDP, however, has risen dramatically since the 1970s. It also has dramatically skyrocketed after the first Trump tax cuts so it is the Republican tax cuts driving the recent increases in Federal spending not increases in safety net programs.
If Congress fails to reauthorize the TCJA, it will result in 9 out of 10 Arkansans’ standard tax deduction being cut in half a 27% tax hike on Arkansans, and over 85,000 families would see their child tax credit cut in half. That is why I am working to preserve the TCJA and help Arkansans economically thrive. Preserving the TCJA will result in an average tax cut of $1,300 for Arkansas families, and workers will also receive an average of $3,300 back into their pockets. Additionally, the reconciliation package would see the child tax credit raised to $2,500 per child, a $4,000 tax deduction for people over 65, and no taxes on overtime pay. These tax reforms will put more money back in the hands of American citizens. Important investment incentives will encourage new businesses with increased career opportunities and economic growth for Arkansas. Estimates by third party organizations undersell the dynamic effect these tax cuts will have on the growth of the economy and the increased tax revenue this growth will bring.
I hear your concerns regarding Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Protecting the vulnerable and needy in our state has always been, and will always be, one of my greatest responsibilities while I sit in public office. My support for this legislation stems from a commitment to ensuring long-term sustainability of federal programs to preserve and protect Medicaid and SNAP. H.R. 1 aims to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, thereby preserving resources for people who truly need them.
H.R. 1 strengthens Medicaid by implementing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. This work requirement promotes personal responsibility while maintaining support for Medicaid recipients who are unable to work. H.R. 1 also prevents ineligible individuals from receiving Medicaid, ensuring that the program remains focused on assisting the neediest.
Regarding SNAP, H.R. 1 does not cut benefits for eligible recipients. Instead, H.R. 1 encourages states to enhance program integrity and efficiency, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most. As you may know, last June the United States Department of Agricultures’ (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reported that SNAP provided a record-high estimated $10.5 billion of improper benefits for fiscal year 2023. In recognition of this failure of oversight I awarded my Golden Fleece to the USDA, and I am thankful that my colleagues in Congress have taken notice of these improper payments.
H.R. 1 attempts to encourage states to bear responsibility for addressing these improper SNAP payments by both shifting administrative costs from 50% federal to 25% federal and by mandating that states must match 5% of federal SNAP funding with an increase in percentage for states with increased improper payment rates. H.R. 1 also closes a loophole for work requirement exemptions. Specifically, states could apply for exemptions for individuals if the area they lived in had over 10% unemployment, however states were able to arbitrarily draw areas that would allow for the maximum number of exemptions. H.R. 1 would change the rules of this exemption to judge the unemployment rate of a person’s home county.
Similar to the Medicaid reforms, H.R. 1 would also increase the work requirement age limit for able bodied adults without dependents from 54 to 64 while maintaining protections for those with dependents under the age of 7 and veterans, the homeless, pregnant women, and more. H.R. 1 also establishes a rural hospital relief fund of 25 billion dollars to help support rural hospitals. H.R. 1 also limits SNAP to citizens and lawful permanent residents, protecting the longevity of SNAP by ensuring that eligible recipients will receive the benefits of this important program.
I recognize that changes to these programs can be unsettling, and I assure you that I will closely monitor the implementation of these policies to mitigate any unintended consequences. I will continue to support policies that strengthen the economy, reduce the deficit, and ensure Arkansas families are free to build a better future - unburdened by federal overreach.
Thank you again for reaching out. It is an honor to represent you in Congress. If I may be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I have already responded to him, asking if he was lying to himself or just his constituents. Then I proceeded to point out the many falsehoods in his response.
These bastards protray this bill to their MAGAts as only "bad" people losing Medicaid etc. If this crap passes. then suffer maggots suffer ** I do not apologize for the following...may all those that voted for Orange A$$ be hurt the worst by THE BBB. THEY DESERVE IT.
Money given to those who need it goes back into the economy. Money given to the rich makes them richer and goes to their already spoiled offspring for generations to come.
We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me. George Orwell, 1984. This sums up Trump and crew. My only thought at the moment is that things are going to have to get very bad for people to realize the depth of corruption and cruelty from this current administration. May God give us strength and resolve to end this and may we all look out for those who cannot fend for themselves.
If Murkowski got a carve out so Alaska is not effected from the medicaid cuts, why can't other states demand the same from their states??? Soooo shameful!!! She voted for a bill that saved her state but hurt all the other states. No moral compass!!
Excellent coverage Jennifer! Thank you. Ritchie Torres, thank you for your excellent input and clear explanation of the facts. Wish you were my congressman!
I wasn't kidding, when I said the rich want to " decrease the surplus population." It's sickening.
Scrooge redux. Ugh!
It is not just the billionaires, it is the misogynistic, bigoted, poorly informed and the, unfortunately, white Christian nationalists who are driving the big ugly bill.
Is there any hope with the US House of Representatives? Shame on all senators who voted yes.
Shame, shame, shame.
If Murkowski got a carve out deal for Alaska, why can't the House Rep do the same?? So incredibly shameful!!!!
If the bill carved out Alaska to prevent cuts to medicare, why can't other states do the same in the House?? They gave Murkowski a deal in the middle of the night. So shameful of her, so incredibly shameful, no moral compass. She voted for her state not to get hurt but she voted to hurt everyone else!
Rep. Torres comment about this bill being representing something "profoundly evil" is the perfect summation of the bill, the DJT administration and the GOP Senators and Reps making this possible.
This regime is pure Cruelty.
The Senator from Alaska , like all of them has no morals.
Here is a list of hospitals by state most likely to close due to Medicaid defunding. It may be helpful to know this information as you contact your representatives.
https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_on_rural_hospitals.pdf
67% of Rep Torres constituency is on Medicaid. A high percentage of people in lower Alabama are also on Medicaid and one of the highest poverty rates in America. This area is also more sparsely populated than the rest of the state.
I wrote to "my" fascist congressman. You may be interested in the response I received from one of his minions: Unfortunately, it is very lengthy (as in "dazzle them with bullshit").
1 of 4
Dear xxx:
Our nation faces serious fiscal challenges. Decades of unchecked spending have placed an enormous strain on taxpayers and put future generations at risk. Moving the budget towards balance and reducing the national debt must remain a priority if we are to restore confidence in the economy and free working families from over-taxation, that is why I voted in favor of H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This reconciliation process has provided an important opportunity to revisit and build on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a law that lowered taxes for Arkansas families, made our businesses more competitive, and brought jobs and investment back to the United States. I firmly believe that instead of engaging in more inflationary spending or raising taxes on family farms and small businesses, we need to return to the pro-growth, pro-worker policies that created one of the strongest economies in decades.
Federal Government spending as percent of GDP has been pretty stable for five decades so your congressman is lying. Since the 1970s it has been about 20% of GDP except for a spike during the 2008 or 2009 recession and after Covid.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FYONGDA188S
Federal expenditures on debt service as a percentage of GDP, however, has risen dramatically since the 1970s. It also has dramatically skyrocketed after the first Trump tax cuts so it is the Republican tax cuts driving the recent increases in Federal spending not increases in safety net programs.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/gfdegdq188S
2 of 4
If Congress fails to reauthorize the TCJA, it will result in 9 out of 10 Arkansans’ standard tax deduction being cut in half a 27% tax hike on Arkansans, and over 85,000 families would see their child tax credit cut in half. That is why I am working to preserve the TCJA and help Arkansans economically thrive. Preserving the TCJA will result in an average tax cut of $1,300 for Arkansas families, and workers will also receive an average of $3,300 back into their pockets. Additionally, the reconciliation package would see the child tax credit raised to $2,500 per child, a $4,000 tax deduction for people over 65, and no taxes on overtime pay. These tax reforms will put more money back in the hands of American citizens. Important investment incentives will encourage new businesses with increased career opportunities and economic growth for Arkansas. Estimates by third party organizations undersell the dynamic effect these tax cuts will have on the growth of the economy and the increased tax revenue this growth will bring.
I hear your concerns regarding Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Protecting the vulnerable and needy in our state has always been, and will always be, one of my greatest responsibilities while I sit in public office. My support for this legislation stems from a commitment to ensuring long-term sustainability of federal programs to preserve and protect Medicaid and SNAP. H.R. 1 aims to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, thereby preserving resources for people who truly need them.
3 of 4
H.R. 1 strengthens Medicaid by implementing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. This work requirement promotes personal responsibility while maintaining support for Medicaid recipients who are unable to work. H.R. 1 also prevents ineligible individuals from receiving Medicaid, ensuring that the program remains focused on assisting the neediest.
Regarding SNAP, H.R. 1 does not cut benefits for eligible recipients. Instead, H.R. 1 encourages states to enhance program integrity and efficiency, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most. As you may know, last June the United States Department of Agricultures’ (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reported that SNAP provided a record-high estimated $10.5 billion of improper benefits for fiscal year 2023. In recognition of this failure of oversight I awarded my Golden Fleece to the USDA, and I am thankful that my colleagues in Congress have taken notice of these improper payments.
H.R. 1 attempts to encourage states to bear responsibility for addressing these improper SNAP payments by both shifting administrative costs from 50% federal to 25% federal and by mandating that states must match 5% of federal SNAP funding with an increase in percentage for states with increased improper payment rates. H.R. 1 also closes a loophole for work requirement exemptions. Specifically, states could apply for exemptions for individuals if the area they lived in had over 10% unemployment, however states were able to arbitrarily draw areas that would allow for the maximum number of exemptions. H.R. 1 would change the rules of this exemption to judge the unemployment rate of a person’s home county.
4 of 4
Similar to the Medicaid reforms, H.R. 1 would also increase the work requirement age limit for able bodied adults without dependents from 54 to 64 while maintaining protections for those with dependents under the age of 7 and veterans, the homeless, pregnant women, and more. H.R. 1 also establishes a rural hospital relief fund of 25 billion dollars to help support rural hospitals. H.R. 1 also limits SNAP to citizens and lawful permanent residents, protecting the longevity of SNAP by ensuring that eligible recipients will receive the benefits of this important program.
I recognize that changes to these programs can be unsettling, and I assure you that I will closely monitor the implementation of these policies to mitigate any unintended consequences. I will continue to support policies that strengthen the economy, reduce the deficit, and ensure Arkansas families are free to build a better future - unburdened by federal overreach.
Thank you again for reaching out. It is an honor to represent you in Congress. If I may be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rep. French Hill
Member of Congress
I have already responded to him, asking if he was lying to himself or just his constituents. Then I proceeded to point out the many falsehoods in his response.
I don't expect to receive another response.
I applaud your commitment to rattle the cage of one of Trumps zombies. As stated in this interview they are impervious to facts.
These bastards protray this bill to their MAGAts as only "bad" people losing Medicaid etc. If this crap passes. then suffer maggots suffer ** I do not apologize for the following...may all those that voted for Orange A$$ be hurt the worst by THE BBB. THEY DESERVE IT.
It is going to show America just how clueless they are. We have all already lost our democracy.