Offering asides, recommended links, blogworthy quotations, and more, In Brief is the Northwest Progressive Institute's microblog of world, national, and local politics.
“B.C.’s new. government will spend $51.9 billion for this fiscal year to support the NDP’S stated goal of making the province more affordable for residents,” the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports. The budget will be balanced through increases in the corporate income tax, personal income tax (for wealthy families), and pollution tax.
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This is arguably the first real “deal” Donald Trump has made as President. It comes more than seven months after his regime came into power.
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Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal questioned Budget Director Mick Mulvaney about Trump’s new budget proposal during the House Budget Committee hearing today. Watch the video and read the transcript.
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“Ranked second from the bottom in a new report, the state’s tax system makes it tough for taxpayers to find out just how much they’re coughing up to the government. Oregon’s system ranks as the most transparent of all,” writes The Seattle Times’ Gene Balk.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWebDbGtQI4 From ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live: “Trump released a proposed budget that would cut funding for PBS, Meals on Wheels, and The National Endowment for
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U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene and Pramila Jayapal have been forcefully speaking out against the House Republicans’ extremely destructive Trumpcare bill as it has speedily made
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“At a time when Washington’s towns and cities were just specks on a map, our state’s founders chose education as our paramount duty. Not roads or railroads. Not jails. They chose schools. So should we,” the Governor declared.
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“Over all, Chris Wallace was better than I expected. But he was pretty bad on fiscal issues,” writes Paul Krugman.
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I have to say, I find it a little beyond comprehension that Lloyd Blankfein would lecture our campaign about “dangerous moments” after Wall Street received
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[Judge Downing’s decision] respects the integrity of the Constitution and it puts that integrity above any partisan politics, any one issue or any personality… Protecting
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Drill, baby, drill. For years, that silly slogan has been a part of the Republican lexicon. But now, with global oil prices tumbling due to excess supply (caused in part by the North American oil boom), fossil fuel-dependent Alaska finds itself in a huge fiscal morass. Independent Governor Bill Walker, a former Republican, has proposed reinstituting a state income tax to ensure that the state can continue to provide public services to its citizens.
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“Vulture investors have descended on the commonwealth, taking advantage of a debt crisis that has impoverished citizens and created massive unemployment,” David Dayen explains in a piece for the Winter 2016 issue of The American Prospect.
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Washington State ranks second in the nation for corporate subsidies Seattle Times columnist Jon Talton discusses data from the Good Jobs First initiative, which shows
LaunchTo understand Mr. Ryan’s role in our political-media ecosystem, you need to know two things. First, the modern Republican Party is a post-policy enterprise, which
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I was so tired of partisan politics. It was all Tim Eyman and no new taxes… That’s not me. I’m interested in community building. —
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John Boehner was a terrible, very bad, no good speaker of the House. Under his leadership, Republicans pursued an unprecedented strategy of scorched-earth obstructionism, which
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CBS’ JOHN DICKERSON: Four days, the government runs out of money. Is there going to be a shutdown? JOHN BOEHNER: No. The Senate is expected
LaunchBad things will happen to good ideas, and vice versa. So be it. Elections determine who has the power, not who has the truth. —
LaunchRepublican priorities: Cripple Medicare, spend more money waging war Budgets are moral documents that speak to a nation’s priorities, and it’s pretty clear what Republicans
LaunchThis is a war within the Republican Party… You can shade it any way you want, but this is war. — Senator Lindsey Graham, speaking
LaunchWe really don’t have 218 votes to determine a bathroom break over here on our side… So how are we going to get 218 votes
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