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Your Taxes at Work
Author: BobR
Date: 2018-03-22 11:00:00
Last night the House passed a $1.3T (that's Trillion - with a "T") spending bill to keep the lights on in government until September (the end of the fiscal year, and just over a month before mid-term elections). It has something in it for everyone to love, and something to hate. The Dems were able to get a few concessions, but not the ones we'd hoped for. Referenced from links here, here, here, here, here, and here:
There may be other gems (or poisons) in the bill - it's hard to say because it is being rushed through the House in an attempt to prevent a 3rd (yes, that's right - a 3rd) government shutdown less than 3 full months into 2018. Republicans and Democrats alike are not too happy with that:
"Swampy" is an understatement when referring to Republicans and the current administration. Everything they do smells, and is murky as hell. Drain the swamp? Looking at you, voters in Nov 2018.
Â
- The CDC will no longer be barred from conducting gun violence research. This is a clarification to the 1996 "Dickey Amendment" (which prevents any funding to be used to promote or advocate for gun control) that gets renewed every year.
- Just over $1B for the border wall. This is way less than the $25B tRumpy was asking for. No word on whether the money was being provided by Mexico.
- Up to $541M for the New Jersey tunnel project. This is less than the $900M originally promised, but it means work can get restarted on it.
- A background check bill (Fix NICS). It provides funding for states and agencies to comply with the existing National Instant Criminal Background Check system and penalties for those that don’t comply..
- An additional $4B to fight the opioid crisis.
- An update to tax law to fix a provision that was detrimental to grain farmers. They must have pretty good lobbyists.
- An expansion of the low income housing tax credit
- An additional $80B for the military, including a 2.4% pay raise for the troops
- Nothing was included to protect the Dreamers.
- No funds were provided to subsidize health insurers, which should guarantee premiums go up again in the fall, just before the elections
- An amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act that prevent employers from stealing workers tips via tip "pooling"
- Cuts $4.3B from the State Department. That's a reduction of $1.8B for operations, and the rest mostly in the form of reduction in aid to foreign countries.
- Maintains the EPA's budget the same as last year, despite requests from tRumpy to cut the EPA's budget
There may be other gems (or poisons) in the bill - it's hard to say because it is being rushed through the House in an attempt to prevent a 3rd (yes, that's right - a 3rd) government shutdown less than 3 full months into 2018. Republicans and Democrats alike are not too happy with that:
Conservatives complained bitterly about the rushed schedule and lack of transparency, lamenting that GOP leadership gave rank-and-file members little time to read and study what’s in the 2,232-page bill.
“This process looks really bad; it looks swampy,†said Dan Holler, a spokesman for the outside conservative group Heritage Action.
"Swampy" is an understatement when referring to Republicans and the current administration. Everything they do smells, and is murky as hell. Drain the swamp? Looking at you, voters in Nov 2018.
Â
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 03/22/2018 13:02:05
Raine on 03/22/2018 13:02:05
I hate to say it, but this is the best we could get with this administration and this congress. I am surprised we were able to get it done at all.
good morning.
good morning.
Comment by 
TriSec on 03/22/2018 13:04:33
TriSec on 03/22/2018 13:04:33
Greetings, comrades.
Still digging out after the massive one inch of snow we got overnight. I hope those of you in harder-hit areas made out OK.
Still digging out after the massive one inch of snow we got overnight. I hope those of you in harder-hit areas made out OK.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 03/22/2018 13:20:36
wickedpam on 03/22/2018 13:20:36
Morning 
Comment by 
Scoopster on 03/22/2018 13:22:31
Scoopster on 03/22/2018 13:22:31
Mornin' all! 
One inch? We didn't even get that here.
Tho we're getting it now!
One inch? We didn't even get that here.
Tho we're getting it now!
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 13:35:25
Raine on 03/22/2018 13:35:25
Lizz on the SMShow!
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 13:43:05
Well, it is an election year. They have to prove they did their jobs
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 13:43:05
Quote by Raine:
I hate to say it, but this is the best we could get with this administration and this congress. I am surprised we were able to get it done at all.
Well, it is an election year. They have to prove they did their jobs
Comment by 
BobR on 03/22/2018 13:57:38
We got about 4 inches of slush. It didn't look like much, but it was h-e-a-v-y shoveling it off the sidewalk.
The temp dropped overnight, so this morning there is black ice everywhere
BobR on 03/22/2018 13:57:38
Quote by TriSec:
Greetings, comrades.
Still digging out after the massive one inch of snow we got overnight. I hope those of you in harder-hit areas made out OK.
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all!
One inch? We didn't even get that here.
We got about 4 inches of slush. It didn't look like much, but it was h-e-a-v-y shoveling it off the sidewalk.
The temp dropped overnight, so this morning there is black ice everywhere
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 13:59:00
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 13:59:00
I follow David Simon (The Wire, Treme etc) on the Twitters. He commented and retweeted something from Stormy Daniels. That woman can throw shade back on the Trumpettes who are insulting her. It is a delight!
A trolled said to her, Whore will do anything for money. Her response: I will not scrub toilets or do windows.
A trolled said to her, Whore will do anything for money. Her response: I will not scrub toilets or do windows.
Comment by Scoopster on 03/22/2018 14:09:25
Scoopster on 03/22/2018 14:09:25
Hey look - now we know why Andrew McCabe was fired just days before his scheduled retirement date.
How petty do you have to be to do something like this?
How petty do you have to be to do something like this?
Comment by wickedpam on 03/22/2018 14:16:29
5-6 out my way, yeah super heavy to shovel. Thankful once I did the sidewalk and around the car it didn't accumulate again.
wickedpam on 03/22/2018 14:16:29
Quote by BobR:Quote by TriSec:
Greetings, comrades.
Still digging out after the massive one inch of snow we got overnight. I hope those of you in harder-hit areas made out OK.Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all!
One inch? We didn't even get that here.
We got about 4 inches of slush. It didn't look like much, but it was h-e-a-v-y shoveling it off the sidewalk.
The temp dropped overnight, so this morning there is black ice everywhere
5-6 out my way, yeah super heavy to shovel. Thankful once I did the sidewalk and around the car it didn't accumulate again.
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 14:21:35
Ugh. Wet, heavy snow. It is the worst.
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 14:21:35
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by BobR:Quote by TriSec:
Greetings, comrades.
Still digging out after the massive one inch of snow we got overnight. I hope those of you in harder-hit areas made out OK.Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all!
One inch? We didn't even get that here.
We got about 4 inches of slush. It didn't look like much, but it was h-e-a-v-y shoveling it off the sidewalk.
The temp dropped overnight, so this morning there is black ice everywhere
5-6 out my way, yeah super heavy to shovel. Thankful once I did the sidewalk and around the car it didn't accumulate again.
Ugh. Wet, heavy snow. It is the worst.
Comment by 
trojanrabbit on 03/22/2018 14:22:22
trojanrabbit on 03/22/2018 14:22:22
Hmm.. betcha aid to Israel doesn't change a bit.
Oh.....our No'easter? All of a tenth of an inch. Sorry can't post a picture since Photobucket became such greedy assholes.
Oh.....our No'easter? All of a tenth of an inch. Sorry can't post a picture since Photobucket became such greedy assholes.
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 14:26:09
Raine on 03/22/2018 14:26:09
Fade to Mueller sipping Scotch in a bar in about 10 years.
— Angry WH Staffer (@AngrierWHStaff) March 22, 2018
Mueller: So, we spent 16 months investigating, were about to nail this guy and his cabal to the wall, and he just... tweeted it out. https://t.co/UuMEcvBxDs
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 14:27:15
petty?
I think it looks absolutely corrupt.
Raine on 03/22/2018 14:27:15
Quote by Scoopster:
Hey look - now we know why Andrew McCabe was fired just days before his scheduled retirement date.
How petty do you have to be to do something like this?
petty?
I think it looks absolutely corrupt.
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 14:28:26
They seem to think they can slut shame her.
She's an adult film actress-- a STAR -- she's in the hall of fame for chrissakes!
Raine on 03/22/2018 14:28:26
Quote by Mondobubba:
I follow David Simon (The Wire, Treme etc) on the Twitters. He commented and retweeted something from Stormy Daniels. That woman can throw shade back on the Trumpettes who are insulting her. It is a delight!
A trolled said to her, Whore will do anything for money. Her response: I will not scrub toilets or do windows.
They seem to think they can slut shame her.
She's an adult film actress-- a STAR -- she's in the hall of fame for chrissakes!
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 14:41:08
I'm pretty sure all them try to troll her just finished an act of self-pleasure while watching one of her videos on PornHub, then sent out an insulting tweet.
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 14:41:08
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
I follow David Simon (The Wire, Treme etc) on the Twitters. He commented and retweeted something from Stormy Daniels. That woman can throw shade back on the Trumpettes who are insulting her. It is a delight!
A trolled said to her, Whore will do anything for money. Her response: I will not scrub toilets or do windows.
They seem to think they can slut shame her.
She's an adult film actress-- a STAR -- she's in the hall of fame for chrissakes!
I'm pretty sure all them try to troll her just finished an act of self-pleasure while watching one of her videos on PornHub, then sent out an insulting tweet.
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 14:43:18
Seriously.
The actor who played Bozo has passed.
Raine on 03/22/2018 14:43:18
This is how bad it's gotten. pic.twitter.com/pXcmVwKJB3
— JΞSŦΞR ✪ ΔCŦUΔL³³º¹ (@th3j35t3r) March 22, 2018
Seriously.
The actor who played Bozo has passed.
Comment by TriSec on 03/22/2018 14:50:57
That would be Frank Avruch (Winthrop, MA). He is one of many Bozos (no pun intended). Back in the day, local TV stations would have their own show with a local actor; Frank was on WCVB-Boston for many years in the role.
Frank Avruch dies at 89
TriSec on 03/22/2018 14:50:57
Quote by Raine:This is how bad it's gotten. pic.twitter.com/pXcmVwKJB3
— JΞSŦΞR ✪ ΔCŦUΔL³³º¹ (@th3j35t3r) March 22, 2018
Seriously.
The actor who played Bozo has passed.
That would be Frank Avruch (Winthrop, MA). He is one of many Bozos (no pun intended). Back in the day, local TV stations would have their own show with a local actor; Frank was on WCVB-Boston for many years in the role.
Frank Avruch dies at 89
Comment by wickedpam on 03/22/2018 15:32:50
wickedpam on 03/22/2018 15:32:50
Looks like Dowd resigned.
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 15:56:31
Raine on 03/22/2018 15:56:31
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 16:28:39
Soon, this will be his lead attorney
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 16:28:39
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like Dowd resigned.
Yup.
This is not good.
Soon, this will be his lead attorney
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 16:55:40
Or Janeane Pirro....
Raine on 03/22/2018 16:55:40
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like Dowd resigned.
Yup.
This is not good.
Soon, this will be his lead attorney
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 16:58:59
On second thought he's at the Saul Goodman level now His next attorney is going to be this one:
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 16:58:59
Quote by Raine:Or Janeane Pirro....Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like Dowd resigned.
Yup.
This is not good.
Soon, this will be his lead attorney
On second thought he's at the Saul Goodman level now His next attorney is going to be this one:
Comment by 
livingonli on 03/22/2018 17:09:52
livingonli on 03/22/2018 17:09:52
Ended up with about a foot of heavy, wet snow from yesterday's storm and I will have to dig out my car before I go to work. At least the warmer weather and longer daylight should help with melting. Some parts of Suffolk County got up to 20 inches. It will not be fun digging myself so I can get out. At least the one good thing with renting is I don't have to shovel the property. I think I would love to get a job in California or Vegas at this point although in the case of California I would have to make enough to afford the cost of living.
Comment by livingonli on 03/22/2018 17:11:46
At this point, I would think most people would be familiar with the WGN version since from the 1980's on, it was largely the only version available.
livingonli on 03/22/2018 17:11:46
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:This is how bad it's gotten. pic.twitter.com/pXcmVwKJB3
— JΞSŦΞR ✪ ΔCŦUΔL³³º¹ (@th3j35t3r) March 22, 2018
Seriously.
The actor who played Bozo has passed.
That would be Frank Avruch (Winthrop, MA). He is one of many Bozos (no pun intended). Back in the day, local TV stations would have their own show with a local actor; Frank was on WCVB-Boston for many years in the role.
Frank Avruch dies at 89
At this point, I would think most people would be familiar with the WGN version since from the 1980's on, it was largely the only version available.
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 17:16:22
happy Spring.
Raine on 03/22/2018 17:16:22
Quote by livingonli:
Ended up with about a foot of heavy, wet snow from yesterday's storm and I will have to dig out my car before I go to work. At least the warmer weather and longer daylight should help with melting. Some parts of Suffolk County got up to 20 inches. It will not be fun digging myself so I can get out. At least the one good thing with renting is I don't have to shovel the property. I think I would love to get a job in California or Vegas at this point although in the case of California I would have to make enough to afford the cost of living.
happy Spring.
Comment by livingonli on 03/22/2018 17:58:47
Lock him up! Between this, the various NDA's, and Russia, there should be enough to throw him under the jail. Good thing, Mueller has had experienced prosecuting organized crime families.
livingonli on 03/22/2018 17:58:47
Quote by BobR:
tRump issued court summons for emoluments case
Lock him up! Between this, the various NDA's, and Russia, there should be enough to throw him under the jail. Good thing, Mueller has had experienced prosecuting organized crime families.
Comment by Scoopster on 03/22/2018 18:03:48
Scoopster on 03/22/2018 18:03:48
Okay this is good (the embed doesn't do it justice)
Oh boo hoo https://t.co/BXz8dpYq8k
— Trump (@TrumpSC) March 18, 2018
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 19:06:03
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 19:06:03
Grr. I hate ammosexuals. There was the obligatory post from one of them on my Congressciters Facebook page prating on about how there is no such thing as an assault rifle. Blah blah blah.I would have ignored his ass if he hadn't said that the 5.56mm/.223 round in fire is "weak." That is when I, Mondo went off. About 3 minutes of exhaustive Googling found that it is hardly "weak:" I provided both the muzzle velocity and kinetic energy and compared that to an actual weak .22 round. HUGE OBVIOUS DIFFERENCE, GUN NUT.
Comment by livingonli on 03/22/2018 19:10:28
Does telling them they are compensating for a tiny penis do anything?
livingonli on 03/22/2018 19:10:28
Quote by Mondobubba:
Grr. I hate ammosexuals. There was the obligatory post from one of them on my Congressciters Facebook page prating on about how there is no such thing as an assault rifle. Blah blah blah.I would have ignored his ass if he hadn't said that the 5.56mm/.223 round in fire is "weak." That is when I, Mondo went off. About 3 minutes of exhaustive Googling found that it is hardly "weak:" I provided both the muzzle velocity and kinetic energy and compared that to an actual weak .22 round. HUGE OBVIOUS DIFFERENCE, GUN NUT.
Does telling them they are compensating for a tiny penis do anything?
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 19:14:08
I tried to stick to things that I could prove, Liv. I mean it is given that he had a thumb dick, but I can't prove it.
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 19:14:08
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Mondobubba:
Grr. I hate ammosexuals. There was the obligatory post from one of them on my Congressciters Facebook page prating on about how there is no such thing as an assault rifle. Blah blah blah.I would have ignored his ass if he hadn't said that the 5.56mm/.223 round in fire is "weak." That is when I, Mondo went off. About 3 minutes of exhaustive Googling found that it is hardly "weak:" I provided both the muzzle velocity and kinetic energy and compared that to an actual weak .22 round. HUGE OBVIOUS DIFFERENCE, GUN NUT.
Does telling them they are compensating for a tiny penis do anything?
I tried to stick to things that I could prove, Liv. I mean it is given that he had a thumb dick, but I can't prove it.
Comment by Scoopster on 03/22/2018 19:47:55
Scoopster on 03/22/2018 19:47:55
The power of 5.56mm rounds isn't in creating a hole in a person - it's what happens to such a tiny-ass bullet once it penetrates something. The bullet breaks apart VERY easily from hitting flesh at high velocity, kinda like a MIRV warhead, and shreds anything in the path of the fragments. As opposed to say 7.62 or 9mm, which will either just break through anything in their path & exit the body, or hit something solid like bone & pancake/deflect (they can break apart too, but nowhere near as easily as 5.56)
#ThingsScoopLearnedonTwitterandwhenplayingPUBG
#ThingsScoopLearnedonTwitterandwhenplayingPUBG
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 19:57:10
Among other things.
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 19:57:10
Quote by Scoopster:
The power of 5.56mm rounds isn't in creating a hole in a person - it's what happens to such a tiny-ass bullet once it penetrates something. The bullet breaks apart VERY easily from hitting flesh at high velocity, kinda like a MIRV warhead, and shreds anything in the path of the fragments. As opposed to say 7.62 or 9mm, which will either just break through anything in their path & exit the body, or hit something solid like bone & pancake/deflect (they can break apart too, but nowhere near as easily as 5.56)
#ThingsScoopLearnedonTwitterandwhenplayingPUBG
Among other things.
Comment by Scoopster on 03/22/2018 20:01:15
I have the sudden urge to go home & pwn some noobies.
Scoopster on 03/22/2018 20:01:15
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
The power of 5.56mm rounds isn't in creating a hole in a person - it's what happens to such a tiny-ass bullet once it penetrates something. The bullet breaks apart VERY easily from hitting flesh at high velocity, kinda like a MIRV warhead, and shreds anything in the path of the fragments. As opposed to say 7.62 or 9mm, which will either just break through anything in their path & exit the body, or hit something solid like bone & pancake/deflect (they can break apart too, but nowhere near as easily as 5.56)
#ThingsScoopLearnedonTwitterandwhenplayingPUBG
Among other things.
I have the sudden urge to go home & pwn some noobies.
Comment by Raine on 03/22/2018 20:27:32
Raine on 03/22/2018 20:27:32
Dow closed down 3%
yay trade wars.
yay trade wars.
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 20:30:53
Nice going. Somehow, Sean Hannity will make it Obama's fault.
Mondobubba on 03/22/2018 20:30:53
Quote by Raine:
Dow closed down 3%
yay trade wars.
Nice going. Somehow, Sean Hannity will make it Obama's fault.
Comment by livingonli on 03/22/2018 22:37:14
livingonli on 03/22/2018 22:37:14
John Bolton heading national security. Good God, we're doomed.