It was an event-filled weekend as Democrats finally pushed through a budget bill in the Senate, capping off a year-long quest to fulfill campaign promises by their caucus and handing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden, not to mention our entire planet, a big win as we look ahead to the midterm elections. Here are some common questions (and some misconceptions) that I saw raised on social media and in comments on my posts along with some answers.
It is a fine first step. Do not let the "perfect" be the enemy of the "good" for while this is nowhere near a perfect bill, it does a great deal of good that can be built upon. Congratulations of getting back to actually governing the country.
I look at this series of negotiations like this. I want to go to the Library but the bus I like doesn't take me to the front door. There is a bus a few blocks away from my stop that will take me there. Do I get off and wait for the next bus, or do I complain the first bus won't get me where I want to go and refuse to get on board?
There will be time to get it ALL done, just get what you can right now.
There's a LOT of good in this bill, and it will help to lower the deficit, too.
Regarding the IRS: the GOP is saying everywhere the bill will add "87,000" IRS agents; not sure where that number came from. I don't know if its possible, but the Dems need to position the additional funds for the IRS are not just for catching tax cheats - though that's about law and order and fairness...
My mom is on Medicare and can't get surgery she needs because she's not well enough because she stopped taking insulin because she couldn't pay for it. That is happening now, this year. None of this is going to even begin to take effect for years. How can they say this is going to help seniors? It's only a potential for helping future seniors, and then only if there is still an administration that will allow it at the time. But this isn't going to help my mom, it's going to be too late for her and past the next election before anything even happens.
It is a fine first step. Do not let the "perfect" be the enemy of the "good" for while this is nowhere near a perfect bill, it does a great deal of good that can be built upon. Congratulations of getting back to actually governing the country.
Isn't there also something about a 1% surcharge on stock buybacks?
I’d very much like to see a .5% tax on Wall St transactions - which would hurt computer traders who drive volatility.
Even 1¢/transaction would bring in BILLIONS…
I look at this series of negotiations like this. I want to go to the Library but the bus I like doesn't take me to the front door. There is a bus a few blocks away from my stop that will take me there. Do I get off and wait for the next bus, or do I complain the first bus won't get me where I want to go and refuse to get on board?
There will be time to get it ALL done, just get what you can right now.
I’m very surprised to read that 7 GOP Senators voted for a much needed insulin price cap. Now I’m curious who those are.
There's a LOT of good in this bill, and it will help to lower the deficit, too.
Regarding the IRS: the GOP is saying everywhere the bill will add "87,000" IRS agents; not sure where that number came from. I don't know if its possible, but the Dems need to position the additional funds for the IRS are not just for catching tax cheats - though that's about law and order and fairness...
My mom is on Medicare and can't get surgery she needs because she's not well enough because she stopped taking insulin because she couldn't pay for it. That is happening now, this year. None of this is going to even begin to take effect for years. How can they say this is going to help seniors? It's only a potential for helping future seniors, and then only if there is still an administration that will allow it at the time. But this isn't going to help my mom, it's going to be too late for her and past the next election before anything even happens.