Not only are millions of Americans expected to receive smaller tax refunds this year as a result of the GOP tax scam, but it’s also been much harder for taxpayers to get their questions answered as they attempt to file their taxes. The New York Times reported today that the 35-day Trump shutdown meant that a “shocking” number of taxpayer calls and letters have gone unanswered, even after the shutdown ended. Key excerpts:
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Feb 11, 2019
It’s tax filing season, and the American people are seeing the impact of the GOP tax scam in the form of smaller tax refunds.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Feb 7, 2019
We’re old enough to remember when Republicans said their tax scam would “simplify” the tax code.
Turns out that was another broken promise, just like this one. The Wall Street Journal points out that the law has made the tax code a lot more complicated. Key excerpts:
“In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Many of the jobs it is creating, it turns out, are in the tax industry.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Feb 7, 2019
With the President threatening another Trump shutdown, we wanted to draw your attention to a headline in today’s Wall Street Journal: Most Economists Say Fresh Government Shutdown Would Hurt U.S. Growth.
“Economists say a fresh government shutdown would take a toll on U.S. economic growth as well as business and consumer sentiment, as a deadline to reach a deal over border-wall funding approaches next week.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Feb 7, 2019
Climate change was conspicuously absent from Tuesday’s State of the Union address, and call us nostalgic for a bygone era (read: two years ago) when science was valued and not feared, but we wanted to be sure you saw NASA’s announcement that 2018 was the fourth warmest year on record. In addition, the New York Times points out 2018 was also the fourth most expensive year for weather-related damages in the US.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Feb 6, 2019
Wanted to make sure you saw that Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump-McConnell shutdown was not a mistake. The shutdown meant 800,000 Americans missed two paychecks, thousands of contractors went unpaid, and the American people who rely on government services suffered. Not only that, but the shutdown cost the economy $11 billion.
Yet again, the Administration is signaling that they believe threatening to inflict pain on the American people is a legitimate strategy. You can bet House Democrats and the American people will hold them accountable if they shut down the government again.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Feb 6, 2019
The White House billed the President’s State of the Union address as unifying and a call for bipartisanship, but – no surprise here – it fell short of that. The President said he wanted to work together, yet took a partisan, hardline stance on issue after issue. That’s not how bipartisanship works, and a look at the headlines this morning shows the address was more of a confrontational and divisive campaign speech to appeal to his base than a State of the Union address:
Politico: Trump calls for unity — on his terms
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 29, 2019
Remember when Republicans said their tax law would spark a wave of business investment that would create jobs and raise wages?
President Trump: “TAX CUTS will increase investment in the American economy and in U.S. workers, leading to higher growth, higher wages, and more JOBS!” [Tweet, 12/16/17]
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 24, 2019
Here’s your shockingly out of touch Republican comment of the day (but it’s still early!). Perhaps this is why Republicans have yet to show any urgency to reopen the government?
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 23, 2019
Today is Day 33 of the Trump shutdown, the longest in our nation’s history, and the impacts of the shutdown are growing. From undermining law enforcement efforts and delaying tax refunds to cutting off revenue for small businesses and putting vulnerable Americans at risk of being evicted, the shutdown is affecting Americans across the country. Take a look:New York Times: Report Says Shutdown Is Impeding F.B.I.’s Law Enforcement Efforts