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popolitiko · 3 years

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Enemies, a Love Story: Inside the 36-year Biden and McConnell Relationship

The two 78-year-old deal-makers have been parties to the collapse of Capitol culture. Now they’ll need to make Washington work again.

By ALEX THOMPSON 01/22/2021

The last time Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell faced off, Biden blinked first.

It was the winter of 2012. Then, as now, Democrats had just won a presidential election, had a narrow Senate majority, and Biden was earnestly proclaiming that the election would break the Republican “fever” of opposing the Democratic agenda.

The first test came immediately.

A cascade of deadlines on December 31, 2012, set up a world economy-level battle known as the “fiscal cliff.” Without any action by Congress, the next year would bring about $700 billion in combined tax hikes and budget cuts—extreme austerity measures that could cripple the recovering economy.

The Democratic Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, was willing to go over the cliff if McConnell didn’t agree to tax increases for the highest earners, one of Democrats’ signature campaign promises. Reid reasoned that if taxes were to rise automatically, McConnell would have to negotiate from a weakened position. Obama and Biden, however, feared an adverse reaction from the markets and a potential recession.

In a move that angered Reid, Biden took over the negotiations with Obama’s blessing. The outcome—a continuation of the Bush-era tax cuts with a relatively modest hike of 1.8 percent, weighted toward higher earners—was the kind of deal both negotiators could celebrate.

McConnell did, crowing to his fellow Republicans that “in a government controlled two-thirds by the Democrats, we got permanency for 99 percent of the Bush tax cuts.”

Biden did, boasting in a June 2019 debate that “I got Mitch McConnell to raise taxes $600 billion by raising the top rate.”

But many Democrats weren’t celebrating at all and still haven’t gotten over it. At the same 2019 debate, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado called it “a complete victory for the Tea Party. It extended the Bush tax cuts permanently. The Democratic Party had been running against that for 10 years.”

Now, eight years later, Biden and McConnell are entering a new phase of their 36-year relationship, and the Democratic left fears a repeat of the 2012 dynamic. Once again, their party wields most of the levers of government. They control the White House and Senate, albeit by the slimmest possible margin. Unlike 2012, they have a slim majority in the House, as well. Nonetheless, they seem destined to be bargaining for half a loaf, at best, for anything that requires 60 votes in the Senate, the level necessary to defeat a filibuster.

That’s because between them and their agenda stands McConnell, an acknowledged master of Senate procedures, famed for his ability to block presidential agendas.

Even as McConnell has seen some of his power ebb away—losing his Senate majority on the clay fields of Georgia, breaking with Donald Trump in the final days of his presidency—he still finds himself an essential figure in Biden’s Washington.

He is the key to the new president’s ability to turn the page from the Trump years. After years of legislative stasis, Biden is betting big that the Senate can return to the deal-making body he and McConnell came of age in. He hopes that he and his 2012 negotiating partner can plumb their shared history to locate a workable middle in a hyperpolarized time.

That’s a special challenge for McConnell, who is already at odds with the Trumpian wing of the Republican Party after defying Trump on Biden’s victory and even privately being open to impeaching him. Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesday called for a new leader in the Senate and said McConnell had revealed himself to be the “king of the establishment Republicans.”

Even if McConnell wanted to cut deals with Biden, any compromise could further undermine his and his members’ position with the Republican base ahead of the 2022 midterms and the next presidential election. Several Republican senators eyeing their own runs in 2024 are already signaling unapologetic opposition to the entire Biden agenda.

Meanwhile, Biden’s allies are loudly insisting that finding common ground is possible and exactly what the American people want after the past decade of partisan warfare. The Biden team is aware that many in their own party are rolling their eyes but argue that it’s just the latest instance of the Democratic establishment underestimating Joe Biden.

“People said it was naive, you know, 18, 19 months ago as he was running, he was criticized for it. But you know what? It's one of the reasons he won,” said a senior Biden White House adviser. Other Biden allies argue that voters will punish Republicans in 2022 if they look like they are being obstructionist in the middle of a crisis.

“A majority of senators have never served in a functional Senate,” said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a close Biden ally and friend. “This is the best chance the Senate will have in our lifetimes to get more functional, because we have an incoming president who knows and respects the Senate.”

But what constitutes functionality may be considerably less than Biden’s ambitious campaign promises.

“There are many examples of things that are just really beyond partisanship,” the senior adviser said. Asked for examples, the adviser pointed to second-tier issues like infrastructure spending and broadband internet access.

Jason Furman, who chaired President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers and is an occasional outside adviser to the Biden team, lowered expectations. “I’m not sure they can accomplish big things together, [but] I do think they can work together to keep the wheels on the bus,” he said.

McConnell, Furman believes, could be a willing partner in the basics—getting budgets passed in a timely manner, not playing chicken with the debt ceiling, and other incremental, good government measures.

Most skeptical of all is Obama himself, no fan of McConnell and someone who has chafed at the idea that his vice president might be able to achieve things that he himself could not.

“I’m enjoying reading now about how Joe Biden and Mitch have been friends for a long time,” the former president quipped to the Atlantic shortly after the 2020 election. “They’ve known each other for a long time.”

Washington friends aren’t normal friends. While some outliers like Ted Kennedy or John McCain genuinely relished their personal relationships across the aisle, the more enduring bond between long-serving senators is having belonged to such an exclusive club, and respect for its unwritten rules. Among these institutionalists, outsiders just don’t get it, whether they’re an earnest reformer like Obama or an imperious novice like Trump.

Biden, who joined the Senate in 1973, won his third term in the same year a former Senate staffer named Mitch McConnell won his first.

Like Biden, who began his Senate career by surprising the pundits with a razor-thin, upset win over two-term Republican Sen. J. Caleb Boggs, McConnell surprised much of the political world by edging out two-term Democrat Walter “Dee” Huddleston in the 1984 Senate race in Kentucky.

Despite being born nine months apart and sharing an interest in Senate history, the two men weren’t initially close during the 24 years they overlapped in the chamber, according to aides to both men.

“They are both good politicians, but they couldn't be more different as politicians and that was from the get go,” said Janet Mullins Grissom, who managed McConnell’s 1984 race against Huddleston and was one of the Senate’s first female chiefs of staff when McConnell appointed her in 1985.

Biden was loquacious, while McConnell was a man of few words. Biden had the grip and grin of a salesman, while McConnell displayed a tactician’s discipline climbing up the leadership ladder. Biden was a people pleaser, while McConnell at times reveled in criticism, even decorating an entire wall of his office with negative newspaper cartoons about himself.

In high school and college, Biden had been a popular kid, a jock and senior class president. McConnell was more of a nerd—he wore an “I Like Ike” button in his 5th-grade school picture—but with an enormous drive to figure out how to win over his peers in elections.

When facing off against a popular kid to be his school’s senior-class president, McConnell outmaneuvered him by courting the endorsement of other popular students. “I was prepared to ask for their vote using the only tool in my arsenal, the one thing teenagers most desire. Flattery,” he wrote in his memoir.

But there are some similarities, too.

Both have clan loyalties. Biden’s are mainly to members of his family, such as his sister Val, who managed all seven of his political campaigns before 2020. In later years, his sons joined his inner circle, as well, along with longtime aides like Ted Kaufman and Mike Donilon.

McConnell regards his political team as family. “He has a posse,” said Mullins Grissom. “It’s like the opposite of Donald Trump, but I think that that speaks to the person, and that he is an incredibly, incredibly loyal person.” Aides say that, for decades after they have left his office, they still refer to him as “boss.” And while McConnell’s daughters seem to be liberals like their mother and shun his politics, his second wife, two-time GOP Cabinet member Elaine Chao, is a Washington power broker and a political partner as well as a romantic one.

“When I picked Elaine up at her apartment at the Watergate, I was taken by her beauty, and proud to have her on my arm that evening,” McConnell wrote of their first date, a party for then-Vice President George H.W. Bush hosted by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

Former aides note that Biden and McConnell are also similar in that they are ideologically flexible: Each started off as a moderate and then moved left and right with their parties.

KEEP READING.....

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/22/joe-biden-mitch-mcconnell-relationship-460385?utm_source=pocket-newtab

#Enemies #Love Story #Biden and McConnell Relationship #Capitol culture

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wellesleyunderground · 5 years

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Wellesley in Politics: Meagan Harmon ‘08

Meagan Harmon ‘08 was appointed to the Santa Barbara City Council in early 2019 and is currently running in this fall’s Santa Barbara municipal election. Harmon is a lawyer who, after Wellesley, received a Master of Arts in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University and a law degree from New York University School of Law.

Thanks for chatting with us, Meagan! You were appointed to the Santa Barbara City Council earlier this year. Tell us a little bit about the community in which you serve.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share a little bit more about the work we’re doing in Santa Barbara! I represent Santa Barbara’s Sixth District, which covers the heart of our downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods. We have such an awesome group of folks living in the Sixth District; I am so honored to be serving them on City Council. Those of us living in the Sixth District have a little bit of a different profile than someone you might typically associate with Santa Barbara. First of all, we’re primarily renters - at least 80% of us rent, rather than own our homes so issues like housing affordability and availability and renters’ rights are of particular importance to us. There is a huge range of income levels in our district, from a few very wealthy folks, to many low and moderate income families (we are definitely of a microcosm of the economic demographics in the city more broadly). Many of our neighbors are Latinx, and many speak multiple languages at home or live in multi-generational households. I’m extremely proud of the many amazing, hard working people that live in our District and of how much they contribute to our city every day.

You mentioned in an interview that you are a relative newcomer to Santa Barbara. When the City Council seat opened up, what made you put your name forward this year?

I grew up in Lompoc, a small town to the north of Santa Barbara. It is a small, deeply connected county, though, so while I’ve only been living in the city for about three years, this place and the Santa Barbara way of life is elemental for me. That said, it was actually a pretty difficult decision for me to put my name forward for this position, but I’m so, so glad that I did. My daughter, Maura, is two years old and she’s both the reason I got involved and the reason it was such a difficult decision.

As most Wellesley folx will understand, service is a core value that I’ve tried to let guide and drive me in my life. Before I had my daughter, though, I thought of service in a really broad way, and on a global scale. I spent time as an international humanitarian aid worker, including a year working in rural Afghanistan, and tried to do good work within that framework. When Maura came into our family - and this is one of the most unexpected and beautiful ways that motherhood has changed and shaped me - she refocused me on the challenges and injustices occurring in my own neighborhood, on my own block, and in my own city. So she was really the catalyst to thinking about local government as a means to affect the kind of systemic change that I believe is necessary in our world. It is a little cliché, I guess, but I want her to come of age in a city that reflects and celebrates all our neighbors, so she really drove me be part of the process of getting us there.

By the same token, it made me hugely nervous to take on such a public role during this phase of my life. Being a mom is hard, and though I am so lucky to have a truly equal partnership with Maura’s dad, the responsibilities and expectations we place on mothers (not just the childcare piece, but the mental load piece and the sort of “aesthetics” of modern parenting) are very real and they can sometimes be harsh. I wasn’t sure I was ready to take it on, while also maintaining my professional life (I still work as a lawyer) and trying to keep some semblance of my personal life going.

Ultimately, I made the decision to step forward because I love my neighborhood and my neighbors and I wanted to work with them to bring our progressive values to City Hall. It seemed, at the time I took this step, that we were at a real crossroads in Santa Barbara - that we were, and still are, at a moment where we could implement policies that actually reflect the best of who we are, in contrast to what we see on the national stage. I wanted to be a part of that conversation. I also wanted to be part of paving the way for other moms of young kids to get involved in local government. I won’t lie, it can sometimes be super difficult and exhausting, but for the most part everyone has been so supportive and I think having the credibility to talk about the challenges faced by working families in Santa Barbara, as I’m currently living them myself, has allowed for some really productive legislative movement for our local families.

Issues of concern for you include housing and downtown revitalization, two significant issues for many communities across the country. In what ways, would you say that challenges faced by Santa Barbara in these areas are similar to what other communities are facing? Alternatively, how are Santa Barbara’s challenges unique?

As all Californians know, issues of housing affordability and availability have reached crisis levels in this state. Santa Barbara is experiencing that, too. We are seeing so many people priced out and dealing with housing insecurity because we don’t have enough rental units and the units we do have are far too expensive. That said, while it is absolutely true that the housing challenge isn’t unique to us, I do think the scale and scope of what we’re facing is pretty remarkable (in a bad way).

According to some sources, Santa Barbara is the 16th most expensive city in the entire country, and it is in the top five most expensive in California. It is almost whiplash-inducing to think about the wealth gap in Santa Barbara: we have such incredible wealth in our community, but there is a startling high rate of poverty, as well. In fact, Santa Barbara County has the third highest poverty rate in the state and, according to a 2018 report, more than 26% of children in our county live below the poverty line. With the ever increasing cost of housing in Santa Barbara, it won’t be a surprise if we see these numbers going up.

So, yes, housing is a huge challenge everywhere in California, but coastal communities like ours are faced with particular challenges that are exacerbated by the very extreme gap between those with economic status and privilege, and those who don’t enjoy those same advantages. Our housing prices - our rent prices in particular - are, in my view, the primary driver of increasing income inequality in our city. As city leaders, we have to lean hard into responsible, sustainable building that produces housing stock which is affordable to our working families. This is something I’m fiercely advocating for in my position on City Council.

I am sure that being on the City Council has introduced to a variety of concerns facing your community. What is one issue that, perhaps you had never thought about before, but you have learned is of importance to the larger Santa Barbara community?

This is such a good question! There are so many things that I had no idea about before taking office. One area that immediately comes to mind: dealing with parking, transportation corridors and speed limits on our local roads! I never thought too deeply about traffic and circulation before joining the Council, particularly because my family lives downtown and walks most of the time, but circulation planning requires a huge amount of time and effort (and a huge amount of study on my part as one of the decision makers). Take changing parking angles on a street, for example: that kind of change can have incredibly significant consequences both in terms of safety and circulation in our neighborhoods. So many experts are engaged in making these decisions for our city and I love being a part of the conversation. It has definitely opened my eyes to how much thought is required to make everything run efficiently and well - cities definitely do not plan themselves!

I noted that in my own community, voter turnout in municipal elections is tends to be relatively low. How would describe your own community’s engagement at the very local level? How does this influence how you campaign?

You’re absolutely right, voter turnout in municipal elections is pretty low in a lot of places in this country and that is true in Santa Barbara, as well. Now that I understand just how important our local elected officials are - I mean, we make a decision at a Tuesday meeting and it can literally change the quality of life for our neighbors by Wednesday morning - I can’t do enough to encourage folks to vote in their municipal elections.

It is true that local electeds don’t set policy on many issues that are taking center stage in today’s political discourse, but I honestly believe city government can and should be the front lines of transformative political and social change in this county. We don’t have a say in our immigration policy, for example, but municipal leaders can influence the national conversation by crafting policy that is grounded in service to all our neighbors. Here are a few examples of what I mean: we now require that translation services be made available so our whole community can participate in our meetings, our police department does not cooperate with ICE, and we recently passed a Just Cause eviction ordinance to protect the rights of all tenants in our city (after thirty years of politicians trying to do so!). So, while we don’t talk directly about things like immigration policy at our Council meetings and we can’t change what is coming from Washington through our votes, we can and do implement policies that reflect our values and that are themselves acts of resistance to immoral policies of exclusion.

That’s a very long-winded way of saying that my number one goal when I go door to door is to try and communicate how absolutely vital local government is in our everyday lives. I am in a unique position in this race because I’m unopposed, so I have the opportunity to get out and just chat with people about how important municipal elections are to determining the character of our city.

Since your appointment, what have you learned about city governance and being a public official?

I had never held public office before coming on the Council in February and, in many ways, it has been a very steep learning curve. My most important lesson learned thus far has been about how best to communicate difficult news or unfavorable decisions. On the dais, I strive to find creative solutions that speak to all our neighbors' needs and concerns, but sometimes that isn't possible and folks walk away disappointed. I've learned the incredible importance of speaking clearly and honestly about my decision making process; I see effective communication as one of the central tenants of my job as an elected official. In light of that, I really try to speak as openly as possible both from the dais and in private meetings. If I articulate my thinking well enough, though it may not change the response to a given outcome, it is better understood by stakeholders that I have engaged with all sides of the issue and truly, meaningfully considered it. I have found that goes a long way to making all parties feel heard and respected - a cornerstone of both the democratic process and our Santa Barbara identity.

Finally, we at Wellesley Underground are big proponents of self-care. With all that you have going on, how do you care for yourself?

Honestly, this is something I really struggle with. Sometimes it feels like there is never enough energy to go around, between my family, my city, my law practice, myself, and I end the day with a sense that while I may be doing it all, I’m definitely doing it all poorly. My key to self-care has been to give myself grace every day, which has become a very conscious practice for me. This is a lot about managing my thoughts and the way I “talk” to myself. The more aware I am of my own thoughts, the better I’m able to manage my stress. Also, I’m so lucky to live in a place with incredible natural beauty, so I’ve been trying to make time every week to get out and root myself in the world. My daughter loves being outside so seeing her joy has really inspired me to get engaged in our natural environment in a new way and that has been an unexpected, but wonderful source of self-care for me.

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Follow Meagan on social media:

Facebook

Instagram: @meaganharmonsb

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Interview by Cleo Hereford ‘09

#Wellesley in Politics Series #Wellesley in Politics #Meagan Froemming #Class of 2008 #Santa Barbara City Council

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berniesrevolution · 6 years

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TEEN VOGUE

Since his run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has been one of the most visible faces of the left in the United States. And he believes that it’s no accident that several progressive policies have taken center stage in the 2018 midterm elections.

With a presidential campaign that spoke especially to younger voters, Sanders cemented his position as not just a senator with decades of experience, but as a powerful force in liberal politics that would force the Democratic Party to adjust its strategies. His support for democratic socialism, Medicare for all, and other progressive polices helped set the stage for a major shift within the Democratic Party.

Two years later, with the 2018 midterm elections looming, Sanders spoke with Teen Vogue about how the Democratic Party has changed since his presidential run, what’s at stake in this year’s voting, and how he views supporting Democrats who might break from the party line on issues like reproductive rights.

Teen Vogue:

Let’s talk about the 2018 midterms. What is at stake?

Bernie Sanders:

This midterm election, in my view, is the most important midterm election in the modern history of this country. And what’s at stake is whether we continue one-party, right-wing reactionary rule in Washington, in which we have a Congress that follows a bigoted, racist, sexist, homophobic president — who also is a pathological liar — or whether we stand up and fight back for justice for all people. That is what is at stake.

What’s at stake is that this is an unprecedented election because we have an unprecedented president who is doing very, very serious harm to millions of Americans. And if we want to change the direction of the country and move toward a system of justice — economic, social, racial, environmental justice — we have got to vote and we have to see young people coming out at a much higher level than they have ever voted in the past.

Teen Vogue:

You’ve spent a lot of time on the campaign trail this year. What are the big issues you’re hearing from people?

Bernie Sanders:

I would say that the major issue that I hear is healthcare. And people understand that the Republicans have not given up on their desire to throw tens of millions of people off the healthcare they currently have. As you may recall, they came within one vote of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The late Senator John McCain was the deciding vote.

Furthermore, [it’s] no question in my mind that they are now trying to get the Supreme Court to rule the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, and if that happens, what we’ll see is that people with pre-existing conditions will no longer be able to get the insurance they need at an affordable cost.

So, I’m hearing a whole lot about healthcare. And I’m also hearing that the American people want us to move toward a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system, which will finally do in this country what every other major country does, and that is guarantee healthcare to all people as a right.

Teen Vogue:

So, is healthcare the first thing on the agenda if Democrats take back Congress?

Bernie Sanders:

In my view, healthcare will be right up there. What will be up there is moving forward to a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system. And the first part of that effort — it’s a four-year phase-in — is to lower the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 55 and to cover all of the young people in this country.

The second issue that is very important to me is to raise the minimum wage to a living wage: 15 bucks an hour. And I will do everything that I can to make sure that in the first 100 days of a Democratic Congress, we pass a $15 an hour minimum wage.

And the third thing that we’ve got to do, in my view, is move aggressively to address the crisis of climate change. And that means invest heavily in energy efficiency and sustainable energy.

Teen Vogue:

Some of those issues — especially healthcare — we’ve seen a very big evolution in the conversation within the last couple of years. There’s this push-and-pull within the Democratic Party between progressive voices and moderate voices. Do you have any insight into that back-and-forth?

Bernie Sanders:

Yes, you’re quite right that in the last several years since I ran for president, we have seen a huge change — not only on healthcare, but many other positions — now being advocated by Democrats. And I think that’s a step in the right direction. And I think what most Democrats are now talking about is a lot more progressive and meets the needs of working families than was formerly the case.

But, as you indicated, there are differences of opinion within the Democratic Party. I and others represent the progressive wing. We think the future of the Democratic Party is to stand up with working families, with the middle class, and be prepared to take on the very powerful and wealthy special interests that have so much power over the political process in this country. That’s my view.

Now, there are other people who look at it very differently. But I would say this: That where we stand right now, there is virtual unanimity in the understanding that we have a very, very dangerous president who is trying to divide the American people up based on the color of our skin or where we born or our sexual orientation or our gender or our religious belief. It is absolutely imperative that all of us — not just Democrats, but Republicans and Independents who believe in American democracy, who believe and respect individual rights, who do not want to see this nation divided up — that we come together and elect a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate and Democratic governors on Tuesday.

(Continue Reading)

#politics #the left #teen vogue #bernie sanders #progressive #progressive movement #2018 elections

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newstfionline · 5 years

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Headlines

Mueller Submits Trump-Russia Report, Lawmakers Urge Quick Release (Reuters) Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by U.S. President Donald Trump, setting off a clamor from lawmakers in both parties for the document’s quick release.

Supreme Court to look into gerrymandering (Reuters) Republicans and Democrats over the years have engaged in gerrymandering, manipulating electoral boundaries to entrench one party in power. Critics have said the practice has now become far more effective and insidious due to computer technology and precise voter data, warping democracy. The Supreme Court is due to examine the practice on Tuesday in two cases that could impact American politics for decades.

Free speech or no federal money for universities (Reuters) President Donald Trump signed an executive order linking “free speech” efforts at public universities to federal grants in an effort to combat what he considers a clamp down on conservative students’ abilities to share their views. The order requires that schools ensure they allow students to express themselves in order to receive funds from 12 federal agencies that help fund universities and colleges.

Petrochemical Fire Reignites at Fuels Storage Facility Outside Houston (Reuters) A petrochemical fire flared anew on Friday at a massive fuel storage facility on the Houston Ship Channel, compounding efforts to halt a chemicals leak at the Mitsui & Co.’s Intercontinental Terminals facility outside Houston.

U.S. Blacklists Venezuelan State Banks After Arrest of Guaido Aide (Reuters) The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on Venezuela’s development bank, Bandes, a day after the Trump administration warned there would be consequences for the arrest by Venezuelan authorities of opposition leader Juan Guaido’s top aide.

EU takes charge, forces Brexit deadlines on UK’s May (AP) Isolated at home and abroad, British Prime Minister Theresa May was laboring against the odds Friday to win backers in Parliament for her unloved Brexit deal--to a timetable dictated by the European Union. Almost three years after Britons voted to walk away from the EU, the bloc’s leaders seized control of the Brexit timetable from May to avert a chaotic departure at the end of this month that would be disruptive for the world’s biggest trading bloc and deeply damaging for Britain.

Europeans credit EU with promoting peace and prosperity, but say Brussels is out of touch with its citizens (Pew) Across 10 European nations recently surveyed by Pew Research Center, a median of 74% say the EU promotes peace, and most also think it promotes democratic values and prosperity. However, Europeans also tend to describe Brussels as inefficient and intrusive, and in particular they believe the EU is out of touch--a median of 62% say it does not understand the needs of its citizens.

China Stops Purchase of Canadian Canola Seeds (AP) China has stopped all new purchases of Canadian canola seeds in what some see as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei.

New Thai Government May Be Unstable, Short-Lived (AP) Thailand’s election Sunday is likely to produce a weak unstable government whether it’s a civilian or military-backed party that cobbles together a coalition, setting off a new phase of uncertainty in a country that’s a U.S. ally in Southeast Asia and one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

Cyclone Lashes Remote Australian Coast With Wind, Rains (AP) A vast and powerful cyclone made landfall Saturday along a remote stretch of the northern Australian coast, bringing fierce winds and heavy rains amid safety fears for a small number of residents who’ve stayed in the area.

New Zealand Reopens Mosques That Were Attacked; Many ‘March for Love’ (Reuters) Smelling of fresh paint, the two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch where a gunman killed 50 worshippers last week reopened their doors on Saturday, with many survivors among the first to walk in and pray for those who died.

Iraqi PM Seeks Sacking of Local Governor After Mosul Boat Capsize (Reuters) Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has formally requested that parliament sack Nineveh Governor Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan after a river ferry accident that killed at least 90 people in the provincial capital, Mosul.

U.S. Ally Declares Islamic State Defeated,’ Caliphate’ Eliminated (Reuters) Islamic State has been defeated at its final shred of territory of Baghouz in Syria, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Saturday, announcing the end of its self-declared “caliphate” that once spanned a third of Iraq and Syria.

Pompeo at odds with Lebanese officials over Hezbollah (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday called on the Lebanese people to stand up to Hezbollah’s “criminality, terror and threats,” and claimed U.S. sanctions on Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally were working and that more pressure on them was forthcoming. His comments in Beirut were in strong contrast to those of his host, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil who minutes earlier, while standing next to Pompeo, insisted that Hezbollah is “a Lebanese group that is not a terrorist organization and was elected by the people.”

UN HRC condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza (Reuters) The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned Israel’s “apparent intentional use of unlawful lethal and other excessive force” against civilian protesters in Gaza, and called for perpetrators of violations in the enclave to face justice.

Tens of Thousands in Southern Africa Need Help After Cyclone (AP) A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated parts of southern Africa.

#headlines

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patriotsnet · 3 years

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Are Republicans Or Democrats Better For Small Business

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/are-republicans-or-democrats-better-for-small-business/

Are Republicans Or Democrats Better For Small Business

Small Business And Government Regulations

AOC Blasts Republicans Who Blame Democrats for Holding Up Small Business Aid

Democratic views on small business revolve around the theory that, while government cannot guarantee the success of a small business, it can implement the conditions that support hiring of new workers through providing tax relief and increasing the availability of Small Business Administration resources.

During the Obama administration, President Obama cut taxes for small businesses no less than eighteen times. Also at President Obamas direction, the Small Business Administration administered more than 70,000 loans for businesses, offering those businesses with the much needed capital to invest and grow.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was signed into law by President Obama states that business that hire previously unemployed workers are eligible for tax cuts and can write off the purchase of new equipment. Most of the small businesses are eligible under the Affordable Care Act for tax credits to offset the insurance costs for their employees. Democrats are fighting to defend the progress made and ensure that the new president Donald Trump cannot disrespect the American small businesses.

Virginia Republicans Have Been Warning Democratic Control Was Bad For Business Cnbc Disagrees

By: Graham Moomaw and Ned Oliver– July 13, 2021 6:33 pm

The sun rises over the Virginia Capitol.

After Democrats took control of the General Assembly in 2020, a common refrain emerged among Republicans who opposed legislation that raised the minimum wage and added new anti-discrimination protections for employees.

The Democrat majority has done much to diminish Virginias reputation for being Americas best state for business, said Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City, as Democrats first legislative session in power in more than two decades came to a close, invoking a ranking bestowed annually by the cable news network CNBC.

Two years later, it looks like at least some of those Democratic priorities actually helped the states business reputation.

For the second time in a row, Virginia was named the best state for business , which this year began factoring things like anti-discrimination laws and voting rights protections into its rankings under the heading of inclusivity.

Our economy in the Commonwealth of Virginia is roaring, Gov. Ralph Northam said during a victory-lap news conference in Norfolk on Tuesday. Its why companies of all sizes are choosing to call our commonwealth home. Virginia is proving that when you treat people right, its good for everyone and its also good for business.

Youngkins campaign downplayed the CNBC ranking Tuesday, arguing the state is underperforming in key metrics like cost of living and cost of doing business.

Committee Republicans Send Letter To Biden Pelosi Slamming Democrats’ Tax Hike Proposals On Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, all House Small Business Committee Republicans – led by Ranking Member Luetkemeyer – sent a letter to President Biden and Speaker Pelosi highlighting the negative impacts the Democrats’ tax hike proposals would have on small businesses. As Democrats prepare to take historic steps to recklessly push forward trillions of dollars in spending paid for by small businesses across the country, Committee Republicans are standing up for Main Street USA. Small businesses are focused on recovering from the economic effects of the…

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Small Business And Taxes

Trump has supported significant cut on the income tax on all companies to 15 percent. Business groups also want to see partners, sole proprietors and corporate shareholders whose business income is reported on their personal returns benefit from these changes.

While the party has gotten a great deal of pushback because these policies would benefit big business, what many fail to realize is how essential these policies are to the survival of small businesses.

Staying Afloat During Covid

Brianna Knight, a 31-year-old Fresno resident with clients across the state, was one of the fortunate ones. Her holistic skincare business has done well during the pandemic.

The state grants helped, but so did her overplanning six months ahead at some points. Before the pandemic, Knight also launched a clinical skincare line, enabling her to package at-home facial kits for her clients once COVID-19 hit.;

Despite staying afloat, Knight said she is undecided how she will vote on the recall. She said she needs to research the candidates more, and wants to see how the next phase of the pandemic goes.

I definitely think that we need new leadership, but I dont know if right now is the time, she said. And I only say that because right now California is in the purple and we do foresee a possible shutdown again. So transitioning leadership right now sometimes it gets worse.;

Knight said she wantsnew leadership because of the way the pandemic was handled, including shutting down businesses that state leaders deemed non-essential.

I do corrective skincare, so acne, so even in a pandemic, those clients are still dealing with an issue, she said. I think that what they considered wasnt as important was important to a lot of people, and we werent recognized.

I definitely think that we need new leadership, but I dont know if right now is the time.

Brianna Knight, business owner from fresno

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History Of The Republican Party

The Republican Party came into existence just prior to the Civil War due to their long-time stance in favor of abolition of slavery. They were a small third-party who nominated John C. Freemont for President in 1856. In 1860 they became an established political party when their nominee Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States. Lincolns Presidency throughout the war, including his policies to end slavery for good helped solidify the Republican Party as a major force in American politics. The elephant was chosen as their symbol in 1874 based on a cartoon in Harpers Weekly that depicted the new party as an elephant.

Regulating The Economy Democratic Style

The Democratic Party is generally considered more willing to intervene in the economy, subscribing to the belief that government power is needed to regulate businesses that ignore social interests in the pursuit of earning a return for shareholders. This intervention can come in the form of regulation or taxation to support social programs. Opponents often describe the Democratic approach to governing as “tax and spend.”

Recommended Reading: Who Raises More Money Democrats Or Republicans

Left Wing And Right Wing Politics

Politics is said to be split in half and you either have left or right political views. Left-wing politics is typically associated with progressive ideas and equality. Democrats are viewed as left-wingers. Right-wing politics values tradition, equity, and survival of the fittest. Republicans are viewed as right-wingers.;

Left-Wing

Left-wing beliefs are liberal in that they believe society is best served with an expanded role of the government. Examples of an expanded role for the government include entitlement programs such as social security and Medicare, Medicaid, universal healthcare, food stamps, free public education, unemployment benefits, strong environmental laws, and other regulations on industries.

Right Wing

Right-wingers believe that the best outcome for society is achieved when individual rights and civil liberties are paramount and the role and especially the power of the government is minimized. Right-wing ideology would favor market-based solutions to the issues that these government programs aim to tackle. For example, encouraging a freer marketplace for healthcare, driven by consumer choice to drive down costs. Or privately held retirement accounts like 401 plans instead of government-guaranteed Social Security.

Study: Republicans Are 24 Percent More Likely Than Democrats To Be Business Owners

Lou Dobbs: NYC is a very difficult environment for any small business owner

According to the Small Business Administration, there are about 28 million small business owners in this country and approximately 22 million of them are self-employed or non-employer firms. The rest of these small firms are employing more than 120 million people. Thats a pretty big voting bloc of small business owners and their employees.

Thats probably good news for Republicans.

According to;a survey;recently released by data research firm Infogroup, most small business owners vote Republican.

The company merged voter registration data from critical swing states with its proprietary database to come up with a combined pool of 5;million businesses and consumers that were asked questions about their party affiliation and other topics.

Of those surveyed, 24 percent of business owners were more likely to be Republican than Democrat. Republicans are way more likely to be presidents, vice-presidents and finance executives than Democrats and the hot industries for Republicans appear to be real estate, financial services and wholesale trade.

The study also found that Republicans tend to have stronger financial indicators than Democrats, such as higher household income, home value, net worth and likelihood to invest. They are also much more likely than Democrats to have a home office, purchase small business insurance, fly more frequently and invest more often in real estate.

For someone in marketing, sure. But what if youre a presidential candidate?

Read Also: Who Controls The House Of Representatives Republicans Or Democrats

Politics And Small Business

“The immediate shift in forward-looking sentiment that small business owners reported following the election reveals how deeply politics has become embedded in the public’s assessment of the economy, and in particular how divided the country is,” said Laura Wronski, research science manager at SurveyMonkey. “We’ve seen evidence of that every quarter, with Republican small business owners consistently reporting a higher degree of confidence than Democrats, but the election of Joe Biden is the first opportunity we’ve had to see whether that would flip if presidential power changed parties and it did dramatically.”

Among Republican respondents, the small business confidence index score fell from 57 in the third quarter to 42; among Democrats, confidence jumped from 46 to 58. The lowest previous confidence reading from Republican business owners was in Q2 2020, at 54.

We’ve seen evidence of that every quarter, with Republican small business owners consistently reporting a higher degree of confidence than Democrats, but the election of Joe Biden is the first opportunity we’ve had to see whether that would flip if presidential power changed parties and it did dramatically.Laura Wronski, SurveyMonkey research science manager

Histories Of The Parties

The Democratic party started in 1828 as anti-federalist sentiments began to form. The Republican party formed a few decades later, in 1854, with the formation of the party to stopping slavery, which they viewed to be unconstitutional.

The difference between a democrat and a republican has changed many, many times throughout history. Democrats used to be considered more conservative, while the republican party fought for more progressive ideas. These ideals have switched over time.

Recommended Reading: Where Are Republicans On The Political Spectrum

How Republicans And Democrats Compare As Small Business Owners

COSTA MESA, Calif.A new analysis shows that Republicans make up the largest percentage of U.S. small business owners, and that they have the highest average business loan balances and lowest delinquency rates.

With the presidential election less than a year away, Experian looked at the financial and demographic characteristics of small business owners by political affiliation. The report found that approximately 35% of all small business owners identify as Republican, while 29.4% identify as Democrat and 15.8% identify as Independent.

Small businesses are a major area of interest for a number of political campaigns and justifiably so, given their positive impact on employment rates and importance to local economies, said Pete Bolin, director of consulting and analytics for Experian business information services. Gaining insight into the characteristics of specific segments of the small business owner population enables government officials, lenders and business professionals to better understand them and take appropriate action to help these small firms grow.

Section:

Crisis On Top Of Crisis

Thousands of small business owners across California are still trying to survive a pandemic now in its fourth surge. Even with the reopening, some restaurants and other service establishments are having trouble hiring workers or are having to pay more and offer perks.;

Then, there are businesses that also have to deal with wildfires and drought.

Data from San Francisco-based software company Womply showed that the deadly 2018 Camp Fire resulted in 13% of local businesses near the fire shutting down permanently, while in 2019, 6.6% of businesses closed after the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County.;

In 2020, California experienced its most destructive fire season in history, with 4.2 million acres burned. In 2021 so far, it isnt much better. The still-burning Dixie Fire is already the second largest in state history, having blackened more than 600,000 acres in Butte, Plumas, Lassen and Tehama counties.;;;;;

Meanwhile, California is in the grip of its worst drought since 2015. This week, Newsom raised the prospect of mandatory water conservation statewide.

John Kabateck, California director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said;opinions on the recall vary among its members, but many are too busy dealing with bigger concerns. Among them: finding qualified employees, meeting payroll and readying for a huge spike in their unemployment insurance taxes.

So hes willing to give Newsom the benefit of the doubt.

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Obamacares Impact On Small Business

Opponents of the Affordable Care Act argue that the ACA has forced small business owners to pay a lot of money they dont have, that the rising cost of medical insurance and the associated fees has forced companies to lay off workers or to halt expansion plans, and that the tax incentives offered to small businesses isnt guaranteed and its too complicated.

Proponents of the ACA argue that the tax incentives are a great help, and assist them in the added costs of the health insurance premiums. They state that the majority of the expense falls with big businesses, not small businesses. They also argue that many small businesses will fall into the category of under 50 employees, and therefore will not be impacted by the act anyways, aside from the supposed lowering of healthcare costs that it offers.

What Is At Stake For Small Businesses In The 2020 Election

This combination of pictures created on October 22, 2020 shows US President Donald Trump … and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020.

Tomorrow, voting concludes in one of the most contentious elections of our lives, but its just another chapter in the wild story that has been 2020. Weve had a pandemic, heightened racial tensions and a faltering economy.;A client told me last week that he feels like the world around him is on fire. And with Covid-19 infections coming back with a vengeance, stimulus talks at a standstill and an unpredictable election, things are set to only get more tumultuous.

You may be election-exhausted by now. You may be one of the 92 million Americans who have already voted.;But no matter who wins on Tuesday , its important ;to understand whats at stake for small business owners tomorrow and in weeks and months to come.

More Stimulus

But now, as CARES impact fades, we are still far from full recovery. The recent rise in coronavirus cases, new lockdown orders looming, 12.6 million workers on unemployment and eight million American pushed into poverty all jeopardize continued recovery in the fourth quarter. ;;

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Clinton Vs Trump: Who’s Better For Your Small Business

AP 1-/10/2016

At 7 a.m. local time on Nov. 8, 2016, polls will open for the 58th quadrennial U.S. presidential election to determine the 45th president. Regardless of your political party or if youre voting for Clinton or Trump, its one of the most important elections in the countrys history.

Thefirst of four presidential debates took place on Sept. 26, and both candidates expressed that this election is about getting the economy working for average Americans again and that means small business owners. According to the Small Business Administration , small businesses provide 55 percent of all jobs and 66 percent of all net jobs since the 1970s. The problem is that recent data from the National Federation of Independent Business found that political uncertainty is at an all-time high because neither candidate is speaking in detail to issues that small business owners care about.

This post will take a look at what Clinton and Trump have said about small businesses, whether their proposed plans help or hurt and what they could do differently. The best way to remedy political uncertainty is to know what the candidates stand for and what proposed policies and beliefs mean in the long run.

Hillary Clinton Wants to Be theSmall Business President

Sounds Great, But is it Too Good to be True?

Where Does Trump Stand With Small Businesses?

His Real Stance Is Still Up For Debate

Have a Voice and Vote

Democrats Raise Red Flags On Gop Small Business Plan As Biden Weighs In

Republicans join Democrats to advance $1tn infrastructure bill

When it comes to some of the broad strokes in the small business plan, Republicans and Democrats appear to be close to agreement.

07/28/2020 04:56 PM EDT

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Democrats are gearing up to push for changes to a small business aid plan pitched by Republicans as part of the latest economic relief package, as former Vice President Joe Biden called for major new investments in firms owned by people of color.

While the small business rescue plan released by Senate Republicans Monday included bipartisan priorities including a second round of forgivable government loans Democrats are targeting what they say are key omissions.

Among them, according to sources familiar with the matter, is the absence of new funding for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which offers direct aid to employers. Democrats also say there is insufficient support for Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions, which focus lending on populations lacking access to traditional banks.

Democrats may also try to bar executive branch officials and members of Congress from obtaining government-backed business loans. The bill proposed by Republicans only requires the officials to disclose their status when applying.

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

President Donald Trump and Melania Trump have tested positive for Covid-19.

The latest news in employment, labor and immigration politics and policy.

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swldx · 2 years

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Radio New Zealand Int. 1324 21 Dec 2021

7390Khz 1259 21 DEC 2021 - RNZ PACIFIC (NEW ZEALAND) in ENGLISH from RANGITAIKI. SINPO = 55333. English, s/on w/bellbird int. until pips and news @1300z anchored by Koroi Hawkins. French Polynesia's health minister says there are now 20 Covid19 cases of the Omicron variant. All cases are tourists who are in Tahiti and Bora Bora. The Omicron variant now accounts for 73 % of US coronavirus infections based on sequencing data for the week ended on Saturday, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday. President Joe Biden will deliver a speech on Tuesday on how to deal with Omicron, mostly urging vaccination. In NZ there are 22 confirmed cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant in MIQ and none in the community. Phased reopening of NZ's borders pushed back, testing and MIQ changes. Come mid-January, another three million people will be eligible for their third booster dose and close to half a million children between the age of 5 and 11 will be able to be vaccinated. Samoa has announced an extension of the Covid-19 state of emergency until 16 January. The government approved changes to allow all small shops and supermarkets to open from 6am and hotel bars and restaurants will be allowed to open from 12noon. A lawmaker in the Northern Marianas has drawn up a resolution impeaching the governor Ralph Torres. So far, 11 representatives have supported the House resolution to impeach Mr Torres. A New Caledonian government minister Vaimua Muliava has written to the French president, saying the French government has made a mess out of New Caledonia's referendum process. Amid a boycott by the indigenous Kanaks, fewer than two percent of eligible voters supported independence in the last plebiscite, which concluded a formal 30-year decolonisation process. New research calls for improved stewardship of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, and chemicals found in personal care and cleaning products to protect human and ecological health. Air New Zealand has cancelled its Auckland to Tonga flilght today due to concern over a volcanic ash cloud close to Tongatapu. Sports. @1308 "Pacific Waves" anchored by Koroi Hawkins. Backyard fence antenna, Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 35°, bearing 240°. Received at Plymouth, United States, 12912KM from transmitter at Rangitaiki. Local time: 0659.

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swamyworld · 1 month

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Modi votes in home state as mammoth India election hits half-way mark | India Election 2024 News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among millions of voters across 93 constituencies that went to polls in the third phase of India’s mammoth general election. The world’s most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote, with ballots set to be counted on June 4. Tuesday’s polling covered 93 seats in 11 states and union…

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atlanticcanada · 3 years

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Nova Scotia premier sidesteps election speculation as opposition gears for July call

Nova Scotia's premier is continuing to downplay speculation around a provincial election call next month, even as opposition leaders say the signs are evident the governing Liberals are preparing to go to the polls.

The Liberals continued to roll out spending announcements across the province on Monday, adding to a growing list of campaign-style photo opportunities over the last three weeks.

A number of them have featured Premier Iain Rankin, who is looking to boost his profile after taking over from two-term premier Stephen McNeil in February.

"I still have a lot of time," Rankin said in a brief interview Monday. "There are other commitments that I plan on delivering on before I call an election."

Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada without a fixed election date, and Rankin must call an election before May 30 of next year, when the government hits the five-year mark of its mandate.

However, the premier has continually dodged questions about a pending election and has justified the spending rollout as being "fairly typical" of what happens after a government passes a budget.

Meanwhile, all three of Nova Scotia's major parties have stepped up their nominations in order to fill out their slate of candidates for the province's 55 ridings. As of Monday the Tories had nominated 47 candidates while the Liberals and NDP had nominated 42 candidates each.

"Certainly the Liberals are doing the traditional pre-writ drop strategy of spending money all over," said Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston. "We can only do what we can do to be ready, and that means making sure we have candidates in place ready to share our vision."

However, Houston said with the province beginning to emerge from a lockdown following a third wave of COVID-19, the focus should remain on combating the virus rather than an election.

"We have to get through COVID," he said in an interview. "That means getting more vaccines in arms and making sure that we're thinking about COVID management."

Rankin confirmed that he's ready to announce during a briefing Tuesday that Nova Scotia will open its travel boundaries to the rest of Canada on Wednesday and will also implement Phase 3 of its five-step reopening plan.

NDP Leader Gary Burrill said the border reopening announcement points to an imminent election call.

"When the premier says that he's not thinking about an election, I think it must be hard for him not to break out laughing," Burrill said in an interview. "Anybody that's used to the signs knows that we've got all the signs."

Erin Crandall, an associate professor in the department of politics at Acadia University, agrees that most of the pre-election signs are evident, but she cautions the "big spending" might not be unusual in this case because the province's economy needs ongoing support during the pandemic.

It's also generally thought that the provincial Liberals' window to call a vote this summer will largely depend on the plans of their federal counterparts in Ottawa, where election speculation is also rampant.

Crandall said the Liberals will want to be prepared to fight one election at a time. "That is a big question mark, and you would anticipate that federal Liberals and provincial Liberals would be communicating about that," she said.

And despite the fact the Nova Scotia Liberals would be looking for a rare third term in office, Crandall said they will be buoyed by the outcome of Canadian elections held since the onset of the pandemic.

Incumbent governments have been returned to power in New Brunswick, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon.

"Under these unique circumstances, voters may be more interested or willing to maintain the status quo," Crandall said. "There's nothing right now in Nova Scotia that would suggest that the Liberals are in danger politically."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2021

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3gYRGiS

#new brunswick #prince edward island #nova scotia #news #politics #canada #CTVAtlantic

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