Thanks go out to our Hawaii Representatives

[birdmove]

Just wanted to say thank you to representtatives Tulsi Gabbard and Colleen Hanabusa in the Congress, and to Senator Maize Hirono, for voting no on the horrible Omnibus budget bill of the United States of America. It passed both houses anyway. No thanks to Sentor Brian Schatz, who voted for this. I had emailed him asking him not to vote for this, but, vote yes he did. I don't know how anyone voting for this can sleep at night. And, this most certainly has a direct effect on us in the Puna District. Now we can have another Citibank bailout as in 2008. Now political contribuion amounts from the rich and corporations can skyrocket, making it that much more lucrative for the sleazy politicians to be bought and paid for on the open market. We are going to suffer for the contents if this bill for a long time.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[lquade]

i had a feeling schatz was going to be a "yes" man for his party even to the detriment of our country. thank you tulsi, colleen and maize for thinking before their vote.

[KeaauRich]

Just another perspective: I wouldn't be surprised if all the Hawaii reps and senators judged which way the wind was blowing before the official vote, and then, once assured of the outcome, split the delegation's votes so that they continue to have friends (read: potential future allies/votes) in both camps. With Shatz on the Appropriations Committee, it is good for Hawaii that he voted the way Democratic and Republican leadership wanted the vote to go - this may be a chit he can call in later when seeking support for Hawaii priorities.

As for the contents of the bill, I agree there is a lot not to like in it..but do you think a bill drafted next month (when the Republicans control both houses) would be a better bill???

[birdmove]

No, I don't. But, republicans have been anti-bailout under Obama's Presidency. Now, suddenly, they are for this? Citicorp is very happy. They seem to have written that part of the bill themselves, which scares the hell out of me.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[lquade]

agree jon, scares the hell outa me also. especially the part about bailing out banks before the little guys (us). the banks already have trillions leveraged which would leave none for us, effectively making fdic a joke. then add in the feds wanting to nationalize our 401ks and pensions and the whole thing seems like a bad dream for anyone who thought they prepared for retirement. but i also dont think keaau rich is too off base. but would like to hope our reps are really studying the bills instead of ms. pelosi and her "pass it so we can find out what's in it" crap...[V]

[pahoated]

When Ronald Reagan was put in office by the majority of voters, the maximum tax rate on the wealthy was 75% of incomes over $1 million. That was what was meant when he was spouting "Let's get the government off peoples' backs", meaning wealthy peoples' backs, and making the wealthy more wealthy would mean "excess" wealth that would "trickle down". This is the foundation for the Neocon party today. Today, the wealthy are defined as $500,000 per year, often paying about 15% tax and those over $1M paying 10% or less, while those under $100K have a 35% tax rate. And people wonder why there is a gigantic wealth imbalance?

"Mahalo nui Pele, 'ae noho ia moku 'aina" - kakahiaka oli

[leilanidude]

while those under $100K have a 35% tax rate.

No, they don't.

[Jeffhale]

quote:

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Originally posted by birdmove

Now political contribuion amounts from the rich and corporations can skyrocket, making it that much more lucrative for the sleazy politicians to be bought and paid for on the open market. We are going to suffer for the contents if this bill for a long time.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

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If anything on that bill is discerning, beyond all public reach, it's that.

In this day and time, commercials, spam calls, ( I couldn't answer my phone for the constant battery of political spam ringing 24 hours a day up to the elections. Pick it up, is opening the door for more) internet involuntary pop-ups, constantly directing the opinion of our country..

Billions and billions will go to elect whoever the money favors.

No longer a country of popular opinion but slaves to the wealthy..

Good one republicans. Hold a gun on the budget until it's let that common people will never have a say..

As for the rest inside that bill,, little do the matter because, nothing is strong when the will of the people is deranged through commercialized trash, monetary, wealthy direction, is only characterized by the wit of creative paid to eluded, the writers of delusion.

Today's voters, our country, it's directives are now the equivalent of a stock exchange; constant flow to and from, where the money goes, so too the fools. .

Tried as much as I could, when driving in my car, listen to talk shows,, never the once is there a convoluted democratic station. Not one convoluted because, there's not one station dedicated to democrats at all. yet but many republicans, 3 or more, paid by whom?

Personally, I'm neither republican, nor democrat, but not in favor when I tune the station of republicans, Know my history, follow the news and always hit with a barrage of BS from them.

Maybe there's a positive side to this? If only could find a democratic station, listen to the same barrage of BS in opposed opinion by delusional nit-wits too.

At least I could equate a sense of balance.

However, at current, that is not the state of my viewing, listening ability, which in turn for that, one has to side on the trail of those who are not paying for 'entertainers' to slam BS down your ears.

Money, Money, Money!! greenback is red.

[Rob Tucker]

This topic has drifted away from Hawaii/Puna. Bring it back.

Assume the best and ask questions.

Punaweb moderator

[pahoated]

The subject line is deceptive. The subject is actually about the US budget, not about any representatives, other than 3 of 4 Hawaii national representatives voted no. For FY15, it was important to not have squabbling and government shutdowns all next year. By passing the budget, the government has saved the American taxpayer a lot of money that would have been wasted squabbling, posturing, manipulating, and all the rest until the budget was so tangled, the president would have no other choice but to veto it, and start over again.

It would be interesting to find out why those 3 voted no, since that was the Teapublican platform, to vote no because it didn't give them what they wanted.

As for the tax rates, the maximum is 39% for incomes over $500K. The unfairness comes from a minimum tax required, which stays the same from $500K to Unlimited, then 39% of of the balance over the minimum tax. That 39% is before deductions and even though the 1% pay over 50% of federal taxes, this still ends up with multi-millionaires and billionaires paying a statistical 10% or less, while the person with a $100K income will pay 35%, after subtracting the minimum tax from that gross. If you can't do arithmetic, then you will not be able to see why the wealth gap is widening.

"Mahalo nui Pele, 'ae noho ia moku 'aina" - kakahiaka oli