Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Election Commission Using Private Email

From Sean:
"Where are all the Republican e-mail scolds now -- when it's been revealed that the Pence-Kobach Voter Suppression Commission appears to be conducting much of its business using personal e-mail accounts, which would be a violation of federal law.

TPM: Election Commission Uses Personal E-mail for Official Business "

4 comments:

Sean said...

OK, since it's clear this one is going into IOKIYAR territory, how about this one?

Although members of Congress from New York and New Jersey complain about the hypocrisy of Texas requesting federal aid, given the fact that the Texas congressional delegation almost unanimously opposed the federal aid package for Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the grousing amounts to nothing. With the suffering in Texas visible on every news show, America is too good to withhold support as political payback.

But that doesn’t mean funding should be a gift. Not at all. The bulk of the federal money to help Texas residents rebuild their lives and communities should come in the form of a loan — perhaps a long-term loan at a favorable interest rate, but definitely a loan.

Here is why: Texas is avowedly a low-tax state. There is no personal income tax. There is no corporate income tax (although there is a surrogate tax on corporate receipts). There is no state-level tax on estates or inheritances. Texas ranks No. 46 out of the 50 states in state and local tax burden per capita, according to recent data from the Tax Foundation. It ranks 43rd in state tax revenue per capita.

Texas wants and needs federal help to rebuild from Harvey, and the federal government should provide significant financial aid. But it is grossly unfair for Texas to accept funds from all of America’s taxpayers to allow it to continue its exceptionally low-taxed ways. Unless Texas is willing to bear a reasonable share of the Harvey costs through increased state and local taxes, then the rest of the United States would just be giving Texas a handout. Better for the federal government to offer Texas a “hand-up” in the form of immediate cash support with the requirement that Texas generate tax revenue to repay that help.


Texas desperately needs Harvey aid. But the low-tax state shouldn’t get a handout.

John said...

Another learning opportunity IOKIYAR and IACIYAD.

"For years, progressives have responded to news of GOP scandals unpunished, abuses of power unchecked, and outrageous remarks ignored by the media with the acronym IOKIYAR – It’s OK if you’re a Republican.

But I think we need a complementary acronym: IACIYAD – it’s a crime if you’re a Democrat." Paul Krugman

Laurie said...

so John, are you agreeing that there is a huge double standard at play here? or are you just explaining these acronyms. This one IACIYAD is new to me.

John said...

Mostly just defining the acronyms.

Personally I think both sides use the double standard on a regular basis. It seems synonymous with politics now days.

And worse yet it seems many voters like the endless "attack them" techniques.

Since Jerry is the one who wanted to lock up Clinton, it will be interesting to see how he finds a way to draw a difference between all these supposed crimes.