If you didn't die after the U.S. pulled out of the Paris climate accord and you didn't die after the courts suspended President Trump's travel ban, or you were bummed about losing the opportunity to die when Republicans couldn't seal the deal on a healthcare bill, you have one more chance. Some critics of the tax bill that just passed Congress and is expected to be signed into law today say this is the policy that might end your life.
"Kill the bill, don't kill us!" protesters chanted on the Senate floor last night.
The hyperbole, as usual, is disconnected from reality. The tax reform bill is a "conventional Republican tax plan," as Peter Suderman wrote yesterday, "with all the predictable problems and benefits."
The left-leaning Tax Policy Center estimates that 80 percent of taxpayers will see a cut next year. (The numbers change abruptly in 2027, when much of the tax bill expires.) Hardly tales from the crypt. But that hasn't stopped the apocalyptic rhetoric.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) called the bill a "bank heist," conflating the private pockets of Americans with the "national treasury" (which might as well be a box with a $20 trillion IOU in it):
Unbelievable. GOP just pulled off the biggest bank heist in US history & they're delivering the loot – >$1 trillion out of our national treasury – to the wealthiest Americans & big corporations. We must fight back harder than ever for our "We the People" vision of our democracy. pic.twitter.com/fAXi0fC2yh — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) December 20, 2017
Here's Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.):
A tax bill is a moral statement. This one betrays basic American values. It funds burgeoning tax breaks for the wealthiest one percent – who receive 83 percent of the bill's benefits – by burdening our children with trillions in debt. — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) December 20, 2017
Well, it's nice to see Democrats say they care about the debt again (and illuminating to see Republicans stop caring about the debt, for anyone who still believed their old rhetoric on the subject).
But it's not just Democrats with bad takes.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), often a swing vote, claims that media coverage of her support of the tax bill was "sexist," as if Republican males who backed the tax bill were treated any less unfairly in much of the media.
And this round-up wouldn't be complete without mentioning the mini-meltdown by Rosie O'Donnell, the president's favorite celebrity:
so how about this i promise to give 2 million dollars to senator susan collins and 2 million to senator jeff flake if they vote NO NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS FOR THE SUOER RICH DM me susan DM me jeff no shit 2 million cash each — ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
Russia/Trump conspiracy theorist Louise Mensch, of all people, stepped in to warn Rosie that this would be bribery, a federal crime. Rosie disagreed.
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