the Trump administration has mothballed the in states like New York. But as Republicans facility, he wants waste removed. love to remind us, the wealthiest 20 percent “I want the stuff out.” Graham said. “I of Americans pay most of the income taxes want a pathway forward out of the state.” and most of those people live in blue states There have been earlier cases of Republicans are targeting for effective presidents who favored some tax hikes. To raise spending by states over others based $200 billion and then claim on election results—the the moral high ground based Kennedy administration, on fake news is exasperatfor instance. But most of ing even by Washington’s those involved benefits standards.” for supporting states, not Even so, some may find punishment for opposing it difficult to believe that states. This is one more vindictiveness could guide way this era of polarization federal actions. But Donald Gov. Steve Sisolak has changed the normal rules. Trump is not the usual presiNewsweek says that dent. His own interests tend to since Trump and the Republican guide his actions. His life is littered Congress increased spending more with people he liked until they disagreed than Democrats ever dreamed of doing, with him—Michael Cohen, Steve “Therefore, Republicans are going to have Bannon—and last year NBC reported, “He to raise taxes to avoid bigger deficits. They praises and pardons friends/allies who have set out to do exactly that to their politihave committed crimes (Manafort, Joe cal opponents while cutting taxes for their Arpaio, Dinesh D’Souza), but calls for supporters. All of this makes their current the prosecution of enemies who haven’t narrative about eliminating the state and been charged at all (Hillary Clinton, James local deduction from federal tax liability Comey, Peter Strzok, Christopher Steele).” especially unseemly. They claim the deducThis is not a president whose actions are tions force low tax states to subsidize high predictable, but his earlier actions against tax states like California, but that’s not true. Clinton states are relevant. Ω California and New York pay more in federal taxes than they reap in federal benefits. That isn’t to defend the egregious taxation
“Those negotiations were a sham all along.”
rock on
Attendees at the second Reno Punk Rock Flea Market watched as local band Basement Tapes performed on the afternoon of Feb. 9. The event drew thousands of people to the Reno Generator arts space in Sparks. Photo/Jeri Chadwell
02.14.19 | RN&R | 9