The LuLac Edition #5, 057, January 25th, 2024

 

TRUMP’S UNGRACIOUS WIN

 

There is no doubt that the 4 time indicted, twice impeched former President has mesmerized part of the country into thinking that this is normal. As children we were told to stay away from bad people. As teenagers we avoided those juvenile delinquents because we knew bad company could be contagious. The easy way out was a ticket to the police station. As adults, we saw people who made mistakes pay for it by having a job, promotion or a family deserting them as a recognition that you just weren’t good to hang out. When a neighbor or friend was pinched for DUI or gambling back in the day, people wouldn’t open their blinds for months.

There was a thing they used to call SHAME. But since 2015 when the great escalator ride started, the American people were given excuses to become bigots, know it alls, haters of government, opponents of truth, followers of someone who’d screw them in a New York minute but most of all, lacking grace.

Last night was a perfect example in Trump’s victory speech.  Rather than thank voters or commend Ms Haley’s performance – which is what the former UN ambassador did in her speech – Mr Trump said Ms Haley “failed badly” and mocked her for giving a speech.

Joined by former presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Tim Scott, Mr Trump invited Mr Ramaswamy to give his own remarks about Ms Haley, saying he was “the only person more angry, let’s say, than me”.

“But I don’t get too angry, I get even,” Mr Trump added – a commonly used threat by the former president.

Later on in his speech, the former president claimed that Ms Haley would “be under investigation within minutes” if she won.

He doesn’t get angry? This stupid can man was born ANGRY. Plus, his threats about getting even remind me of the bully who doesn’t do his own dirty work but farms it out to idiots who quickly  take orders from him. Just ask the more than 800 Capitol rioters who have convictions.

Then he says if she keeps running, he’ll have her investigated. THAT’S RICH coming from a guy who spends half of his time in Court.

Trump won to be sure but there’s a lot of people who aren’t going to vote for him. In the general this can be trouble.

But America needs to be prepared for this, Trump if nominated and loses will say the election was stolen again. He’ll gin up his base, maybe incite another insurrection and further divide this country.

He has already telegraphed what he is doing. This speech Tuesday night, which could have been one of unity and grace was petty, sexist and displayed the worst of any American politician.
Our best hope is that Nikki Haley stays in and aggravates the shit out of him. He is like a toddler who cannot control himself. But think about this: if he can’t accept victory gracefully, what in the world will he do if he loses again?

Like him, it will be ugly, ignorant and hateful. 

 

THE DISLOYAL TIM SCOTT

Tim Scott, backstabber

Here’s a perfect example of a guy who forgot where he came from. Oh he’ll give you the big story about his background, etc. rags to riches, pulled himself up from bootstraps but he stabbed Haley in the back by bowing down to his big white God and throwing away any semblance of dignity and respect he built up over the years. He sold his soul to the company store. 

 

FORMER PIG PRESIDENT TRIES TO SCUTTLE SENATE IMMIGRATION BILL

Senior Senate Republicans are furious that Donald Trump may have killed an emerging bipartisan deal over the southern border, depriving them of a key legislative achievement on a pressing national priority and offering a preview of what’s to come with Trump as their likely presidential nominee.

In recent weeks, Trump has been lobbying Republicans both in private conversations and in public statements on social media to oppose the border compromise being delicately hashed out in the Senate, according to GOP sources familiar with the conversations – in part because he wants to campaign on the issue this November and doesn’t want President Joe Biden to score a victory in an area where he is politically vulnerable.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged in a private meeting on Wednesday that Trump’s animosity toward the yet-to-be-released border deal puts Republicans in a serious bind as they try to move forward on the already complex issue. For weeks, Republicans have been warning that Trump’s opposition could blow up the bipartisan proposal, but the admission from McConnell was particularly striking, given he has been a chief advocate for a border-Ukraine package.

Now, Republicans on Capitol Hill are grappling with the reality that most in the GOP are loathe to do anything that is seen as potentially undermining the former president. And the prospects of a deal being scuttled before it has even been finalized has sparked tensions and confusion in the Senate GOP as they try to figure out if, and how, to proceed – even as McConnell made clear during party lunches Thursday that he remains firmly behind the effort to strike a deal, according to attendees.

“I think the border is a very important issue for Donald Trump. And the fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is … really appalling,” said GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump.

He added, “But the reality is that, that we have a crisis at the border, the American people are suffering as a result of what’s happening at the border. And someone running for president not to try and get the problem solved. as opposed to saying, ‘hey, save that problem. Don’t solve it. Let me take credit for solving it later.’”

But the flaw in that argument is Trump will never solve any problem like that because he isn’t a problem solver. In his first term he had the chance to do it with a full majority in both houses. He chose instead to derail Obama care. Trump’s draconian policies on asylum and his outright hatred of immigrants saying they are vermin tells you all you need to know about this guy.

Trump and the GOP House are hostage takers imposing their ill will on the American people.

If Immigration reform DOESN’T PASS, blame Donald Trump, 4 time indicted, twice impeached and total failure as a President and for that matter, a human being.  (CNN, LULAC)

 

U.S. REP. CARTWRIGHT REINTRODUCES BILL TO MAKE POLITICAL ACTIVITY MORE TRANSPARENT

THE OPEN ACT WOULD REQUIRE CORPORATIONS TO DISCLOSE POLITICAL SPENDING

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) reintroduced the Openness in Political Expenditures Now (OPEN) Act, legislation that would protect the integrity of U.S. elections by requiring corporations to be more transparent with their shareholders about political activities and prohibit organizations from abusing their tax-exempt status.

The OPEN Act would require corporations to disclose political spending in their regular reports to shareholders. This bill would also cap political spending by tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organizations—which currently do not have to disclose their donors—in order to prevent groups from using their tax-exempt status to funnel millions of dollars into U.S. elections at the taxpayer’s expense.

“Voters should set the terms of political debate in this country, not large corporations or dark money special interest groups,” said Rep. Cartwright. “That’s why I believe it’s time to shine a light on corporate political spending. Americans deserve to know who is paying to influence our elections.”

In January 2010, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, declared that the government may not prohibit political spending by corporations in candidate elections. However, then-Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s court opinion stated that “the Government may regulate corporate political speech through disclaimer and disclosure requirements.”

Specifically, the OPEN Act would:

·         Require corporations to disclose information on any significant political expenditure as part of their regular, periodic reports to their shareholders or members.

·         Cap the amount of political spending a 501(c)(4) can engage in and still be considered an exclusively social welfare-focused organization at 10% of its annual spending or $10 million annually, whichever is lower.

Co-sponsors in the U.S. House are Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Adam Schiff (CA-30).

This legislation is endorsed by Common Cause, End Citizens United/Let America Vote and Public Citizen.

“With multi-national corporations spending millions of dollars in secret political money in recent years, all Americans deserve to know who is trying to influence our voices and our votes,” said Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause. “The OPEN Act would require much-needed transparency and accountability to ensure that corporations couldn’t hide the identities of those seeking to buy influence in Washington. From introducing the OPEN Act and the Time Off to Vote Act, as well as his strong support for the Freedom to Vote Act, Common Cause commends Representative Cartwright for his longstanding leadership on democracy reform issues.”

 

 CASEY WORKS FOR YOU!!!!

ADDITIONAL FEES MAY APPLY: CASEY RELEASES GREEDFLATION REPORT EXPOSING CORPORATIONS FOR CHARGING EXCESSIVE HIDDEN FEES

CORPORATIONS ARE CHARGING FAMILIES EXCESSIVE FEES ON EVERYTHING FROM CABLE TO CREDIT CARDS TO HOME RENTALS, HIDING THEM UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE

JUNK FEES INCLUDE CABLE EARLY TERMINATION FEES, BANK OVERDRAFT FEES, CAR RENTAL AND HOTEL RESORT FEES

FTC ESTIMATES THAT FAMILIES WOULD SAVE $1.23B PER YEAR ON EVENT TICKETS AND HOTEL STAYS ALONE BY REQUIRING COMPANIES TO MOVE TO ALL-IN PRICING, BILLIONS MORE IF ENACTED ACROSS OTHER INDUSTRIES

READ CASEY’S LATEST GREEDFLATION REPORT “ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY APPLY: HOW BIG CORPORATIONS USE HIDDEN FEES TO NICKEL, DIME, AND DECEIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES”

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives) 

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Children & Families, released his fourth greedflation report detailing how big corporations are tacking on excessive fees at the tail end of everyday purchases, from internet plans to ATM withdrawals. The new greedflation report entitled, “Additional Charges May Apply: How Big Corporations Use Hidden Fees to Nickel, Dime, and Deceive American Families” is a continuation of Senator Casey’s investigation into how corporate greed is squeezing families’ budgets and lays out Casey’s vision to hold these companies accountable to put money back in the pockets of American families.

“From cable bills to rental cars, greedy corporations are ripping off hard-working American families with excessive fees to pad their bottom line. It’s sinful, and one of the reasons Americans are feeling squeezed when it’s time to pick up the check or pay off their credit card,” said Senator Casey. “My report exposes why working families’ dollars don’t go as far as they used to and what I’m doing to fight back against the corporations that are putting their profits over people.”

Senator Casey believes that no Pennsylvanian should be blindsided by a junk fee and that the negative impacts of hidden fees can be mitigated by: fighting deceptive practices that allow corporations to hide the fees they charge consumers; preventing corporations from deceptively passing along their expenses to working families through bogus fees; and protecting businesses that are honest about their pricing structures.

In November 2023, Casey released his first report, “Greedflation: How Corporations Are Making Record Profits on the Backs of American Families,” finding that between 2020 and 2022, corporate profits rose by?75 percent—five times as fast as inflation; 41 percent of inflation was due solely to corporate-profit making. The report detailed how big corporations are using inflation as cover to raise prices on everything from toothpaste and toilet paper to Ben & Jerry’s and Diet Coke to rake in record profits at the expense of middle-class American families.

The same month, Casey released his second report of his Greedflation series, “Stuffing Their Pockets: How Big Food and Agriculture Businesses Are Making Your Holiday Meals More Expensive,” examining how the price of food has risen faster than most other goods and pushing the Federal Trade Commission and United States Department of Agriculture to investigate possible unfair pricing practices of major chicken and pork processors in the U.S.

In December 2023, Casey released his third report of his Greedflation series, “Less Bang for Your Buck: Casey Releases Shrinkflation Report Exposing Big Corporations for Reducing Product Size While Keeping Prices High,” calling out household consumer products, food, and beverage corporations for reducing the size of household consumer goods, from toilet paper to cereals to snacks, while continuing to sell them at the same retail price.

Here’s Casey’s report:

https://www.casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/greedflation_junk_fees3.pdf

 

HOW MANY PENNSYLVANIA FAMILIES IN EVERY COUNTY WILL QUALIFY FOR THE CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT UNDER GOVERNOR SHAPIRO’S EXPANSION

Governor Josh Shapiro (Photo: LuLac archives)

Last month, Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law an expansion of the Childcare Tax Credit for nearly 210,000 Pennsylvania families. Under previous law, Pennsylvania would match only 30 percent of the federal Childcare Tax Credit. Now, thanks to this new bipartisan legislation, the state credit will match 100 percent of the federal credit, helping Pennsylvania families offset more of the burden of rising childcare costs in the Commonwealth.

The Childcare Tax Credit that is available to Pennsylvanians at the state level is based on the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. Taxpayers must receive the federal credit to also be eligible for the state credit in Pennsylvania. The major expansion signed into law by Governor Shapiro means:

 The maximum credit will be $1,050 (one child) or $2,100 (two or more children).

The minimum credit will be $600 (one child) or $1,200 (two or more children).

Prior to the expansion signed by Governor Shapiro, the maximum credit Pennsylvania families could receive was up to $315 (one child) or $630 (two or more children). Under the new law, Pennsylvanians could see up to a 233% increase in their tax credit from last year.

Read below to see an estimated county breakdown of the number of Pennsylvanians who may benefit from the expanded tax credit thanks to the expansion signed into law by Governor Shapiro.

How Many Pennsylvania Families Are Eligible for the Childcare Tax Credit Because of Governor Shapiro’s Expansion* 

Lackawanna County     2,669

Luzerne County 5,072

Wyoming County    236

 

MEDIA MATTERS 

 

WALN TV 

 

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM 

 You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River. 

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SATURDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP 

 

BEATLE EDD’S BEATLES SHOW ON ROCK 107

Tune in every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107. 

 

 1984

Our 1984 logo

 The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888........Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Van Halen releases their sixth studio album 1984 (MCMLXXXIV), which debuts at number 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and will go to sell over 10 million copies in the United States….and the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder.