House quietly passes tax exemption for megadonors

[okaawhatever]

Source: Politico

The House on Wednesday with little fanfare passed legislation that would protect major donors like the Koch brothers and Tom Steyer from having to pay gift taxes on huge donations to secret money political groups.

The legislation, which now heads to the Senate, is seen by fundraising operatives as removing one of the few remaining potential obstacles to unfettered big-money spending by nonprofit groups registered under a section of the Tax Code — 501(c) — that allows them to shield their donors’ identities.

Critics decry such groups as corrupting, but they have played an increasingly prominent role in recent elections, and they’re expected to spend huge sums in 2016 and, while fundraising operatives say most donors do not pay taxes on their donations to so-called 501(c) groups, the law is somewhat ambiguous on whether gift taxes could be assessed. That’s left donors fearing that such gifts could bring scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service — which, in fact, has launched probes of major groups’ donors in recent years to determine whether they improperly avoided paying gift taxes.

Continued at Link:

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/house-quietly-passes-tax-cut-for-megadonors-117067.html#ixzz3XXfTzlep

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/house-quietly-passes-tax-cut-for-megadonors-117067.html?ml=m_po

[Geronimoe]

1. Passed by a voice vote

Apparently House members didn't want to be on record for this travesty.

[dougolat]

6. But you can bet their bosses are keeping tabs!

Effective opposition would be financial suicide.

[Thor_MN]

28. That is something that should be banned.

There is no reason with modern technology that recording every vote would be too cumbersome. Over the last handful of years, the shitheads on the right have wasted enough time just in anti-ACA legislation to do oral role call votes recorded by handwritten tallies for the next decade on everything. Put them on their voting buttons for every vote. They already have them, so no costs in technology and I personally don't care if they have to skip a few vacation days to get their work done.

[turbinetree]

53. That is

not how a democracy works in this country, but thanks to a right wing majority court we now have in play a full display of bribery and corruption, like that one CEO venture capitalist said in SFO:
“The Tom Perkins system is: You don’t get to vote unless you pay a dollar of taxes.”
“You pay a million dollars in taxes, you get a million votes. How’s that?”

And now we have John Boehner the tobacco lobbyists best bud (passing out checks on the House floor in 1996) and learning from some other right wing republicans Hastert and Delay have a voice vote and take out the postal system and force the current employees to pay into a pension system at 5 billion a year

[DeadLetterOffice]

2. Of COURSE they did...

**sigh**

[forest444]

3. The best gummint their money can buy.

[DeadLetterOffice]

5. You betcha!

[wordpix]

56. could they be any more transparent they're creating an oligarchy that won't quit?

Next thing they'll be trying to revise the Constitution for their purposes. Fortunately, our early patriots created the two-house system with pres. veto authority and the 3-branch gov. Otherwise, we'd be totally screwed by this RW majority.

[global1]

4. Part Of The Plan For The Repugs To Retake The WH In 2016.....

along with keeping the Senate and House.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Phew, I was worried those guys might have to pay taxes!

[progree]

8. Them job-killing gift taxes and them thar job-killing gift regulations ... mutter mutter. nm

[ND-Dem]

9. put a fork in us; it's done

[Cosmocat]

23. THIS is the shit EVERYONE should be steaming mad at

but, outside of hard core political followers like us, people could care less, while going unhinged about all those welfare scammers ...

I don't know about putting a fork in us, but we are certainly getting there.

[AngryDem001]

10. And the lamestream media did not cover this, of course.

[VanillaRhapsody]

29. They had a voice vote last night...

lets wait till tonight when the Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz are on shall we?

[arcane1]

51. Why would they? All that money gets spent on selling ads to that same media.

They are benefiting just as much as the politicians and donors are. Different wings of the same club

[DeSwiss]

11. If these indignities won't drive people to direct action, then nothing will.

- K&R

CHAPTER XVII - THE SCARLET LIVERY

(Excerpt)

I sat in the gallery that day. We all knew that something terrible was imminent. It was in the air, and its presence was made visible by the armed soldiers drawn up in lines in the corridors, and by the officers grouped in the entrances to the House itself. The Oligarchy was about to strike. Ernest was speaking. He was describing the sufferings of the unemployed, as if with the wild idea of in some way touching their hearts and consciences; but the Republican and Democratic members sneered and jeered at him, and there was uproar and confusion. Ernest abruptly changed front.

"I know nothing that I may say can influence you," he said. "You have no souls to be influenced. You are spineless, flaccid things. You pompously call yourselves Republicans and Democrats. There is no Republican Party. There is no Democratic Party. There are no Republicans nor Democrats in this House. You are lick-spittlers and panderers, the creatures of the Plutocracy. You talk verbosely in antiquated terminology of your love of liberty, and all the while you wear the scarlet livery of the Iron Heel."

Here the shouting and the cries of "Order! order!" drowned his voice, and he stood disdainfully till the din had somewhat subsided. He waved his hand to include all of them, turned to his own comrades, and said:

"Listen to the bellowing of the well-fed beasts."

Pandemonium broke out again. The Speaker rapped for order and glanced expectantly at the officers in the doorways. There were cries of "Sedition!" and a great, rotund New York member began shouting "Anarchist!" at Ernest. And Ernest was not pleasant to look at. Every fighting fibre of him was quivering, and his face was the face of a fighting animal, withal he was cool and collected.

"Remember," he said, in a voice that made itself heard above the din, "that as you show mercy now to the proletariat, some day will that same proletariat show mercy to you."

The cries of "Sedition!" and "Anarchist!" redoubled.

"I know that you will not vote for this bill," Ernest went on. "You have received the command from your masters to vote against it. And yet you call me anarchist. You, who have destroyed the government of the people, and who shamelessly flaunt your scarlet shame in public places, call me anarchist. I do not believe in hell-fire and brimstone; but in moments like this I regret my unbelief. Nay, in moments like this I almost do believe. Surely there must be a hell, for in no less place could it be possible for you to receive punishment adequate to your crimes. So long as you exist, there is a vital need for hell-fire in the Cosmos."

The Iron Heel by Jack London, 1908
Project Gutenberg

[n2doc]

20. Who is going to inform them?

This was hidden in a "IRS reform" bill. No significant media outlet will pick up on this and inform people. And even if one did, we would have the usual "both sides need to be heard" obfuscation so that uncertainty could be maximized. Even in the linked article one has Democrats saying that it really doesn't mean anything.

[L0oniX]

32. House Passes Bill to Repeal Estate Tax ...tax break for millionaires...

while ending earned income and child tax credits for the rest of us.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/congress-passes-bill-repeal-estate-tax-30366826


Is there any doubt who our government works for?

[RecoveringJournalist]

43. Excellent Example

I posted this before in another string and will post it again here. I truly want to know if anyone has ideas about this. Sadly, I see this excerpt as a bit too close to home. Were someone to do something like this today (which is basically what needs to happen,) the message would not be about what was said but about the "fact" that this person is promoting anarchy:

"Who is going to make the push for true change? By that I mean who is going to TRULY challenge the status quo to do absolutely whatever is necessary, regardless of career consequence, regardless of threats to their well being from the shadow establishment, regardless of big money and all it's influence to quash not only the message but also the person (or people) shouting it? It won't be easy. And it won't happen overnight.

Who is truly up to that challenge? And even if someone is, who is willing to step in when that person (or people) is taken down?"

[awoke_in_2003]

48. Thanks

just downloaded to my iPhone

[lovemydog]

12. Geez. And few people even know about it.

I want to see who the hell voted for this garbage.

[newthinking]

13. I wonder if we are we ready to call it what it is? Corruption?

[Helen Borg]

18. Enhanced Free Speech?

[Romeo.lima333]

22. assume all the republicans did. how can it be denied

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Anyone else see the irony when linked to this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026521314

[Judi Lynn]

15. Why can't they be forced to reverse these underhanded arrangements, anyway?

It seems certain this could never be acceptable to the general public.

Where does "democracy" apply? This is conspicuous contempt for the U.S. American taxpayers.

[DetlefK]

16. If donating money is political speech and voting is political speech...

You draw the conclusion.

Any bets when someone is going to actually propose it?

[cstanleytech]

17. Can Obama veto it?

[okaawhatever]

34. They probably put it in a bill that desperately needs to pass to avoid a veto. It's an IRS bill

but I don't know much more than that.

[d_legendary1]

44. Good luck finding which bill they hid that tax on

Supposedly the House passed seven IRS bills on tax day.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2015/04/16/seven-bills-to-curb-irs-power-pass-the-house-on-tax-day/

[n2doc]

19. With friends like these...

From the article

The bill was part of a package of measures aimed at clamping down on IRS abuses in the wake of the agency’s targeting of conservative tea party groups. The gift tax bill was proposed by Rep. Peter Roskam (R.-Ill.), the chairman of Ways and Means subcommittee that oversees the IRS, but it had bipartisan support and passed on a voice vote.

Democrats who supported the bill said it merely clarified an area of the law that has not really been enforced.

“The bill codifies existing IRS practice,” said a spokesman for Sander Levin (D-Mich.), ranking member on the House Way and Means Committee, which approved this bill last month. “Right now, for contributions to 501(c)(3)s and 527s, the gift tax does not apply, and there is a moratorium applied to the gift tax on 501(c)(4) donations.”


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/house-quietly-passes-tax-cut-for-megadonors-117067.html#ixzz3XYzaLM9b

Why not clarify it in a way they it gets enforced? Silly me.

[Scuba]

21. The President will veto this, right? Right?

[bvar22]

45. Hope so.

The Republicans do not have 60 votes in the Senate either,
and we have all learned that if a President doesn't have 60 votes,
then nothing can pass.



(Please forget that Bush never had 60 votes in the Senate either)

[blackspade]

24. That is why they want to get rid of the IRS

[Hotler]

25. I have no hope. I see no future. n/t

[CrispyQ]

39. You are not alone. -nt

[titaniumsalute]

26. Wonder of the Dems can hold this crap up in the Senate??

I would think that the Pres would veto??

[Gothmog]

27. This bill is stupid

[Ruby the Liberal]

30. Of course they did.

[L0oniX]

31. The 1% in action! The 1% are our enemy and it's time for war.

[jwirr]

33. Hopefully President Obama will quietly veto this bill.

[father founding]

35. a pig by a different name

Now known as the Death to America tax exemption.

[samsingh]

36. will the President get a chance to veto this?

[Pooka Fey]

37. I get tired of having to say WTF all the time

[Corey_Baker08]

38. Horse Shit WTF?

[tclambert]

40. I bet they are going to pretend they plan to cut spending to balance it all out.

Except they won't ever get around to that part. In fact, if Republicans get their way, they'll increase spending on defense, because we only spend as much as the next nine countries put together. What if those nine countries get together and ally with one more country? Why they could outspend us, which must mean they could conquer America!

[heaven05]

41. My sincere desire or need

for an electoral system that represents me, fades into obscurity and meaninglessness when set against what this type of money buys and whom it buys.

[lark]

42. Obama, please get your veto pen ready in case the Senate also passes this travesty.

It should be called the "let rich people buy our government and have no accountability" law.

[ananda]

46. Nasty. Hope it's subject to veto.

..

[TBF]

47. Business as usual ... nt

[Jefferson23]

49. Hopefully soon, Americans will say....no more. n/t

[wordpix]

57. that better happen in this next election. We need all hands on deck

Seriously, if you haven't joined a Dem town committee or aren't volunteering for a good candidate, pls. do it now and be ready for the RW onslaught of lies, dirty tricks and attempts to take over the gov. by any means.

[Jefferson23]

50. Half in U.S. Support Publicly Financed Federal Campaigns

Vast majority supports limiting campaign spending and contributions

by Lydia Saad


PRINCETON, NJ -- Half of Americans say they would personally vote for a law that establishes government funding of federal campaigns, while 44% would vote against it.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/163208/half-support-publicly-financed-federal-campaigns.aspx

[blkmusclmachine]

52. The 14 Characteristics of Fascism (http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html)

The 14 characteristics are ~

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

Rampant Sexism and Homophobia
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html

[goldent]

54. When it comes to political contributions

the Congress is very bi-partisan. Given that, there is no way President Obama will veto it (besides the fact that the President is the product of that same system).

[DCBob]

55. Dead on arrival..

Senate Dems will filibuster or Pres veto.

[SoapBox]

58. WTF?

I sure as hell didn't see this on the evening news.

[YOHABLO]

59. Gee I wonder why that is?

[valerief]

60. "House quietly grants immortality for megadonors."

I'm waiting to see that. Wouldn't surprise me.

[dicksmc3]

61. Lousy BASTARDS!!

People starving, people not getting any unemployment, people losing their homes snd these LOUSY BASTARD REPUKES GIVE THE TOP .02 PERCENT A TAX BREAK !!! UNBELIEVABLE!! VOTE THESE PRICKS OUT!!

[midnight]

63. Another bailout for the rich.