EXCLUSIVE: Blue Dog Democrats meet with top Trump aides on tax reform

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

Blue Dog Democrats huddled with the leading members of President Trump’s economic team on Tuesday in the Capitol, where the lawmakers pressed the administration to seek bipartisan reforms to the nation’s tortuous tax code.

Just 18-members strong, the centrist Blue Dogs compose a tiny voice in the clamorous House, vastly outnumbered by even the liberals in their own caucus. But with GOP leaders struggling to rally their divided conference around big-ticket legislation, the Blue Dogs see themselves potentially stepping into the mix to broker a bipartisan deal for the sake of getting tax reform to Trump’s desk this year.

“If it’s constructive, if they’re genuinely interested in ideas and making it a bipartisan effort, then the Blue Dogs are certainly willing to participate,” said Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), a member of the group.

“You’ve got the far left, you’ve got the far right, and the Blue Dogs are in the center. And basically, we want a tax code that’s efficient [and] that works for everybody.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/338714-exclusive-blue-dog-democrats-meet-with-top-trump-aides-on-tax-reform

[zipplewrath]

1. "Works" for everybody

The problem is of course, the definition of "works for everyone".

[DK504]

10. "Works for everybody"

means it works for the 1% and no one else.

Another group that needs to go, that they caucus with the Democrats is a joke. I haven't seen them do Americans any favors since their inception.

[Dustlawyer]

2. In other words, middle class gets $200-$300 and the wealthy get $200,000,000-

$300,000,000.

Cut everything else out, you are on your own!

[vi5]

3. Shhhhh! Don't be mean to the blue dogs!!

We need to be nice to them. They are great. They are wonderful. Thank you Blue Dogs for all you do for us.

[KeepItReal]

7. With friends like these....

This is an important story, but nobody wants to Rec it.

[vi5]

8. Because....

...we are fully immersed in the "Any Dem is a good Dem" belief system. It's how this all around rightward shift of the acceptable terms of debate with regard to what "the center" is has been allowed to happen.

[not fooled]

20. Yeah, a favorite trick of theirs

what they call the "middle" used to be right of the old -style republicans--they are to the right, not the middle.

"Centrist" my ass

[turbinetree]

4. BS, when it comes to tax breaks, social security is always in the mix

The Blue Dog Coalition, commonly known as the Blue Dogs or Blue Dog Democrats, is a .... Despite the Blue Dogs' differing degrees of economic and social ... On economic issues, Blue Dogs tend to be pro-business, favoring lower corporate tax rates, limiting public welfare spending and reducing Social Security benefits.

[Wellstone ruled]

26. Lets add to this,

most tend to be anti Social Programs,they like the idea of a privatized Social Security and limited Medicare and Medicaid.

[turbinetree]

33. Yepper, spot on

[bucolic_frolic]

5. The tax code was simpler in 1980

and more progressive

Now we have regressive taxes, deductions, special interests

It's a complexity dream that keeps accountants employed

[Honeycombe8]

6. A tax cut means a cut in revenue, which means cuts in vital programs.

There's no way around that. I hate to see Dems give the Repubs the votes to pass their tax reform that hurts the working and lower middle class.

But as far as winning, the Dem Party should look at how these guys won in conservative districts. They WON. And they ARE better than having a Republican in that seat, who would rubberstamp every Trump proposal and not vote for any Democratic Party bills.

[Jose Garcia]

13. You are assuming that there will be no deficit spending

[Honeycombe8]

14. There is always deficit spending.

The deficit will increase, due to revenue cut. The normal budget requires spending in excess of income.

I'm not assuming anything. We already know that there will be massive cuts in programs & in federal agencies/departments. They need that money to defray the cost of the huge tax cut for the top 2%.

[SHRED]

9. "...and the Blue Dogs are in the center."

In who's world?

[dhill926]

16. that was my first thought....

[QC]

30. In the center of everything that's wrong with America and the world?

That seems more true.

[Blue Idaho]

11. What's next Blue Dogs? "Peace in our time?"

Appeasement is never a winning proposition...

[INdemo]

12. Blue Dogs....equals.... Republican Lites

[dembotoz]

15. Guess treason not just for Republicans anymore

[billh58]

17. Quisling

NOUN

a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.

synonyms: collaborator · colluder · sympathizer · traitor · turncoat · backstabber · double-crosser · defector · Judas · snake in the grass · fifth columnist

Another fitting term for a Blue Dog is: DINO

Centrist? The only thing in the middle of the road is a yellow stripe and dead skunks.

[jalan48]

18. Who are these "Blue Dogs?" I only saw one name listed in the article.

[Bradical79]

29. Here they are:

Blue Dog Coalition in the 115th United States Congress:
Sanford Bishop (GA-2)
Jim Cooper (TN-5)
Jim Costa (CA-16), Co-Chair for Administration
Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Co-Chair for Communications
Dan Lipinski (IL-3), Co-Chair for Policy [40]
Collin Peterson (MN-7)
Kurt Schrader (OR-5)
David Scott (GA-13)
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9)[41]
Mike Thompson (CA-5)
Filemon Vela, Jr. (TX-34)
Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5)
Stephanie Murphy (FL-7)
Lou Correa (CA-46)
Charlie Crist (FL-13)
Vicente González (TX-15)
Tom O'Halleran (AZ-1)
Brad Schneider (IL-10)

[jalan48]

31. Thanks!

[FiveGoodMen]

19. "You've got the far left"

Bullshit!

There's barely any left at all in the US today, let alone FAR left.

[yallerdawg]

21. These dawgs made the ACA possible!

Wiki: "Blue Dog membership was nearly cut in half by the 2010 election, in which 26 members were re-elected but 28 were either defeated or chose not to run for re-election."

Now it's down to 18 Blue Dogs in the House?

The House that just gave us AHCA?

(D) does matter! Take what you can get!

[jcmaine72]

22. Yet more proof that these so-called "Blue Dog Democrats" aren't real Democrats at all.

[Tactical Peek]

23. Fuck those guys.

I wonder how much that cost the 1%.

[LiberalLovinLug]

24. but but but ...Bernie doesn't have a D in front of his name!

"Blue Dogs are at the center"? lol

We can always count on this little group of greedy opportunists to ruin it for the Democratic party standing together to oppose Trumpcare and the damage it will do. Because now, after it passes, and many lose insurance and even die while premiums rise, Turtleman and Lyin Ryan will be touting the bill as 'bi-partisan' and that Democrats signed off on it as well.

Just as Trump used Hillary's and other Dem's vote for authorization for the Iraq invasion against her to supress Democrats voting for her, they will use any agreement they reach with these DINOs to scoff of any critical talk of this being strictly a Republican bill, when it all goes south. I wouldn't doubt if even Trump himself will whine about how he pleaded with them that it was too "mean", but Democrats didn't listen.

[CanonRay]

25. Unless you are a multi-millionaire, the words "tax reform"

should mean "bend over and wait for pain"

[Freethinker65]

27. Tax cuts for the wealthy (and wealthy blue dogs). What could possibly go wrong?

[Orsino]

28. "Reform" always means tax cuts for the rich.

"Tortuous" is one of those weasel words used to sell the concept, as though filing a tax return is ever going to get much easier for ordinary Americans.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

32. The article says there's 18 of them

but only gives one name. I thought they had all been replaced by Republicans.

[Jose Garcia]

34. There used to be a lot more of them.

That was when Democrats had a majority in the House.

[alarimer]

35. Fuck them.

Conniving turncoats.