This is the message. Shout it from the rooftops and beat the GOP to death with it.

@SrRochardBunson what does it mean "refusing to pay for it"...isnt a tax cut by definition, something you dont have to pay?

@freemo @SrRochardBunson He means that the GOP can no longer hide behind the ruse of "fiscal responsibility" to cover their actual goal of helping the rich get richer at the expense of the vast majority of American voters.

@freemo @SrRochardBunson If they actually cared about the debt, they would only make tax cuts in one area that are paid for by spending cuts in another so as to keep a balanced budget. Clearly, the do not actually care about a balanced budget.

@larthallor Not to defend the GOP but im not sure its that simple. If they could have their way they would probably cut all or most social programs and give the highest tax bracket a tax cut. Hopefully achieving a balanced budget.

But its not like they have free reign and actually get to cut social programs (since democrats block it). Not saying that is wrong of the dems to block, just saying they dont really have the choice to control both sides of the equation.

@freemo

That would not balance the budget. Recall that historically the GOP acts hawkish. Defense budget dwarfs social programs… it’s approaching $1,000,000,000,000.

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@kegill Possibly.. i mean their reluctance to reduce the defense budget is an issue. That said they could gut social programs and potentially balance it with tax cuts, so that is legit... though its an idiotic way to balance it IMO.

@freemo

Ummm. Tax cuts are what got us upside down!

Defense $ is about HALF of discretionary spending. Trillions. And we spend more than the next 10, including China and Russia, combined. It. Is. Obscene.

pgpf.org/chart-archive/0053_de

You either support veterans benefits and shipping products by sea or you don't.

youtu.be/VuZl-Ay-8KI

@kegill

@tcely

“President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget released March 9 … is the largest budget proposal in U.S. history for veterans – total FY 2024 request for VA is $325.1 billion.”

The DEFENSE budget proposal is almost $1,000,000,000.

VA $ is “outside of it.”

VA is the 2nd largest department *after* DOD.

legion.org/veteranshealthcare/

@kegill So, which part is obscene to you?

Active duty soldiers and families not having housing?

The official guidance that they should be on the food stamp program to avoid starving?

VA infrastructure that's being rebuilt/replaced for the first time in 60 years?

Providing benefits to female soldiers when there are more than 3 times as many of these now?

Providing housing to veterans living on the streets?

Researching treatments for chemical exposure?

@tcely

Chris, the VA is a separate agency from DoD. They have different budgets. I have never said that VA budgets are excessive although I believe discretionary wars should not happen. We have a host of vets from not one but two wars in Iraq (I have a friend who fought in both and has the scars to prove it). Both were discretionary.

@kegill I find it gross that we have Republicans, taking money from billionaires, who keep constantly chipping away at the revenues and IRS staffing/funding, while at the same time approving all the spending they want.

If you actually want to balance the budget, you can do that with tax reform and catching tax cheats!

forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy

wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-in

@tcely

I agree. Wholeheartedly.

I long for the days of Reagan-era corporate and marginal tax rates.

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