Not Again?!
An unexpected ruling by the Senate parliamentarian last night threw a last-minute glitch into the GOP's tax cut plans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was forced to suspend the "vote-a-rama" as the leadership scrambled to secure support from various holdouts, namely Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ).
Their concern is that government models suggest the plan adds too much to the deficit. The problem is that government models are not very reliable. There were massive tax increases under Obama, and especially in Obamacare, yet Obama ran record deficits year after year.
And if Corker and Flake are so concerned about deficits, the real problem is government spending. But it is not "spending" when Americans get to keep more of their money. It belongs to them. Tax cuts are not welfare or government grants. The people earned that money! It does not belong to Washington.
Several proposed solutions being floated to earn their support don't seem very smart to me, but the leadership understands that they must get this done. They cannot afford another debacle like the failed attempt to repeal Obamacare.
Additional votes are expected later today. We are monitoring the situation in the Senate as it develops.
Outrage
Washington, D.C., and San Francisco are far-left cities. And the verdicts this week in the cases involving Ahmed Abu Khattala, the mastermind of the Benghazi attacks, and Jose Garcia Zarate, Kate Steinle's killer, reflect that sad reality.
In the case of Kate Steinle, the jury had several options to choose from, ranging from second degree murder to manslaughter. Instead, this repeat offender who has crossed the border five times and committed seven prior felonies, was only convicted of illegal weapons possession.
Those who abetted Steinle's murder are the left-wing politicians who advocate for open borders. Once again, an American family is suffering while the illegal immigrant lobby and the Trump haters are celebrating.
While I am pleased to report that the Justice Department is considering additional charges based on illegal reentry, I urge the administration to bring a lawsuit based on violations of Kate Steinle's civil rights. And I urge the Senate to pass Kate's Law immediately, so that previously deported illegal immigrants like Zarate who cross the border again are put in jail.
Flynn Charged
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has charged retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn on one count of perjury. According to the indictment, Flynn allegedly misled the FBI during an interview. Reports say Flynn will plead guilty at today's hearing.
Hope For America
I am spending much of the day at the Museum of the Bible, meeting with Josh McDowell and hundreds of his friends. I am also participating in a panel discussion, entitled "Hope For America," and will be talking about morality and ethics in our culture today.
While I am honored to participate in this presentation at the Museum of the Bible, this town increasingly acts like the Bible belongs in a museum. As you can imagine, recent headlines have given me a lot to talk about!
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