Monthly Archives: March 2022

If you believe the talking points of Congressional Democrats and the Biden administration, Americans are seeing high gas prices through no fault of theirs but because of two reasons Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinRepublican senators introduce bill to ban Russian uranium imports Hillicon Valley Invasion complicates social media policy Defense & National Security Blinken details Russia's possible next steps MORE's invasion of Ukraine and the price gouging of selfish American oil and gas producers.

This outrage is laughable because Democrats areactively pursuingat least 17 energy tax increases that would raise prices for families and small businesses.

President BidenJoe BidenRepublican senators introduce bill to ban Russian uranium imports Energy & Environment Ruling blocking climate accounting metric halted Fauci says officials need more than .5B for COVID-19 response MORE's fiscal year 2022 budget includes a dozen tax increases on American energy. The Democrats' socialist tax-and-spend bill,Build Back Better, includes several tax hikes on energy including a home heating tax. Progressives like Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - What now after Zelensky's speech? Senate panel advances Biden Fed nominees to confirmation votes On The Money Fed starts hiking rates as prices climb MORE (D-Mass.) and Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseGas prices lead to tensions within Democratic Party Senate unanimously approves making daylight saving time permanent Carole King to discuss forest fires before Oversight subcommittee MORE (D- R.I.) want a 50 percentwindfall profits taxon oil and gas businesses.

Higher taxes do not just hit businesses they are also passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices. Raising taxes on corporations as Democrats have repeatedly proposed will hit families and businesses through the increased costs of basic goods and services.

The Democratic push for higher taxes on American energy producers and manufacturers will see the price of gasoline and energy increase, despite the fact that consumers are already facing record-high gas prices. In the past 12 months, gasoline has increased by38 percent, while energy has increased by25.6 percent.

However, things would be much, much worse if Democrats have their way.

First, Bidens FY 2022 budgetincluded30 tax increases totaling $3.5 trillion. This included roughly a dozen tax increases on American energy, which the left routinely characterized as tax loopholes.

However, these provisions promote manufacturing jobs and American energy independence. Repealing them would only lead to higher prices, less investment and fewer jobs. For instance, the deduction for intangible drilling costs (IDCs) allows independent producers to immediately deduct business expenses related to drilling such as labor, site preparation, repairs and survey work.

Asnotedin a 2014 study by Wood Mackenzie Consulting, repealing the deduction for IDCs would cost 265,000 jobs in the long-term.

The study notes the elimination of IDCs would also result in a $407 billion reduction in investment, or roughly 25 percent of the capital used by producers to continue investing in new projects. This would mean even less oil andhigher pricesfor American consumers.

The Democrats trillion dollar socialist Build Back Better proposal doubles down on this approach with several tax increases on American energy including a 16.4 cents per barrel tax on crude oil and petroleum products that would raises taxes by nearly $13 billion and an $8 billion home heating tax.

Americans understand that these taxes will increase energy costs according topolling conducted by HarrisX, 66 percent of voters believe these energy taxes will increase energy costs, compared to just 12 percent of voters who do not think it will increase costs.

This is not the only way prices would go up the legislation also includes $800 billion in tax increases on American businesses that would further exacerbate inflation and raise prices for consumers.

More recently, Democratsproposeda windfall profits tax which would impose a 50 percent tax on the difference between the current price of a barrel of oil and the average price per barrel between 2015 and 2019. This could raise taxes by as much as $450 billion over the next decade and would be used to finance a new welfare payment, that in combination with other Democratic policies, will pay people not to work and drive inflation.

A windfall profits tax has been tried and failed in the past. It was signed into law in 1980 by Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterWhy it's time for Black women state supreme court justices Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walter Mears dead at 87 Administration eyes re-regulation of rail industry; would magnify supply chain problems MORE but was repealed eight years later. The Congressional Research Service hasnotedthat the windfall profits tax was an extremely complicated tax to comply with and administer, that it generated a fraction of the revenue projected and that it raised the cost of gasoline and increased dependence on foreign oil.

The Democrat's tax obsession is not limited to energy they want to use higher taxes as the solution for everything. They have pushed a global minimum tax agreement based on thebeliefthat we should be partnering with Europe, China, Russia and the rest of the world to ensure businesses pay their fair share. They havepusheda 95 percent tax on American pharmaceutical manufacturers as a solution to lower the cost of medicines. They have pushed afinancial transactions taxon every single stock trade as a solution to get tough on Wall Street and even proposed atax on businessesthat do not pay their workers $15 per hour.

While Democrats are playing politics with high energy prices and rampant inflation in general, the bottom line is their policies of higher taxes, more spending and more regulations make these problems worse, not better.

Alex Hendrie is director of Tax Policy at Americans for Tax Reform.

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If Democrats have their way, gas prices will surge even higher | TheHill - The Hill

New Jersey is a wallflower during presidential primary season.

Its June primary comes too late to help choose the nominee, so candidates skip the state and campaign elsewhere. And the last two New Jerseyans to seek the presidency, Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, long had dropped out before their home state voters even got to go to the polls.

Now some state Democrats want to make New Jersey a player in presidential politics.

State Party Chair Leroy Jones Jr. asked the Democratic National Committee to make New Jersey one of the first primary states as the committee looks at changing its calendar, and state Sen. Richard Codey, a former governor, said he would introduce legislation that would move the states primary to the third week in February.

Our party cannot cling to outdated traditions that do not help us reach new voters and motivate the diverse coalition of supporters needed to win elections and enact our pro-middle class agenda, Jones wrote to national party chair Jaime Harrison, who attended Yale University with Booker. New Jersey has everything that our party needs to fulfill this important role.

Jones cited the states diversity, with double-digit percentages of Black, Latino and Asian residents; and its geography that includes large cities, suburban towns and rural counties.

And Codey, D-Essex, said moving the primary up would help build relationships with the presidential candidates, which could translate into more federal aid and other support.

The state traditionally has been one of the last to vote, except in 2008, when the primary was held on Super Tuesday in February and Democratic voters picked Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama. Four years later, the primary was returned to June.

Giving New Jersey an early primary slot isnt such a far-fetched idea, said Chris Lehane, a veteran of Al Gores 2000 presidential run.

Lehane wouldnt replace Iowa and New Hampshire, which he said force candidates to engage in retail politicking and therefore deserve their early spots.

What Iowa and New Hampshire do really, really well is demonstrate whether a candidate has the retail skills to be successful, he said. These retail skills are really important in terms of how you can actually work with Congress, your ability to work with world leaders.

But New Jersey could provide another key test for candidates, Lehane said.

If you think running for office is like cultivating a garden, the Garden State would make a lot of sense, he said.

Lehane said the states primary could serve as an arbiter of how well a candidate can communicate to a large audience, especially one as diverse as New Jerseys, an audience that reflects what the nation looks like.

New Jersey is sandwiched between two major media markets: New York City and Philadelphia.

Its a visual age that we live in, Lehane said. The modern presidency is really running a content platform. Theres a lot to be said, in addition to the retail stuff, for having a state or subset of states that would be able to prove that ability to run a content machine or a content platform.

Jones said New Jerseys compactness would make Iowa superfluous.

Our state is noteworthy for its compact size as the fourth-smallest state in the nation, which would save candidates valuable travel time and resources and encourage the kind of retail campaigning that has always been a hallmark of the Democratic presidential primary process, he said.

Besides, candidates would get to meet a lot more potential voters, Codey said.

I have more people on my block where I grow up that vote in a primary than Iowa, he said.

Codeys bill would need to pass both the Democratic-controlled state Senate and Assembly and be signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat.

Murphys office deferred comment to Jones on Thursday.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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Top Democrat pushes for N.J to hold one of the earliest presidential primaries in 2024 - NJ.com

One of the two Democrats vying to represent north Portland in the Oregon House dropped out of the race earlier this week.

Still, Eric Delehoy will still appear on the May ballot and in the government-issued Voters Pamphlet because he didnt end his campaign before the states deadlines to withdraw from consideration.

Delehoy, a college counselor, sought to be appointed to the House seat formerly held by Tina Kotek, the former speaker now running for governor. Travis Nelson, a registered nurse who now works full time as a union representative with the Oregon Nurses Association, won the appointment and is running for election with the full backing of FuturePAC, the political action committee for House Democrats.

No Republicans are running for the seat. Candidates from minor parties have later filing deadlines.

Delehoy told supporters Monday evening that he realized over the weekend that he couldnt compete with Nelsons structural advantages.

We knew this would be a difficult race when we entered, yet we took that challenge because we believed strongly that people in our district are suffering and that they deserve more than they are currently getting, Delehoy wrote on Facebook.

Its unusual, though not unheard of, for candidates to drop out but remain on the ballot. Oregons late presidential primaries meant Democrats in 2020 and Republicans in 2016 cast ballots for candidates who dropped out before Oregonians had a chance to vote. In 2018, a state House candidate from Bend who ended her campaign in September still received more than 15% of the vote in November.

Delehoys campaign manager, Henry Pratt, said in an email that Delehoy tried to remove himself from the Voters Pamphlet and ballot but was unable to because deadlines passed. Candidates had until March 10 to finalize their Voters Pamphlet statements and March 11 to withdraw.

The campaign has about $40,000 left in its bank account, and Delehoy will pay campaign staff through the May primary.

He plans to write a memoir about his campaign experience.

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Portland Democrat drops out of House race, still will appear on ballot Oregon Capital Chronicle - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Democrats efforts to combat inflation are stuck in limbo because of internal divisions over a range of proposals aimed at lowering the cost of gas, health care and child care.

The latest idea that some Democrats are rallying around is a proposed tax on the windfall profits of major oil companies that would raise an estimated $45 billion to be returned to consumers in the form of energy rebates.

Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerA movement is underway to ban lawmakers from trading stocks in office Biden signs .5 trillion government funding bill with Ukraine aid Bottom line MORE (D-N.Y.) highlighted oil companies profits on the Senate floor Thursday and announced that oil and gas company executives will be called to testify about why they are buying back stocks instead of keeping prices lower for average Americans.

It is nothing short of repugnant for oil companies to be touting what are truly dizzying profit margins, while soaking American families with these exorbitant prices, Schumer said.

But Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe ManchinJoe ManchinEnergy & Environment Ruling blocking climate accounting metric halted GOP pushes to add Russian oil ban into trade bill The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - What now after Zelensky's speech? MORE (W.Va.), the biggest swing vote in the Democratic caucus, isnt yet sold on the idea, and Republicans say they think theres little chance hed vote "yes."

Manchin told The Hill Thursday that he wants to have a hearing on the idea to find out the facts.

Other key Democrats, such as Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom CarperThomas (Tom) Richard CarperLobbying world Democrats divided over proposal to suspend federal gas tax Graham signals he's a likely 'no' on Biden SCOTUS pick MORE (Del.) and Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria CantwellMaria Elaine CantwellTech advocates criticize FCC nomination delays Democrats hit limits with Lujn's absence Hillicon Valley Presented by Cisco Media industry divided over Big Tech bill MORE (Wash.), havent taken a position on the proposal either.

Even if the measure, which is sponsored by Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseGas prices lead to tensions within Democratic Party Senate unanimously approves making daylight saving time permanent Carole King to discuss forest fires before Oversight subcommittee MORE (D-R.I.), got the support of all 50 members of the Democratic caucus, it has no chance of getting 10 Republicans to overcome a filibuster, and theres been no serious talk of putting it in a budget reconciliation package to circumvent GOP opposition.

Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiSenate panel advances Biden Fed nominees to confirmation votes Biden signs reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - All eyes on Zelensky today MORE (Alaska), the ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, predicted not a single Republican would vote for the move and questioned whether even Manchin would back it.

I cant see any Republican supporting it. I dont see that it gets any traction and for lots of good reasons. If you want to send a positive signal to producers that they might want to be doing more, the worst thing you can do is threaten them with a windfall tax, she said.

Manchin told The Hill that hes more interested in spurring oil producers to bring more product to market.

I just want people to produce the products we need to get us through this crisis, he said.

Another proposal to soften the impact of rising gas prices suspending the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax until next January has also divided Democratic senators.

The idea is spearheaded by two vulnerable Democrats facing tough reelection races, Sens. Mark KellyMark KellyMark Kelly says White House should characterize Putin as a war criminal Senate votes to nix mask mandate for public transportation Bipartisan group of senators press Mayorkas on US readiness for Russian cyberthreat MORE (Ariz.) and Maggie HassanMargaret (Maggie) HassanSenate votes to nix mask mandate for public transportation Democrats divided over proposal to suspend federal gas tax Equilibrium/Sustainability Biden presses ahead, bans energy imports MORE (N.H.), but its getting pushback from colleagues who are worried about cutting off a key source of revenue for the Highway Trust Fund.

We have for as long as I can remember ... embraced the principle that those who use roads, highways and bridges have an opportunity to help pay for them. We are not even coming close to paying for the roads, highways and bridges that we need, Carper told The Hill last week.

Other members of the Democratic caucus such as Sen. Angus KingAngus KingBipartisan group of senators press Mayorkas on US readiness for Russian cyberthreat Democrats divided over proposal to suspend federal gas tax Live coverage - Zelensky thinks Russia will talk; 6,000 Russian troops dead MORE (I-Maine) havent taken a position yet on the gas tax holiday but wonder aloud how to replace lost revenue to fund highways and bridges after Congress passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package last year.

Democrats also remain divided over the core elements of President BidenJoe BidenRepublican senators introduce bill to ban Russian uranium imports Energy & Environment Ruling blocking climate accounting metric halted Fauci says officials need more than .5B for COVID-19 response MOREs Build Back Better agenda, which the White House argues would help fight inflation by lowering families costs.

Biden told lawmakers during his first State of the Union address: I have a better plan to fight inflation. Lower your costs, not your wages.

The president called on Congress to make permanent the subsidies for health care premiums Congress enacted last year through the American Rescue Plan and enact proposals to fight climate change that he said would cut energy costs for families by an average of $500 a year.

He also called for federal subsidies to cut the cost of child care and access to pre-kindergarten for every 3- and 4-year-old.

All of these will lower costs, Biden declared.

But Manchin walked away from the speech unconvinced.

Ive never found out that you can lower costs by spending more, he said.

The following day, Manchin sketched out a proposal to build a package around tax reform, prescription drug reform and a group of measures to combat climate change. He left out expanded child care, home health care for seniors and the disabled, the child tax credit and other social spending initiatives.

Manchin also proposed setting aside half the revenue raised from tax reform and prescription drug reform to reduce the deficit and fight inflation.

More liberal Democrats would be happy to spend that money to fight inflation if it means spending it on programs to reduce families costs, but theres not much appetite for paying down the debt when they have a list of higher social spending priorities.

Senate Democrats acknowledge their internal divisions over how to combat inflation, but they argue that at least theyre putting forward ideas and criticize Republicans for just complaining about rising prices from the sidelines.

While many on the other side of the aisle have spent a lot of time giving floor speeches and presenting floor charts about rising costs, where are their actual proposals? We dont hear what they do to solve the problems, Schumer said last month.

Republicans should step up and say what their plan is to fight inflation, not just pointing fingers, he added.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP talking point could turn to Biden's 'underwhelming' Russia response The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - What now after Zelensky's speech? Capito to make Senate GOP leadership bid MORE (R-Ky.) has told colleagues he wont release a legislative agenda before the midterm elections outlining what Republicans would do if they won back control of the Senate.

Republicans have since responded by calling for more access to oil and gas drilling on public lands, reauthorizing the Keystone XL pipeline and other proposals to spur domestic energy production and reduce fuel costs.

Were producing 1.4 million barrels [of oil] less a day than we were right before the pandemic, Sen. John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoRepublican senators introduce bill to ban Russian uranium imports Capito to make Senate GOP leadership bid Manchin delays vote on Interior nominee, citing energy crisis MORE (R-Wyo.) told reporters Tuesday.

One inflation-fighting idea that Democrats are completely unified behind is the proposal negotiated last year to reduce the cost of many prescription drugs. The deal would cap out-of-pocket drug expenses for seniors at $2,000 and set a cap on the price of insulin at $35 a month.

It would also give the government limited authority under Medicare to negotiate lower prices for the 10 most expensive drugs.

Democrats, however, havent decided whether they will stick with that deal or try to craft something more expansive to give the federal government more power to drive down drug costs.

Manchin this month proposed modeling Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug programs on the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The organization that does the best job is the VA, the veterans administration gets some of the lowest prices. Maybe we should look at them, he told reporters after Bidens speech.

The prescription drug proposal remains stalled as Democrats debate whether it should be broadened and the strategy for passing it.

At last weeks Senate Democratic retreat, members discussed moving the proposal under regular order in an attempt to secure 10 Republican votes to get past a filibuster.

The other option would be to move it under the special budget reconciliation rules, which allow the majority party to pass major legislation with 51 votes. But the problem with this path is theres no consensus among Democrats about what else to include in the reconciliation package.

Progressives such as Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairwoman Patty MurrayPatricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayOvernight Health Care White House steps up COVID money warnings Senate panel advances pandemic preparedness bill on bipartisan vote Five COVID-19 challenges on the two-year anniversary of the pandemic MORE (D-Wash.) say they're not giving up on including legislation to expand access to child care in the reconciliation bill.

I still think that child care is one of the most critical things we can do to help people lower their costs and take a barrier away so they can go back to work and help our economy, she said.

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Democrats divided over how to deal with rising inflation | TheHill - The Hill