Congressman Dusty Johnson has joined his new theocratic Speaker Mike Johnson in declaring that protecting the rich from paying taxes is a bigger priority than helping our allies fight terrorism and tyranny. Yesterday he voted for the standalone GOP House bill to fund $14.3 billion in aid to Israel but only on the condition that we gut funding for the Internal Revenue Service:
The 14-page bill, one of the first major tests for newly elected GOP Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, doesn’t include additional funding for Ukraine, Taiwan or the U.S. Southern border — all of which the Biden administration requested last month.
…Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, voted in favor of the measure.
The House GOP proposed paying for the new spending for Israel by cutting an equal amount of funding for the Internal Revenue Service that Democrats included in their signature climate change and health care package in 2022 [Jennifer Shutt, “SD’s Johnson Votes Yes as House Pushes Through Israel-Only Aid Bill,” South Dakota Searchlight, 2023.11.02].
Sure, Dusty. Never mind that Ukraine is still fighting a Russia that would love to NATO give him a free hand to re-expand the Russian empire. Never mind that the President’s proposal to spend $105 billion to address clear and present threats to democracy and global stability would fulfill America’s role as the indispensable nation, avert more costly U.S. interventions in a grim future of a subjugated Ukraine and besieged Israel, and stimulate the U.S. economy. And never mind that pulling money from the IRS will actually cost us money:
We’d still spending the $14.3 billion in the bill Dusty voted for. But without that funding in its budget, the IRS will pull in $26.8 billion less in taxes.
Those figures indicate every dollar we spend on IRS enforcement returns $1.87 to the federal coffers. And as economic analyst Steven Rattner points out, every dollar spent to audit the richest Americans produces more than $3 to the public good.
But such are the priorities of Dusty Johnson and his Republican Party. Don’t lift a finger to fight Putin’s invading army, don’t fight radical Islamic terrorism without some unrelated domestic political grandstanding, and grandstand in ways that end up increasing the national debt.
Nick Tilsen for US House!
Considering the ridiculous $33 Trillion of debt, these are tiny numbers, IRS agents or not. This is a political stunt with no material affect on the financial state of things.
IDF frag count: ~9000
Hamas frag count: ~1500
Cory: “And never mind that pulling money from the IRS will actually cost us money:” Therin lies the rub: the “us” in that sentence. Rep Johnson and the rest of the GOP believe that it will save “us” (their us) by reducing the tax burden they face. Rather than cut rates again, the GOP knows that undermining the ability to enforce the collection of taxes — a de facto tax cut for the wealthy. Abortion, marriage definitions, crime, border security all are great GOP promises and bumper stickers, but cutting taxes is where the GOP get work accomplished!
Reduction in the IRS enforcement force coupled with the co-generated increase in the need to borrow (via treasury bonds) is actually a DOUBLE bonus to the wealthy investor class cheats. They can use the now tax free $$ from lack of enforcement to purchase interest-bearing treasury bonds to replace the taxes they are no longer being made to pay up front.
Greasy Johnson shows his true colors. Always watch what Slick Johnson does, never what he says.
Slick Johnson cares not a wit about the national debt or deficit — until there is a democrat in the White House. Greasy Johnson cares not a wit about bipartisanship, or acting like a statesman.
Then, like clock work, after they “starve the beast,” the GOP will come around for another rash of budget cuts (for the neediest).
Since johnson is of the belief that wealthy people will pay all taxes owed on the honor system,perhaps he should introduce
a bill to give all wage earners the same privilege by eliminating W2’s and 1099’s.
I smell a taxcut for the rich. What else ya gonna do with this squishy johnson extra saved money. What would the red sparrow Butina do with that money? Oh yeah, give it to their boss Putin
It never ceases to amaze me that the one things Republicans alway come back to is related idea of cutting taxes for the wealthy and at the same time curbing the ability of the same government they profess to support to actually collect the taxes needed to make the government operate more efficiently. I wonder who buys their argument but many Americans actually do. If the GOP ever manages to control the Senate, House, and White House, taxes will be cut and the national debt will continue to balloon.
“Step back far enough, and you can see exactly what is driving so much geopolitics today. Ukraine is trying to join the West. Israel is trying to join a new Middle East. And Russia and Iran have teamed up to try to block both.
Unfortunately, the new G.O.P. House Speaker, Mike Johnson, is either too inexperienced or too ideological (or both) to this (or to care). . . .
He’s conditioned even the $14.3 billion the administration wants to send Israel on President Biden agreeing to strip the same amount of funds from the Internal Revenue Service so it could better collect taxes from cheaters. (. . . Do not go along with that game. Next time, aid for Israel will be tied to extreme G.O. P. positions on abortion or guns.)” . . .
“More guns, more butter, no taxes and two fronts. If it sounds like an utter incoherent worldview that would undermine the American global leadership that has shaped a world we’ve thrived in fr the the past century, it’s because it is. And if it feels as if House G.O.P. Leaders are small thinkers in a big time, it’s because they are. They are shameless, shameful, and dangerous.” – Thomas Friedman, NYT (paywall sometimes) https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/opinion/israel-gaza-hamas.html
Friedman may as well be writing about SD’s Small (dusty) Johnson.
12 dems voted for it too.
nice try sx123. most of these are Jewish reps.
When asked the question of why not raising taxes on the wealthy would counteract the deficit, Dusty claimed in a townhall phone call last night that the wealthy pay more income tax than all the lower and middle class citizens, and the wealthy should not be taxed anymore. What a clown.
Squishy johnson should at least explain how cutting the IRS would help Israel. Seems like he should be able to defend that question.
Dusty ain’t using his smarts. No humanitarian aid in the Republican Plan for the people in Gaza, who will be starving. If you want to create more terrorism, just make sure you starve people and kill their children. We’ll soon find out how fast they will pick up a gun and aim at Americans. There’s problems with Biden, too. He leaned a bit too much toward the Israeli side. It’s understandable, given the horrendous slaughter that Hamas orchestrated, that Israel would want to clean out Hamas. I’d support that if it could be done without a slaughter of innocents on the other side, but that is not happening.
Of course, Dusty follows Putin’s orders on Ukraine aid. Not surprising that the Russian-aligned party in the US would seek to hobble freedom-loving people trying to maintain their country against Putin’s aggression.
He didn’t just VOTE for it. He’s bragging about CO-SPONSORING it in his latest email/newspaper column blast he calls “The Big Three.” I quote: “I was proud to co-sponsor the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act which provides $14.3 billion to provide military assistance to Israel and funding for the protection of U.S. personnel … I will continue to support Israel in its fight against Hamas and this is one step in the right direction.”
I find it telling that he chose NOT to brag about the IRS budget cut in his column. Could it be that he respects his voters too much to brag about voting to let wealthy people decide how much tax they feel like paying this year?
Ms. Wismer, there are some who miss your bitterness in the legislatures. You should run again, please.
Hi, Representative Wismer. The thing that calls itself grudznick is a Rapid City Earth hater whose despicable manners are the result of horrendous parenting.
Congressman Johnson has, once again, voted “yea” for a ridiculous Trumpist legislative swap for doctrinaire, political reasons. It does not strengthen this country in any way to gut the IRS. We ALL should pay our share. This proposed law only rewards the tax protesters and tax cheats. Congressman Johnson, who seems to have the potential to be a real legislative leader has become a Trumpist plodder in the Republican ranks.
CK: ” . . . Dusty claimed in a townhall phone call last night that the wealthy pay more income tax than all the lower and middle class citizens . . .” I suppose Rep Johnson is correct, but only because the GOP has ushered in an era of wealth inequality that has but the vast majority of the wealth of the US into the pockets of very few. In proportion to their holdings, affluence, and comfort, the wealthy pay no where near their fair share. Being a billionaire should be a crime. The income redistribution schemes of the GOP should also be criminal.
I wonder if the Johnson’s, Dirty and Dirtier, know that the shutdown they’re wanting will have a negative effect on agriculture and all who are involved with that industry. Maybe it doesn’t matter to them. maga trumpers hate farmers, ranchers and old folks almost equally, unless they are wealthy and ignore the grift.
MAGA love using farmers, ranchers, and old folks as tools to fear monger the “death tax” to. Without those groups thinking all of their estate will be lost to taxation upon their demise and staying active opposing estate taxation, MAGA billionaires cannot continue their inherited dynasties. MAGA retains the ‘murican monarchy through the tax code.
Dems and Repubs attach unrelated things to major bills all the time. Not sure why Johnson is getting dragged through the mud here. None of this behavior is new to either side and is frankly par for the course.
You see, if it gets to Biden (it won’t), he now has a delima. Veto and he’s against Israel. Sign it, and there goes some of the IRS.
Basic politicking here.
Here are the 12 dems that voted for the bill.
Jerry, if these 12 are mostly Jewish reps as you say, it makes sense that they voted for it. They probably expect a modified version to come out of the Senate. These 12 are the smart ones.
In the meantime though, the headlines will make it seem that most dem house representatives are against Israel… It was not smart to vote against the bill. Think, think, think!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/house/4291422-these-12-democrats-bucked-their-party-to-support-gops-israel-aid-bill/amp/
Ms. Wismer, pay no attention to my good friend Lar. He has been pining for you for some decade or more and is bitter hisownself because it is well known you are smitten with grudznick instead.
So, not running someone, anyone, against Republican At-large US Representative Howdy Doody Dusty Johnson in 2020 and again in 2022 are more embarrassments for the South Dakota Democratic Party who hasn’t won a statewide race since 2008. Johnson has never stopped raising money so the SDDP needs to hound the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for cash and start running opposition ads on every commercial radio station in South Dakota. My party can recruit some respected Democrats to record radio spots then bombard the airwaves paving the way to 2024.
Johnson needs to be held accountable for coddling a would be dictator and building a war chest on the Big Lie, for his failures to support Medicaid, for voting against marriage, for not moving on immigration reform and for his culpability in driving talent from South Dakota. But he certainly knows which side of his bread gets buttered so the extreme white wing of the Republican Party owns him lock, stock and schlock. Johnson went from being a likable moderate to becoming just another tool of the oligarchs who hoard trillions in South Dakota’s banks and trusts because, hey, that’s where the money is. When a handful of Republicans need socialized freight rail to ship subsidized grain Howdy Doody Dusty is all aboard but when thousands need passenger rail he’s ambivalent then votes against the Earth and for the Trump agenda without remorse.
The thing, grudznick is done with Herr Trump yet supports Dusty Johnson who caved when Mike Pence was slated for a public hanging.
I will buy tickets to watch Dusty and Marty kick the ever loving sh!t out of each other in any primary.
f*ck off grdz. @14:35
Wismer called it right on our Republican state’s secret trust industry. She now sees a flake in Dusty and calls him out. We are lucky to have ethical, competent political leaders like Wismer and Biden, at this time of Republican tumult.
Note that that insanity that Dusty is collaborating with, because apparently he can’t think for himself, comes in the midst of a world slide perhaps into WWIII, thanks to Putin (and even Erickson and Butina). Twitter techie John Scott-Railton@jsrailton WARNS us all:
“Apple’s threat notifications turbocharged our research into mercenary spyware.
And they are a blinking red light that a government is likely trying to get up to something on your phone.”
I have never received a threat notice on my iPhone until yesterday. Chaos is the order of the Republican Party. Out of pure hate, our daily anonymous Republican (likely this guy, I can’t remember his name, oh, David Sanborn, a newsie or ad guy of some kind perhaps in RC or up in Sturgis or Spearfish), out of NO sense of rationality, only partisianism, attacks our former candidate for governor. Mind you, if HRC would have been elected* most of the crisis, cost and loss of lives, in this country, and many places in the violent world, would not likely have occurred. Similarly, if she or our cowboy candidate, would have won their Democratic gubernatorial elections (and Billy very nearly did), things may have been a bit more livable in SD. Instead we have decisions made by Kristi, John, Mike and Dusty, which do not benefit ordinary South Dakotans.
In women of good conscience, is the voice of reason.
*there’s this little thing that Putin interfered in the 2016 election and Trump won.
yeah, this Kansan, or whatever he is, or is named. Mike, i guess.
I’d presumed Dusty had gone thru Puberty and had grown a pair.
Unfortunately Dusty if he had a pair checked them in to the Republican storage locker and he doesn’t doesn’t have the key.
Simple business says your business has more income when you have more employees.
Guess ideology is more important than reality.
sx123, clearly there is a typo in the link you posted, the word “bucked’-their-party”, should have had an F instead of the b. If you put that F instead of the b in bucked, you get what they not only did to their party, but also what they did to Ukraine for their puppet master Putin. I for one, have never implied that loving Putin and the rest of the oligarchs, did not cross party lines. It’s just that republicans are clearly the majority of authoritarian loving putin. I’m quite sure that these 12 cried all the way to the bank.
Larry, a similar scenario of the big-two scorched earthing each other was what “rocketed” third place Rounds to the Governor and Senate.
Big egos have replaced statesmanship, for sure.
I want to see 1 comment about children that got killed by our Tax $$$,
Blood on his hands. Free Palestine
I am against sending Israel any money for defense at this point. They are well beyond the defense phase and are in full out berserker mode.
At what point is enough enough and we start defending Palestinian children?
What sx123 said, is I.
Until Howdy Doody Dusty denounces despicable Donald his diffidence defines his dopiness.
Sure: Free Gaza by eradicating Hamas and liberating Gazans from the rule of radical Islamic terrorists who bring death and destruction to their land.
But remember the main point: freeing Gaza and Israel from Islamic terrorism and freeing Ukraine from Russian tyranny are both in the United States’ interest and are both far more important than Dusty’s fiscally counterproductive grandstanding against the IRS.
Howdy Doody Dusty gets loads of cash from those who have reasons to hide from the IRS.
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00040559&cycle=2024&type=C
Israel predicts war with Gaza will cost 50 billion. I’m guessing the costs will run at least 10x higher, just for starters.
e platypus onion, even worse, now that we have a Democrat president, those costs will have to be paid — not just put “off budget” like GWB did in Afghanistan and Iraq.
You are likely right, O.