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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#327551: Sep 18th 2020 at 2:51:28 AM

Though the comments have moved a bit past history education now; a dedicated thread might be better.


New Jersey is getting a "millionaire tax". Article from Politico

More than three years after first promising to raise taxes on New Jersey's millionaires - an issue that helped sour his relationship with the Legislature and nearly led to a state government shutdown - Gov. Phil Murphy is about to get his wish.

It just took a pandemic that has sickened roughly 200,000 New Jerseyans, killed about 16,000, put more than 1 million out of work - as well as a compromise to send most of the revenue that will be generated from the tax back to residents of more modest means.


The proposal, which is now all but certain to pass the Democrat-controlled Legislature as part of a nine-month revised state budget, would increase the tax rate on income of more than $1 million from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent - matching the tax rate paid on income of over $5 million. The tax is expected to raise about $390 million.


Murphy and Sweeney credited Coughlin with the idea of a $500 rebate for hundreds of thousands of New Jersey families whose single-parent incomes are less than $75,000, or $150,000 for two-parent households. It's not clear how much that would cost the state, but it would likely be close to the amount raised by the millionaire's tax.


The millionaire's tax isn't the only tax increase the leaders have agreed on. POLITICO reported earlier Thursday that they've agreed to reinstate a 2.5 percent corporate surtax as the current 1.5 percent surtax was scheduled to phase out.


Edit: FiveThirtyEight has dropped their Senate forecast, putting Democrats' chances of winning the Senate between 58-68%, with a mode outcome of 50-51 seats (There are multiple models that you can click through.)

Edited by nova92 on Sep 18th 2020 at 4:13:48 AM

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#327552: Sep 18th 2020 at 6:36:24 AM

Sorry for the double post, but I found something very interesting: Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel $50,000 in student debt. Article from The Hill

The measure introduced by Warren and Schumer Thursday calls on the president to take executive action to cancel up to $50,000 in federal student debt for every borrower in the United States, which would wipe out the student debt obligations for more than three-quarters of Americans who owe them.
Schumer said the plan would protect student loan borrowers from having to pay taxes on forgiven loans.

"The president can use the IRS code to ensure federal student loan borrowers won't have tax liabilities resulting from administrative debt cancellation," he said.


The sponsors say it could be done through administrative action alone and would not require an appropriation of money from Congress.

The full resolution is here.

Edited by nova92 on Sep 18th 2020 at 6:43:15 AM

ciyinwanderer Since: Dec, 2018
#327553: Sep 18th 2020 at 6:40:28 AM

By the time that goes into effect, I'll only have about 15k of my original 68k in student loans... but even getting that much wiped would make life so much easier for the next couple years.

This signature was thumped to preserve the dignity of the moderators.
ShadowWingLG Since: Dec, 2013
#327554: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:06:49 AM

That would wipe out most if not ALL of my roommates loans as well. Something she would be ecstatic about.

GoldenKaos Captain of the Dead City from Cirith Ungol Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Captain of the Dead City
#327555: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:18:09 AM

How impartial are the Secret Service again? Arguing with idiots on Twitter who claim Trump can't be voted out of office (don't ask) and I'm pretty sure the Secret Service wouldn't take his side if he tried to stay, but it's been a while since I intook any info on them, so just double-checking.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
ShadowWingLG Since: Dec, 2013
#327556: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:26:07 AM

Impartial with a side of 'Hate his guts' given that he refuses to use safer, more secure locations in favor of his personal holdings/resorts when he leaves DC and rather than comping the Secret Service for the additional room/board/food and other needs of the Security staff pretty much charges them full price/rent. Which has blown the budget out of the water.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#327557: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:27:56 AM

There's also been reports that Trump and his family tend to not ascribe to Nice to the Waiter

Also now I'm curious on why he can't be voted out

Edited by 3of4 on Sep 18th 2020 at 4:28:35 PM

"You can reply to this Message!"
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#327558: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:28:22 AM

From yesterday's WTFJHT

Trump’s businesses have charged the Secret Service more than $1.1 million in private transactions since he took office, including rentals at the Bedminster, N.J., club that was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-spending-bedminster/2020/09/17/9e11e1c2-f6a0-11ea-be57-d00bb9bc632d_story.html

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#327559: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:32:52 AM

Once again I find myself feeling sorry for the Secret Service. Imagine being expected to be willing to take a bullet for Donald Trump of all people.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#327560: Sep 18th 2020 at 7:59:24 AM

You don't need to feel sorry, it's their job, and they're being paid for it. They are not being asked to like the president, their job is to protect any president, no matter who it is.

It is a sign of professionalism to do your job no matter what you think of your boss.

On another note, I was thinking, with so much pre-election voting going on anyway, why don't they just extend election day to several days, if doing it in just one is such a big obstacle?

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#327561: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:05:19 AM

I think the Constitution specifies when Election Day is held and the party currently in power has no incentive to offer anything that makes voting easier.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#327562: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:18:37 AM

[up][up] It might be professional, but it's never a good thing if your grave can read "Died for people that hate their guts".

TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#327563: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:20:38 AM

Especially considering how the "man" they're supposed to protect has been caught, on tape, telling America how he thinks brave souls who ends up sacrificing themselves for the greater good, "Suckers and Losers"...

Says all one need to know how he sees the security force assigned to protect him...

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#327564: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:21:57 AM

So what are you suggesting, that they don't do their jobs?

Trump, as the president, has the right to have his life protected, regardless of what he thinks of the secret service. And I'm sure those secret service members can cope with that. Otherwise they wouldn't have the job.

Edited by Redmess on Sep 18th 2020 at 5:23:41 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#327565: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:22:06 AM

Also, going "it's their job" when people's lives and work being actively made more difficult and dangerous than necessary strikes me as something we wouldn't be saying in most other circumstances.

Edited by LSBK on Sep 18th 2020 at 10:23:58 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#327566: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:22:31 AM

That we can feel things for someone without doing something...?

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#327567: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:22:36 AM

No, but it's okay to feel sorry for them for having to perform their jobs on Trump's behalf.

PointMaid Since: Jun, 2014
#327568: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:22:44 AM

The additional pre-election voting so far for this election cycle is (mostly?) absentee ballots (And only as of yet in a few states, I think? Others will probably send out their absentee ballots soon.), meaning no-contact so people who wouldn't feel ok going to a physical polling place while a pandemic is on can still vote. Added time for physical voting wouldn't help that much (except to reduce crowding, I imagine).

But in any case, the above is correct — Republican controlled states/districts in particular have little incentive to make sure everyone can vote/ is comfortable voting, which is why it's been unaddressed for quite some time, despite every election there being reports of areas with lines making it hard for people to vote and Tuesday day voting being hard on many working people.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#327569: Sep 18th 2020 at 8:25:10 AM

I mean more in general, since the US seems to systematically have issues with overcrowded polling places.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#327570: Sep 18th 2020 at 9:30:06 AM

I think that's what the various early voting procedures already in place for several states are for, which has gone up significantly over the past 20 years (7% of all presidential election votes in 1992, 36.6% in 2016).

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#327571: Sep 18th 2020 at 9:52:53 AM

How impartial are the Secret Service again? Arguing with idiots on Twitter who claim Trump can't be voted out of office (don't ask) and I'm pretty sure the Secret Service wouldn't take his side if he tried to stay, but it's been a while since I intook any info on them, so just double-checking.

They're quite professional, their loyalty has always been to the office of the Presidency instead of any one President. And even if they weren't, he hasn't been paying them which hardly encourages loyalty.

If Trump refuses to leave then either them or US marshalls would escort him out.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
astrokitty Happiness is a cup of tea from Somewhere Out There Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Happiness is a cup of tea
#327572: Sep 18th 2020 at 10:03:07 AM

"US Department of Commerce Prohibits TikTok and WeChat Transactions to Protect 'National Security'."

Basically, all app stores are required to remove Tik Tok and We Chat from their listings by September 20th, preventing future downloads. Phones that already downloaded the apps will still have them, but the apps won't receive any updates.

Edited by astrokitty on Sep 18th 2020 at 1:05:57 PM

Somebody once told me the world was macaroni, I took a bite out of a tree
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#327573: Sep 18th 2020 at 10:05:05 AM

> If Trump refuses to leave then either them or US marshalls would escort him out.

I'm picturing Trump being like "I'm not leaving!" and then suddenly he's teleported outside the White House gates with his bags packed while he watches Biden enter the white house

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#327574: Sep 18th 2020 at 10:08:22 AM

[up][up]As someone who plays Fate Grand Order on the NA Servers because its not out in the EU, this won't stop people. the APK's will just show up on alternative sources.

"You can reply to this Message!"
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#327575: Sep 18th 2020 at 10:11:24 AM

I mean, it's not like you couldn't download it elsewhere. I'm not entirely sure what this ban is supposed to do exactly, in practice.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times

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