Thom's blog
How could Democrats vote for the "Cromnibus"???
Last night, with only hours to go before the government shut down, the House of Representatives passed the so-called “Cromnibus” bill to keep government running. As usual, Republicans used the looming deadline to force through massive cuts and more deregulation. And, once again, far to many Democrats went along with the Republican hostage-taking.
The $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill passed in a 219-to-206 vote, with 57 Democrats voting to approve the budget – despite its disastrous provisions. Thanks to the new legislation, the IRS and EPA budgets have been slashed and the Pell Grant program was hit with $300 million in cuts. Pension guarantees for retired workers have been gutted, and programs like HUD and Section 8 were denied nearly a billion dollars of their requested funding.
In stark contrast, those cuts didn't prevent billions in new spending for military operations, or stop Wall Street from getting taxpayer-backed protections for the same high-risk derivatives that crashed our economy. And, as if that wasn't enough, a rider in the bill made it possible for billionaires to give ten-times more money to political parties, and for the rich to have even more power in our political system.
Despite all these facts – and the many more that are sure to be uncovered – 57 Democrats refused to stand with their Progressive colleagues and stand up to Republicans. This is what happens when lawmakers answer only to those at the top, and that's not limited to those on the Right. This legislation is a slap in the poor and the working class, and a big holiday gift to Wall Street and military contractors.
Every time Democrats give in to this type of legislation, they set themselves up for the next round of Republican demands. It's time to let them know that we've had enough. We've got two years to make it clear that we want lawmakers who will stand up to the hostage taking at all costs, so let's get busy making our voices heard.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Conversations with Great Minds - Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst
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Friday's Daily Stack
Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joins Thom with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too... Follow Bernie: campaign site.
Book: Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America by Bertram Gross.
Hour Two: Anything Goes Friday
Article: " 14th Amendment, July 9, 1868 (citizenship, representatives, public debt)
Hour Three: Anything Goes Friday
Quote: " All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - attributed to Edmund Burke.
Why it's time for a Basic Income for All- Mathew Schmid and Leila Conners, Total Freedom
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Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET
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Thom's Poll
Should CIA Director Brennan resign over the "Torture Report?"
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Is the Koch Brothers' Curriculum Coming to Your Kids School?
Is Basic Income Total Freedom?
Torture Report…What’s Next?
Has A Democratic Party's Populist Moment Finally Arrived?
The Good - The Bad - and the Very Incruentally Ugly
Crazy Alert - Package Theft Revenge!
Geeky Science: Can We Prevent a Superbug Apocalypse?
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 12/11/14: Budget Bill Blasphemy and CIA’s Brennan Finally Speaks
Tonight Thom spoke with Mike Papantonio, America's Lawyer and Host-Ring of Fire Radio about the pork-filled budget bill and how Wall St. lobbyists are again setting the country up for collapse. Shahid Buttar, Executive Director-Bill of Rights Defense Committee & the People's Campaign for the Constitution (PCC) talks about CIA Director John Brennan’s torture press conference, who to blame and what should be done to them. Mathew Schmid, Producer and writer at Tree Media and Director of the forthcoming film, Total Freedom , talks about the film and the need for basic income standards in America.
Thom gives his Daily Take on the Koch brothers’ North Carolina textbook overreach, plus “The Good, The Bad, and The Very Very Ugly”, “Your Take My Take Live”, “Geeky Science”.
Brunch With Bernie - December 12, 2014
Dick Cavett Talks About Nixon and his New Book...
Sheriff Richard Mack Stops by the Studio
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