Mediaboss Marketing

U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a package of more than $80 billion in tax cuts, killing for now a measure that would provide incentives for corporate research and wind energy.

Todays vote on advancing the bill was 53-40, short of the 60 needed to move forward, as Republicans complained about being blocked from offering amendments.

The vote cast doubt on the future of dozens of tax breaks, many of which have bipartisan support and are caught up in a partisan feud. The bills author, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, said after the vote that he would try to talk with Republicans on potential changes and bring it back as soon as next week.

No matter the excuse, Republicans continue to wage war on common sense, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

Opinion: Tax Reform Is Not a Fantasy

The bill would revive more than 50 tax breaks that lapsed Dec. 31 and extend them through 2015. They include the research and development tax credit, the production tax credit for wind energy and a provision that lets companies such as Citigroup Inc. and Caterpillar Inc. defer U.S. taxes on overseas financing operations.

The measure emerged from the Finance Committee on a bipartisan voice vote last month. Even that agreement on the merits of the legislation wasnt enough to overcome the procedural feud on the Senate floor.

One Republican, Mark Kirk of Illinois, voted with Democrats. Reid voted with Republicans to preserve his right to bring the bill up again. Seven senators were absent.

I am going to do my very best in a bipartisan way with Senator Wyden to work out this impasse, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, the Finance Committees top Republican, said in a floor speech. Any agreement will have to allow both sides to offer amendments, he said.

This is a bill that virtually everybody in this body wants, to a more or less degree, Hatch said.

The rest is here:
Republicans Block Tax-Cut Bill, Leaving Breaks in Limbo

Updated: 05/15/2014 8:20 PM Created: 05/15/2014 5:56 PM WNYT.com By: Dan Bazile

RYE BROOK - State Republicans made it official on Thursday, picking Rob Astorino as their nominee to face Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo in the fall.

Republicans here say they understand it's not going to be easy. They feel it's going to be an uphill battle come November when they take on Cuomo. However, they say as their slogan says -- it's our time.

I proudly, emphatically, unconditionally, and enthusiastically accept your nomination for governor of the State of New York, said Astorino, as he accepted the nomination.

Astorino's running mate, Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss, also got the nod on Thursday. Both men came on stage with their families, energizing the crowd of delegates and party faithfuls at the Hilton.

The last time a Republican won statewide election was in 2002 with former Governor George Pataki.

They're about to take on Cuomo, just finishing up his first term in office, a huge lead in the polls and more than $30 million in campaign cash.

It's just going to take a concerted effort, people getting fired up to say enough is enough and he's gone, said Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R Melrose).

However, Republicans say Cuomo also has some vulnerabilities -- they pointed to his policies on the economy, gun control and the Common Core education standards. Plus they feel they understand a few things about being the underdog.

When I first ran for sheriff in 2005, no one thought we had a chance in the world to win. I was outgunned and outspent by the frontrunner, the establishment candidate, said Lt. Governor candidate Christopher Moss.

Read the original post:
Republicans officially nominate Astorino for governor

This article originally appeared on AlterNet.

The Republicans have their strategy, and theyre sticking to it, even though it involves destroying lives and even killing people.

Its working so well based on a simple statistical reality.

The majority of Americans depending on which survey you look at, between 60 and 75 percent cannot name which political party controls the House of Representatives, which party controls the Senate, or either.

Because most Americans dont know who controls Congress, when Congress misbehaves, as they have been doing for six years, most Americans arent sure who to blame.

Enter the Republican Chaos Strategy, based entirely on this statistical and political reality.

And common sense suggests that well over 90 percent of Americans know that Barack Obama is the president and that he is a Democrat.

The Republicans know this, too, and its the other half of their strategy.

Therefore, what the Republicans know, is that if they can cause damage to the American economy and to American working people, the average voter, not realizing it was exclusively the Republicans who did it, are going to assume that the president and the Democratic Party he is a member of must bear some or maybe even all of the responsibility.

Its a brilliant strategy: Damage the country and you damage the Democratic Party.

Read more:
Republicans deadly political strategy: Ruining our country hurts the Democratic Party

The All Progressives Congress has urged the federal government to immediately stop the discordant tunes emanating from the highest echelons of government and speak with one voice on ongoing efforts to find and rescue the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.

This was contained in a statement by the partys Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Abuja, on Thursday.

According to the party conflicting statements credited to top government officials over the conditions given by Boko Haram for releasing the girls, were totally unwarranted and could send the wrong signal to the insurgents and hinder the efforts to ensure the safe return of the girls.

The party said the government must designate a spokesman, be it the Minister of Information or whoever the government deems fit, to be responsible for daily relaying to the public any relevant information concerning the search for the missing girls, instead of allowing a cacophony of voices on the issue.

The statement read in part: Information management is key if the government itself is not to jeopardize ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls, and the government must move fast to keep the nation informed through an established channel, in line with global best practices under such circumstances.

While Interior Minister Abba Moro and Senate President David Mark have said the government would not negotiate the release of the girls, Information Minister Labaran Maku, Director-General of National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri and Special Duties Minister Taminu Turaki have hinted that the Federal Government will do whatever it takes to free the girls, meaning that all options are on the table.

To compound matters, President Goodluck Jonathan was widely quoted in the local newspapers Thursday as saying the government would not release the incarcerated Boko Haram members in exchange for the girls.

The APC said this kind of utter confusion is a window deep into the inner workings of the federal government as far as this critical issue of finding and freeing the girls is concerned, and it is unfortunate.

This is the kind of befuddlement that has characterized the FGs response to the Boko Haram crisis and led to a sorry pass where a nation widely acclaimed for its global peacekeeping role is now at the receiving end of global efforts to save it from itself, APC said.

Read the original post:
Speak with one voice, APC tells FG

Bill Maher: Liberal Not "Standing Up For Liberals Not Standing Up For Liberalism" Re Islam
Bill Maher: Liberal Not "Standing Up For Liberals Not Standing Up For Liberalism" Re Islam - America #39;s Newsroom =========================================== **Please Click Below to SUBSCRIBE...

By: Mass Tea Party

View original post here:
Bill Maher: Liberal Not "Standing Up For Liberals Not Standing Up For Liberalism" Re Islam - Video