ABC7
– Illinois governor’s race: Biss likens Pritzker to Trump on release of tax returns – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-governors-race-biss-likens-pritzker-to-trump-on-release-of-tax-returns/2645965/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On the Republican side, State Representative Jeanne Ives, who is mounting a primary challenge to Governor Bruce Rauner, is set to have her first big fundraiser with a Chicago Bears connection. Virginia McCaskey, the matriarch of the ownership family, is listed as a $10,000 table host for an Ives fundraiser next Monday.)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey to help Rauner primary opponent Jeanne Ives raise money – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-bears-jeanne-ives-20171114-story.html
— Family finances: Trim your taxes – Sandra Block (DIERSEN: From what I see, outrageously, the more that your itemized deductions have been, the more federal income tax that you will pay under the GOP tax plans. The GOP tax plans discourage homeownership, discourage charitable contributions, discourage taking job-related graduate courses, and punish those who have high medical and dental expenses.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201710261041–tms–kplngmpctnkm-a20171114-20171114-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One final incentive for beefing up your 2017 itemized deductions: If the proposal to double the standard deduction comes to fruition, this could be the last year that you and millions of other taxpayers benefit from itemizing.)
— Digging into Rand Paul’s ‘trivial’ dispute – Virginia Postrel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-neighbors-rand-paul-1114-20171113-story.html
— Are political polls flawed — or do we just misread them? – Margaret Sullivan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-polls-gillespie-northam-trump-1114-20171113-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Analysis says Senate bill would hike taxes for 13.8 million – AP (DIERSEN: From what I see, outrageously, the more that your itemized deductions have been, the more federal income tax that you will pay under the GOP tax plans. The GOP tax plans discourage homeownership, discourage charitable contributions, discourage taking job-related graduate courses, and punish those who have high medical and dental expenses.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171113/news/311139775/
— We have to keep fighting for our home – Bruce Rauner (DIERSEN: What do you fight for? I fight to defend and to advance the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling. Consequently, those who reject the aforesaid fight against me.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171114/bruce-rauner-we-have-to-keep-fighting-for-our-home
— Property tax freeze is politics, not a solution – Steven Strack, Hainesville, President of the Community Consolidated School District 46 Board of Education
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171114/property-tax-freeze-is-politics-not-a-solution
— Tax bill cynical, dishonest and harmful – William S. Hicks, Carpentersville
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171114/tax-bill-cynical-dishonest-and-harmful
(FROM THE LETTER: First, the elimination of deductions for state income tax will place an enormous political burden on state and local taxing bodies, especially with the recent state income tax increase. Illinois’ financial crisis may significantly worsen if there are efforts to roll back that increase. At a time when schools and municipalities are struggling to meet their budgets, the public will be clamoring for them to do with even less. Similarly, the cap on mortgage interest and property tax deductions will have a smothering effect on Illinois real estate, especially for those who own homes in areas that are heavily taxed, or where home values have dramatically increased. Retirees who have lived in the same home for decades may suddenly discover that their property is much less desirable to prospective buyers. There is also the sobering reality that this bill will add $1.5 trillion to the national debt over the next ten years, and in spite of the fuzzy math that supporters are using to sell this bill, it still flies in the face of the rhetoric Republican lawmakers have been spouting for the past decade. The bill is cynical, dishonest, and harmful to the citizens of Illinois. As President Trump is fond of saying, “Somebody oughta do something.”)
— Metra must do more to show it has hold on the future – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171113/editorial-metra-must-do-more-to-show-it-has-hold-on-the-future
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Looking to sue a law firm for discrimination? Good luck. – CLAIRE BUSHEY (DIERSEN: One could also ask “Looking to sue the federal government for political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation?” and say “Good luck.”)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171110/ISSUE01/171119985
— Why more employers are saying a two-year degree will do – LISA BERTAGNOLI (DIERSEN: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171110/ISSUE01/171119986
TIMES
— Kinzinger’s voting record shows true motives – BILL BECKER, Roscoe
http://www.mywebtimes.com/opinion/letters/becker-kinzinger-s-voting-record-shows-true-motives/article_e95f69cf-e421-51f5-9fee-588846fb52f3.html
(FROM THE LETTER: Most recently he has voiced ardent support for the House version of the Republican tax plan. This tax plan would eliminate many deductions that are used by thousands in the 16th Congressional District. One of these deductions, the state and local tax deduction, allows District 16 residents to deduct the cost of their state income taxes from the taxable income. This amounts to an average of $4,261 for District 16 residents. Another of these deductions is for the interest paid on student loans. This deduction makes college education more affordable for lower and middle income families throughout District 16. This deduction can save District 16 tax payers thousands of dollars every year. However, a deduction that was not cut is a deduction for wealthy individuals to deduct the cost of private schools for their children.)
QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Illinoisans score pair of major wins in Springfield – Editorial
http://www.qconline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-illinoisans-score-pair-of-major-wins-in-springfield/article_3065946f-7767-551a-bff6-2424679106b8.html
SAUK VALLEY
— Harassment, the Legislature, and accountability If the legislative Democratic majority can portray itself as having acted to halt sexual harassment under the Capitol dome, and is perceived by the public as having done so, its leaders likely believe they’ll ride out the storm. Women across Illinois will be the losers if ethics reform and accountability fail to become a reality. – Editorial
http://www.saukvalley.com/2017/11/12/svm-editorial-harassment-the-legislature-and-accountability/awhgozi/
NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Governor Rauner has yet to sign the sexual harassment bill
http://newschannel20.com/news/local/governor-rauner-has-yet-to-sign-the-sexual-harassment-bill
WIFR
— Opioid task force visits Dixon
http://www.wifr.com/content/news/Opioid-task-force-visits-Dixon-457340593.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Reporter Kerry Lester Says #MeToo & Recaps Sexual Harassment Developments At Statehouse – RACHEL OTWELL
http://nprillinois.org/post/reporter-kerry-lester-says-metoo-recaps-sexual-harassment-developments-statehouse#stream/0
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps worry that Trump might “rashly launch nuclear strike.”
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/lawmakers-allies-seek-assurance-trump-wont-rashly-launch-nuclear-strike/857090392
— GQ names Kaepernick citizen of the year
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/sports/nfl/gq-names-kaepernick-citizen-of-the-year/856700630
WILLIAM J KELLY
— We need to fight the Rauner Swamp
http://www.williamjkelly.org/news/kelly-we-need-to-fight-the-rauner-swamp
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— LESTER RESIGNS FROM DAILY HERALD – Natasha Korecki
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2017/11/14/kennedy-on-tv-gop-no-moore-chorus-grows-roskam-defends-tax-plan-223327
(FROM THE ARTICLE: This story posted on one of the web sites run by conservative operative and radio host Dan Proft: “Lester, 35, worked as a reporter for the Daily Herald from 2006-2013 before joining the Associated Press as a Springfield correspondent … she rejoined the Daily Herald in July 2015 as a ‘columnist and senior writer.’ Sources tell North Cook News that Lester has been dating Chicago lawyer Michael Kasper, former top aide and longtime lawyer to House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) … In an NPR Illinois story, Lester complained of ‘come on requests by campaign managers’ to interviewer Rachel Otwell and claimed she has been harassed herself. In the NPR interview, Lester cited legislation introduced by Madigan that she said would address Springfield’s sexual harassment problem. She also noted that, for nearly three years, there has been no legislative inspector general in place to investigate sexual harassment complaints. She neglected to mention that it was Madigan had chosen not to fill the position.” More here While that story seems to ominously cite “sources” about the Kasper relationship, it was something Lester was open about, including on social media, posting photos of the two in Italy and referring to him at one point on Facebook as “my lover and friend.” Not exactly a secret. However, that did then raise some behind-the-scenes buzz when Lester began reporting on Cook County soda tax stories at the same time that Kasper served in a role for the opposition movement. (We reached out to Lester late last night but did not hear back). Lester’s statement on Facebook: “Facebook friends, before the rumor mill gets ahead of me, I wanted to let you know I’ve decided to leave my post at the Daily Herald to pursue some other opportunities in and outside the news business. The paper’s a place where I cut my teeth, and as a suburban native, something that will always have a piece of my heart. Thanks so much for reading, and for all of your tips and insights. I hope you’ll stay tuned.”)
NORTH COOK NEWS
— Politics columnist Kerry Lester resigning from Daily Herald
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511268442-politics-columnist-kerry-lester-resigning-from-daily-herald
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sources tell North Cook News that Lester has been dating Chicago lawyer Michael Kasper, former top aide and longtime lawyer to House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). The Chicago Tribune described Kasper, 53, as a “henchman” who is “doing Michael Madigan’s dirty work” in a 2014 editorial that chronicled his lawsuit to stop a statewide ballot initiative. It would have taken the job of drawing legislative district maps out of Madigan’s control. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Lester recently changed her voter registration from a home in Arlington Heights to one in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood. She voted in Arlington Heights in the 2016 Democrat primary. Lester recently joined about 150 others in signing a letter alleging “rampant sexual harassment within the system of state politics.” In an NPR Illinois story, Lester complained of “come on requests by campaign managers” to interviewer Rachel Otwell and claimed she has been harassed herself. In the NPR interview, Lester cited legislation introduced by Madigan that she said would address Springfield’s sexual harassment problem. She also noted that, for nearly three years, there has been no legislative inspector general in place to investigate sexual harassment complaints. She neglected to mention that it was Madigan had chosen not to fill the position.)
CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Roskam still awaiting justice over IRS debacle, not sure if he will support Rauner re-election bid – Giovanni Whaley (DIERSEN: How has Congress “manipulated” you? Congress uses IRS to “manipulate” people. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would hint/imply/argue/shout that Congress successfully used tax deductions a) to “manipulate” me into taking job-related graduate courses 1972-1983 and 1992-1997, b) to “manipulate” me into owning a town home in University Park 1972-1984, c) to “manipulate” me owning condos in downtown Chicago 1974-1978, and d) to “manipulate” my wife and I into owning 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton 1978-1984 and owning 915 Cove Court since 1984.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511256906-roskam-still-awaiting-justice-over-irs-debacle-not-sure-if-he-will-support-rauner-re-election-bid
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Roskam said one of the reasons the IRS is so powerful is because they’ve got 70,000 pages of the internal revenue code that they are able to manipulate against people. “If the code were clearer, if it were easier, if it were simpler, they would have fewer tools with which to manipulate and that’s why we’ve got to reform the tax code,” Roskam said. He said he believes a tax reform bill will be on President Donald Trump’s desk by the end of the year. Turning to Illinois politics, Roskam wouldn’t say whether or not he plans to support Gov.r Bruce Rauner’s re-election bid. “The governor was too cavalier in my view and very dismissive of a lot of concerns of a lot of people, so it’s not surprising to me that he finds himself in some level of isolation right now,” Roskam said. “I’m interested in seeing who’s on the ballot. There’s a long way to go before the 2018 election.”)
— Long-vacant legislative inspector general post may contribute to state liability in lawmaker sexual harassment cases – Karen Kidd (DIERSEN: Obviously, muti-million, multi-billion, and multi-trillion dollar sexual harassment settlements and jury awards may very well cause Illinois to file for bankruptcy.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511268401-long-vacant-legislative-inspector-general-post-may-contribute-to-state-liability-in-lawmaker-sexual-harassment-cases
ILLINOIS HOME PAGE
— Fact check: Governor Rauner exaggerates job growth Fact checking the governor’s jobs numbers – Mark Maxwell
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/fact-check-governor-rauner-exaggerates-job-growth/857012821
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL RESTRICTING MUNICIPALITIES’ ABILITY TO REGULATE PLACEMENT OF SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES – Amy Korte
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-general-assembly-passes-bill-restricting-municipalities-ability-to-regulate-placement-of-small-wireless-facilities/
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Whackapedia? – Robert Knight
https://illinoisfamily.org/uncategorized/whackapedia/
NEWSMAX
— Senate Bill Would Hike Taxes for 13.8 Million Middle-Class Americans (DIERSEN: From what I see, outrageously, the more that your itemized deductions have been, the more federal income tax that you will pay under the GOP tax plans. The GOP tax plans discourage homeownership, discourage charitable contributions, discourage taking job-related graduate courses, and punish those who have high medical and dental expenses.)
https://www.newsmax.com/Finance/StreetTalk/tax-senate-house-donald-trump/2017/11/13/id/825861/
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— How Tax Reform Would Simplify Taxes for Tens of Millions – Rachel Greszler (DIERSEN: “Simplify taxes” is code for making those who itemize their deductions pay more federal income tax.)
http://www.heritage.org/taxes/commentary/how-tax-reform-would-simplify-taxes-tens-millions
AMERICAN THINKER
— Attacking Judge Moore’s Morality Is a Dirty Leftist Trick – Lloyd Marcus
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/11/attacking_judge_moores_morality_is_a_dirty_leftist_trick.html
— The triumph of Bill Ayers – Monica Showalter
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/11/the_triumph_of_bill_ayers.html
CITIZENS’ VOICE
— Keep SALT deductions – Editorial
http://citizensvoice.com/opinion/keep-salt-deductions-1.2267594
DAILY CALLER
— Hannity Loses Two More Advertisers Over Moore – JUSTIN CARUSO (DIERSEN: No company has pulled ads from GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails because I have never sought advertising revenue nor would I accept advertising revenue. He who pays the piper calls the tunes and I do not want any individual, organization, company, government, or country to call my tunes.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/11/13/hannity-loses-two-more-advertisers-over-moore/?utm_medium=email
FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— TAX OVERHAUL MOVES CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE Failure is not an option for the GOP. – Joseph Klein (DIERSEN: If a political party wants to dump a demographic, that party makes that demographic pay more federal income tax. Obviously, the Republican Party wants to dump the demographic that itemizes their deductions. Overwhelmingly members of that demographic are homeowners and older.)
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/268411/tax-overhaul-moves-closer-finish-line-joseph-klein
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Both bills will hit those taxpayers especially hard who itemize their deductions and are from states with high income and property taxes. They are accustomed to deducting such state and local taxes on their federal tax returns. That will no longer be the case for state and local income taxes under either bill as presently written. The House bill would allow a property tax deduction up to $10,000, as a compromise to secure the votes of at least some Republican House members from high tax states such as New York and California. The Senate bill would not even do that, based on the political calculation that such high tax states all have Democrat senators who would not vote for the Republican-written tax bill in any case.)
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Who Will Vote for Republicans Next Year? – A.B. Stoddard (DIERSEN: The answer should be those who are: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. But anti-Trumps want the Republican Party to dump the aforesaid and to pander to those who are: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/11/14/who_will_vote_for_republicans_next_year_135533.html
ECONOMIST
— How Cook County’s Democratic machine works The symbiotic relationship between property-tax lawyers and elected politicians
https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21731195-symbiotic-relationship-between-property-tax-lawyers-and-elected-politicians-how-cook
CAMPUS REFORM
— Profs publish book on pushing ‘social justice’ in class – Toni Airaksinen
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=10132
THE HILL
— America has seen enough tragedies result from its open borders – BRIAN LONERGAN
http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/360108-america-has-seen-enough-tragedies-come-as-a-result-of-open-borders
POLITICO
— Federal law enforcement has a woman problem Police agencies are the most male-dominated part of the federal government — and that undermines their mission. – AMANDA RIPLEY (DIERSEN: Federal law enforcement agencies should look at what Charles Bowsher accomplished at GAO during the 1980s and 1990s. He was extremely successful in replacing the agency’s employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or older with employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger. It is called Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion, that is, it is called political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/14/women-federal-law-enforcement-male-dominated-244649
NEW YORK TIMES
— Robbing Blue States to Pay Red – Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson (DIERSEN: What is Roskam’s position on this?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/opinion/tax-plan-states-gop.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Taking a Knee for Diversity ‘Trying is not the same as doing,’ said one corporate leader, invoking Colin Kaepernick in a call to action. – Alina Tugend (DIERSEN: Employers should look at what Charles Bowsher accomplished at GAO during the 1980s and 1990s. He was extremely successful in replacing the agency’s employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or older with employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger. It is called Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion, that is, it is called political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/14/business/dealbook/mellody-hobson-corporate-diversity.html
— Trump Is Making China Great Again – Susan Rice
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/opinion/susan-rice-trump-china-trip.html
— House and Senate Are ‘Among the Worst’ for Harassment, Representative Says – Yamiche Alcindor and Katie Rogers (DIERSEN: Obviously, muti-million, multi-billion, and multi-trillion dollar sexual harassment settlements and jury awards may very well cause the United States to file for bankruptcy.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/us/politics/sexual-harassment-congress-capitol-hill.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Why are Republicans rushing tax reform through? So voters don’t find out who loses. – Helaine Olen (DIERSEN: From what I see, outrageously, the more that your itemized deductions have been, the more federal income tax that you will pay under the GOP tax plans. The GOP tax plans discourage homeownership, discourage charitable contributions, discourage taking job-related graduate courses, and punish those who have high medical and dental expenses.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/11/13/why-are-republicans-rushing-tax-reform-through-so-voters-dont-find-out-who-loses/?utm_term=.0e5cc538b604
— Trump to visit House GOP for in-person tax push – Damian Paletta and Mike DeBonis (DIERSEN: I hope that Trump calls for keeping all itemized deductions and condemns the tax increases that cutting itemized deductions would cause.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/11/13/trump-makes-late-push-to-include-partial-obamacare-repeal-in-tax-bills/
— “Defending sexual assault is never worth it. Really” – Alyssa Rosenberg (DIERSEN: If you have ever done anything that subjects you to blackmail, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2017/11/13/defending-sexual-assault-is-never-worth-it-really/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Great Progressive Tax Escape IRS data show an accelerating flight from high-tax states. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-great-progressive-tax-escape-1510614707
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Between 2012 and 2015 (the most recent data), a net $8.5 billion in adjusted gross income left New Jersey while $6.2 billion poured out of Connecticut—4% of the latter state’s total income. Illinois lost $13.6 billion. During that period, Florida with no income tax gained $39.3 billion in AGI. (See the nearby table.) . . . The prospect of future tax hikes appears to have propelled an exodus of high earners from Illinois, which has a relatively low and flat 4.99% income tax. Democrats raised the rate from 3% in 2010, but the tax hike lapsed in 2015 after Bruce Rauner became Governor. House Speaker Michael Madigan finally this summer secured GOP legislative support to override the Governor’s veto and reinstate the higher rate. But the tax increase won’t raise enough money to finance the state’s $250 billion unfunded pension liability, and the long-time goal of unions has been to enact a graduated income tax. The affluent know they’ll get soaked eventually and are seeking shelter. Top earners made up 47% of Illinois’s income flight in 2015 compared to 33% four years earlier. Income taxes from the 306 Cook County denizens who decamped to Palm Beach in 2015 with $258 million of income could have paid 200 teacher salaries. Alas. This millionaires’ diaspora has harmed income and economic growth. Real GDP between 2011 and 2016 grew annually at a paltry 0.2% in Connecticut, 1% in Illinois and 1.2% in New Jersey, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. These states were the slowest growing in their respective geographic regions, though other high tax states in the Northeast didn’t fare much better. As a result, revenues have repeatedly fallen short of projections in New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut while budget deficits have ballooned. Democratic lawmakers have cut public services and funds to local governments, which have responded by raising property taxes. The Tax Foundation says New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Illinois have the highest property taxes in the country. Over the last two years, the average Chicago homeowner’s property taxes have risen by roughly $1,000. Higher property taxes hit middle-class earners especially hard and are another incentive to leave a state.)
— Higher Education’s Deeper Sickness Political imbalance causes intellectual degradation. Riots against free speech are only a symptom. – John M. Ellis
https://www.wsj.com/articles/higher-educations-deeper-ailment-1510615185
FORBES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Forbes should stress that outrageously, the more that your itemized deductions have been, the more federal income tax that you will pay under the GOP tax plans. The GOP tax plans discourage homeownership, discourage charitable contributions, discourage taking job-related graduate courses, and punish those who have high medical and dental expenses.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanellis/2017/11/13/virtually-all-middle-class-taxpayers-to-see-tax-cut-in-senate-tax-plan/#4424b6818d14
— Here Is Why The Proposed Tax Reform Bill Perpetuates Systemic Bias Against Disadvantaged Groups – Paolo Gaudiano
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paologaudiano/2017/11/13/here-is-why-the-proposed-tax-reform-bill-perpetuates-systemic-bias-against-disadvantaged-groups/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On the level of individuals, certain provisions seem favorable (such as increasing the standard deduction) while others are clearly unfavorable (such as removing deductions for medical expenses, interest on home equity loans, state and local income taxes, and – at least in the House version – interest on student loans). One could argue that these changes will have the greatest negative impact on those with lower income levels, especially people with disabilities and the elderly, whose medical bills are likely to exceed the current threshold (10% of Adjusted Gross Income for taxpayers under 65 and 7.5% for taxpayers over 65), as well as those who have to borrow for education.)
REASON
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-conservatives and anti-Republicans say “Roy Moore and the End of Republican Credibility” and ask “Can the conservative movement survive the election of a possible child molester?”
http://reason.com/blog/2017/11/13/judge-roy-moore-and-the-end-of-republica
