Important headlines for January 12th:
Bottom Line: These are stories you don't want to miss and my hot takes on them...
Excerpt: Puerto Ricans in Florida could form a large enough voting bloc to affect statewide elections for governor and U.S. Senate in 2018. But Florida Republicans like Rubio and Gov. Rick Scott enjoy widespread support among many members of Rosselló’s pro-statehood New Progressive Party, in contrast to heavily Democratic states with many Puerto Ricans, like New York, Illinois and Connecticut.
“You don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” said state Rep. Bob Cortes, one of two Puerto Rican Republicans in the state Legislature.
Cortes said Rosselló and other pro-statehood Democrats in Puerto Rico who have many Republicans within their own party must carefully pick and choose when to get involved in Florida politics. Going after Rubio or Scott could backfire, especially if Scott runs for Bill Nelson’s U.S. Senate seat and wins.
Hot Take: This story illustrates all of the worst elements of attempting to politicize tragedy and putting party above people. 1.5 million, over 40%, of Puerto Ricans are still without power. The island was bankrupt before Irma and Maria and lord only knows where this story ends once the lights are back on. Problems decades in the making (infrastructure issues, corruption, poor governance) have culminated in real human tragedy. There was a critical doctor shortage before the devastation (those most likely to leave the island over the previous decade have been the most educated, wealthy and employable in the states). Can you imagine right now?
Yet, let's get down to what the right political strategy is to exact Florida election outcomes? Natural disasters aren't partisan. Neither is the creation of these problems. Rest assured the solutions for Puerto Ricans aren't either.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 Is Already Delivering Scott Powell, IBD
Excerpt: Last year a University of Chicago Booth School of Business survey of so-called top economists — including Nobel Prize winners and former presidents of the American Economic Association — found that only one in 42 economists polled thought that the Republican tax reduction bill would boost the economy
Hot Take: And this proves two things. One - people that have never had their heads out of text books often have their heads stuck up their asses. They often stink (at what they do). Secondly, this is why I've kept you up speed every step of the way from proposals to the final version with the real impact to you. In case you've missed it...
The average American will have 4% more in their pockets from the tax reform. The average Floridian will have 4.1% more. Does that help your economy? Yesterday the Treasury and IRS finished up with withholding info for employers so they can begin to implement it. That means that your 4.1% raise could hit as soon as your next paycheck. The paycheck that's also 2.5% higher than a year ago - 3.6% higher if you got a bonus too. This is 7% more money for the average person. Is that good for the economy or was it better when the government kept it for you?
Yesterday, Wal-Mart alone raised their minimum wage to $11 per hour, and announced bonuses of up to $1,000. This is a raise of $400 million to the employees of Wal-Mart alone on back of tax reform. Is that good for the economy? But remember that trickle down economics doesn't work either right? People can lie to you about what you don't know, see, touch or feel but they can't lie about what is or isn't in their wallets. Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump stand on the right side of history. The leftists and their economist buddies deserve a boot up their ass (where their heads are often stored) it's the American way.
Until Tuesday...