Here’s What You Need to Know About Trump's 'Tax Scam Bill' | Finn Oldfield

Trump’s latest move was to pass a sham of a tax bill through the Senate. This is why you should be angry.

If you’ve been even vaguely aware of the news recently, you’ll know Washington D.C. is having a moment. From threats of nuclear war to sexual harassment allegations, President Trump is causing ripples that have far-reaching consequences. Early Saturday morning, on the 2nd December, a Republican-controlled Senate narrowly passed a tax reform bill 51-49. I’ve compiled a list of just some of the things this means in practice and why it should be branded as what it is: a #TaxScamBill.

As Trump was elected on the promise of cutting taxes for the poorest Americans, it seems ironic that the GOP bill actually increases taxes on 37 million low and middle-income Americans. It also means tax cuts of over $5 billion to households earning $1 million or more. While we're used to Trump shouting fake news at anything he disagrees with, lying to his own voter-base will surely have long-reaching consequences when it comes to the midterm elections in 2018. 

As if disastrous tax reform wasn't enough, the bill is clearly a partisan move to gut former President Obama's legacy. For example, it repeals Obamacare's individual mandate, causing 13 million people to lose healthcare insurance. After several failed attempts to pass healthcare reform, the Republican party have snuck in healthcare amendments which will have devastating consequences for the poorest Americans, no longer being able to access healthcare if and when this bill becomes law by Christmas. 

Not only is this about healthcare as much as it is tax reform, the 479-page bill was delivered to senators two hours before it was to be voted on,
one page with illegible scribbled policy changes lining it. 

I was just handed a 479-page tax bill a few hours before the vote. One page literally has hand scribbled policy changes on it that can’t be read. This is Washington, D.C. at its worst. Montanans deserve so much better. pic.twitter.com/q6lTpXoXS0

— Senator Jon Tester (@SenatorTester) December 2, 2017

With only a couple of hours to read over it, this was a clear ploy to rush the bill through the Senate. This undemocratic move helped to pass the bill that cuts Medicare spending by $25 billion in 2018. 

Here are just a few other things that the bill does that has nothing to do with tax:

• It allows drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• It ends a 60-year ban on religious groups engaging in political activity
• It increases the U.S. budget deficit by $1 trillion

I'm not sure which universe Trump exists in where allowing the wealthy to use tax breaks and loopholes to benefit themselves is a good move, but it almost seems as if tax reform would benefit the President and his family. 

While Trump will be celebrating this victory for now, he is also aware of currently unravelling revelations about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 Presidential election. With former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn prepared to testify against President Trump, Special Counsel Robert Mueller must believe there is incriminating evidence against either the President or the Vice President, or both. 

8/ What this indicates—beyond any serious doubt—is the following: Special Counsel Bob Mueller, the former Director of the FBI, believes Mike Flynn's testimony will *incriminate* the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, or both of these two men.

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) December 1, 2017

(THREAD) MAJOR BREAKING NEWS: Mike Flynn will plead guilty to Making False Statements at 10:30 AM EST today (Friday). This is the biggest development in the Russia probe so far. This thread explains what it all means, and will be updated throughout the day. Please read and share. pic.twitter.com/z2VxUJ89Or

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) December 1, 2017

It's also worth pointing out that Trump just accidentally admitted to obstruction of justice on twitter- an impeachable offence. 

MAJOR BREAKING NEWS: President Trump Accidentally Admits on Twitter to Committing Obstruction of Justice

(The dates and statements check out. This analysis from MSNBC is correct.) https://t.co/Rcd5Eb0gUD

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) December 2, 2017

We're arguably entering Watergate territory that the Founding Fathers could never have envisioned. With the myriad of other offences Trump has committed, it's clear at least that a state visit to the UK must not be granted to the President, now or ever. 

While we don't know how all this will unfold, we can conclude that we may be looking at a drastically different political landscape by the time of the 2018 midterm elections. Only time will tell, but to coin a phrase former President Obama held dear to his heart: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice".