Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions came before the House Judiciary Committee during an oversight hearing of the Department of Justice. In my questioning, I asked him about his seemingly false earlier testimony regarding Trump-Russia ties, particularly given revelations in the George Papadopoulos guilty plea. I asked him to explain his March 31, 2016 meeting with Mr. Papadopoulos, his knowledge of communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians, and what—if anything—he did about it. Most concerning to me was the fact that Sessions knew about efforts to communicate with the Russians from Mr. Papadopoulos, among others, and then did nothing to make sure there was no further contact.
You can watch the full video of my questioning here.
Tax Scam Hurts New Yorkers and Middle Class Americans
As if there were any doubt, I believe the House Majority has once again showed who they are really working for with their latest tax plan, H.R. 1. Their plan funnels billions of dollars in tax benefits to the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations at the expense of working families. New York gets hit especially hard because the plan eliminates the deduction for state and local income and sales taxes. H.R. 1 also caps the existing deductions for state and local property taxes, as well as the mortgage interest deduction, at amounts too limited for middle income New Yorkers. And, although it increases the standard deduction, it eliminates personal exemptions, increasing taxes for many low-income people. At the same time, it slashes the corporate tax rate to 20 percent, eliminates the estate tax, and still blows a $1.5 trillion hole in the deficit.
The same promises of economic growth through tax breaks for corporations were made for the Reagan and Bush tax cuts, but the results were massive deficits. This is the old “Starve the Beast” strategy. First, pass huge, unnecessary tax cuts and then use the resulting deficits to justify massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, and other social services.
I will support a tax reform plan that makes billionaires and corporations pay their fair share, eliminates loopholes that encourage companies to move jobs overseas, and invests in working families.The House Majority did not craft such a plan, instead adding more burdensome costs on New York families. That is why I refused to support it.
