Donald Trump, Ted Cruz pair up against Iran deal at Capitol rally
Republican presidential rivals and friends-for-now Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on Wednesday savaged the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it an incompetently negotiated deal that will cost “countless” American and Israeli lives and should be discarded by the next president. “We are led by very, very stupid people,” Trump, the GOP front-runner weighed in, at a midday rally on Capitol Hill. He called the deal “incompetent” and poised to fail in the fight against Islamic militants. “We will have so much winning if I get elected, that you may get bored with winning.” Cruz, who invited Trump to the event, said supporters of the deal will have blood on their hands. “You cannot wash your hands of that,” he said, naming House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, both Republicans, as two men who could stand in the way. “Any commander-in-chief worthy of defending this nation should be prepared to stand up on Jan. 20, 2017 and rip to shreds this catastrophic deal.” The pairing at Wednesday’s rally, sponsored by tea party and pro-Israel activists, is the product of what Trump acknowledged beforehand as “a little bit of a romance” at this early stage of the 2016 presidential race. In fact, they are competing for many of the same anti-establishment, core Republican activists. The two spoke as Congress debated the deal, which is designed to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Republicans and Israel say Iran can’t be trusted because its leaders want to annihilate the Jewish state. The event highlights the unique relationship between Trump and Cruz, a tea party hero who helped shut the federal government in 2013 and ultimately needs the same frustrated voters who have pushed Trump to a surprising lead in early polls. As his Republican competitors turn against Trump, Cruz has offered only praise. The strategy could pay dividends for Cruz in the coming months, if Trump drops out of the race. Still, Trump assured the group: “I’m not dropping out of anything. I never drop out.” Some protesters carried Israeli flags, but more carried American flags. A few carried posters that said, “Jewish lives matter.” The day gave Trump an opportunity to address foreign policy less than a week after he struggled to answer basic questions about key players in the Middle East during a radio interview. The protest won’t change the ultimate approval of the international agreement, which has been clear for days: Even if a disapproval resolution should pass the House and Senate this week, President Barack Obama would veto it, and Democrats have the votes in hand to sustain his veto. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush‘s campaign released an Instagram video clip on the eve of the rally, using Trump’s words against him. Asked in a past CNN interview who he’d like to represent the U.S. in a deal with Iran, Trump responds, “I think Hillary would do a good job.” The agreement struck by Iran, the U.S., China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany in July would provide Iran hundreds of billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions in exchange for a decade of constraints on the country’s nuclear program. The deal aims to keep Iran at least a year away from being able to produce enough nuclear material for a weapon. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Jeb Bush proposes ‘simple, fair and clear’ tax code
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush‘s tax reform plan calls for a lower corporate tax rate and immediate tax deductions for business investments. The former Florida governor also wants to cut personal income tax brackets from seven to three, with the lowest rate at 10 percent. He outlined the proposal in an op-ed published in Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal. “Today, the tax code is a labyrinth littered with thousands of special-interest giveaways, subsidies and other breaks written to favor Washington insiders,” wrote Bush. “At 80,000 pages, it’s a tax code only an army of tax accountants and lobbyists could love – because they’ve written it.” Bush said he wants to create a tax code that is “simple, fair and clear,” and predicts it will help the U.S. economy grow faster. Bush, who trails in the polls nationally and in early primary states, has offered up several policy proposals in recent weeks to combat the bombastic campaign of front-runner Donald Trump. The billionaire businessman has lambasted Bush with a flurry of personal attacks. Under his tax reform plan, Bush would reduce individual tax rates to three: 10 percent, 15 percent and 28 percent. Currently, there are seven tax brackets, ranging from 10 percent to 39.6 percent. Bush said 15 million people would not pay any tax under his plan. He proposes doubling the standard deduction, eliminating the marriage penalty, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and ending the estate tax and Alternative Minimum Tax. He also would end the employee’s share of the Social Security tax on earnings for workers 67 and older. Bush wants to reduce the corporate income tax from 35 percent – among the highest in the world – to 20 percent and give businesses the chance to deduct new capital investments immediately. He also wants to eliminate the interest on business loans. Democrats called the plan “more trickle-down Bush economics.” “Bush is embracing a disastrous economic agenda that benefits himself, and those like himself, while leaving the middle class out to dry,” said Holly Shulman, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee. Bush will offer more details on his tax reform plan during a trip Wednesday to North Carolina, where he will visit a manufacturing firm to show how small businesses would benefit from his proposal. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
House committee approves cigarette tax, other revenue bills
An Alabama budget committee has approved a cigarette tax increase and other revenue bills as lawmakers try to fill a budget shortfall. The House Ways and Means Committee voted 8-6 for a 25-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase. The increase would raise $66 million annually. The committee also voted for bills to raise the car rental tax from 1.5 to 2 percent; increase the car title fee from $15 to $28; and adjusts the business privilege tax so smaller businesses pay less and larger ones pay more. Lawmakers for months have been at a stalemate over a projected $200 million general fund shortfall. The committee action was the first sign of budding agreement. However, the proposals face difficult floor and Senate votes ahead. The House could vote on the tax bills Thursday. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Donald Trump asks CNN to give debate advertising sales to veterans
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is asking CNN to donate to veterans the proceeds from advertising sold to air during next week’s Republican debate. In a Tuesday letter to the cable news network, the billionaire says he is the reason the network sharply increased its rates ahead of the Sept. 16 debate in Simi Valley, California. Trade publications have reported that CNN is asking for up to $200,000 for a 30-second ad, and that typical rates run as low as $5,000. Trump writes that the spike in viewer interest “is due 100 percent to Donald J. Trump.” Trump angered some veterans in July when he mocked Arizona Sen. John McCain, the GOP’s 2008 nominee and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
