freebeacon--2020-01-18--Review: ‘Restoring Our Republic’ by Ned Ryun

Devoting hours of one 's life to reading a book is an extraordinary commitment , especially in this modern age of digital distraction .
The very least one can ask of a book is that it wo n't lower one 's opinion of President Donald J. Trump , the most successful chief executive in American history .
Unfortunately , Ned Ryun 's Restoring Our Republic fails to clear even this exceedingly low bar .
Trump is perhaps the most outstanding literary figure since the invention of the printing press .
As such , the president 's endorsement of Ryun 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of American literature .
It was also a rare misstep from an intellectual heavyweight who ought to know better .
Before reaching the table of contents in Restoring Our Republic , the reader is confronted with a quote in a foreign language—never a good sign , especially for a book that claims to promote American values .
The passage from the Roman poet ( and polytheistic heretic ) Horace concerns the crafting of a `` monument more lasting than bronze . ''
The arrogance astounds , while the table of contents leaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times should the word `` transcendent '' need to appear in a book about the history of the American republic and how to `` reclaim '' it from the communists ?
Once ?
Twice ?
Surely , 13 times is excessive , but Ryun lets it fly like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stuttering at the podium .
The word `` Trump , '' meanwhile , appears just one time and only in the context of praising the administration 's efforts to reform the Department of Agriculture , an agency that ought to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious about promoting `` small government '' in this country .
Alas… Readers interested in a CliffsNotes-style overview of America 's founding would be better off—and I do n't say this lightly—consulting the work of mainstream media outlet ABC , producers of the Schoolhouse Rock !
video series .
At least the musical numbers are entertaining .
Instead , Ryun force feeds a gluttonous diet of foreign influence , from the ramblings of French tourist Alexis de Tocqueville to the so-called wisdom of ancient Greece—a country so wise it went bankrupt .
Ryun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' are just as inane .
First of all , his diagnosis misses the mark .
Despite the historic election of Donald Trump , the author insists that American democracy is not `` robust and fully healthy . ''
One assumes Ryun would have preferred a Hillary Clinton presidency , under which the NRA would be abolished and the California feces crisis would afflict every state in the union .
Ryun 's prose at times reads like the soft-bodied whimpering of disgraced former Republican Matthew Dowd : It , therefore , comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day be made a national holiday in order to `` emphasize civics and patriotism and love of country . ''
The implication here—that not enough citizens are exercising their right to vote—would have appalled the Founders , but Ryun does n't seem to care .
`` Our need today is not so much to return to the principles of the Founding as it is to renew them , to apply them afresh , in our age , '' the alleged conservative writes , sounding an awful lot like one of those libs who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make hijabs mandatory in public schools .
It gets worse .
`` [ A ] t the end of the day , the Constitution is a piece of paper , '' he writes dismissively while arguing that American values can be safeguarded from socialism by—I kid you not—drafting hardworking patriots into a small army of `` active community leaders . ''
Sound familiar ?
This country ( barely ) survived eight years under the community organizer-in-chief and his ACORN affiliates .
Such behavior is the last thing we should be trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank you very much .

Devoting hours of one's life to reading a book is an extraordinary commitment, especially in this modern age of digital distraction. The very least one can ask of a book is that it won't lower one's opinion of President Donald J. Trump, the most successful chief executive in American history. Unfortunately, Ned Ryun's Restoring Our Republic fails to clear even this exceedingly low bar.
Trump is perhaps the most outstanding literary figure since the invention of the printing press. As such, the president's endorsement of Ryun's book was a seminal moment in the history of American literature. It was also a rare misstep from an intellectual heavyweight who ought to know better.
Before reaching the table of contents in Restoring Our Republic, the reader is confronted with a quote in a foreign language—never a good sign, especially for a book that claims to promote American values. The passage from the Roman poet (and polytheistic heretic) Horace concerns the crafting of a "monument more lasting than bronze." The arrogance astounds, while the table of contents leaves much to be desired.
How many times should the word "transcendent" need to appear in a book about the history of the American republic and how to "reclaim" it from the communists? Once? Twice? Surely, 13 times is excessive, but Ryun lets it fly like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stuttering at the podium. The word "Trump," meanwhile, appears just one time and only in the context of praising the administration's efforts to reform the Department of Agriculture, an agency that ought to have been abolished by now if we are serious about promoting "small government" in this country. Alas...
Readers interested in a CliffsNotes-style overview of America's founding would be better off—and I don't say this lightly—consulting the work of mainstream media outlet ABC, producers of the Schoolhouse Rock! video series. At least the musical numbers are entertaining. Instead, Ryun force feeds a gluttonous diet of foreign influence, from the ramblings of French tourist Alexis de Tocqueville to the so-called wisdom of ancient Greece—a country so wise it went bankrupt.
Ryun's solutions for "restoring our republic" are just as inane. First of all, his diagnosis misses the mark. Despite the historic election of Donald Trump, the author insists that American democracy is not "robust and fully healthy." One assumes Ryun would have preferred a Hillary Clinton presidency, under which the NRA would be abolished and the California feces crisis would afflict every state in the union.
Ryun's prose at times reads like the soft-bodied whimpering of disgraced former Republican Matthew Dowd:
It may seem odd to think of "love" in such political terms, but casting a vote for a statesman, lobbying your state legislature to repeal an onerous law, or speaking out against corruption at a local town hall meeting can all be ways to demonstrate love to your neighbor because it shows that you actually care.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise when Ryun suggests that Election Day be made a national holiday in order to "emphasize civics and patriotism and love of country." The implication here—that not enough citizens are exercising their right to vote—would have appalled the Founders, but Ryun doesn't seem to care.
"Our need today is not so much to return to the principles of the Founding as it is to renew them, to apply them afresh, in our age," the alleged conservative writes, sounding an awful lot like one of those libs who wants to "update" the Constitution to make hijabs mandatory in public schools.
It gets worse. "[A]t the end of the day, the Constitution is a piece of paper," he writes dismissively while arguing that American values can be safeguarded from socialism by—I kid you not—drafting hardworking patriots into a small army of "active community leaders." Sound familiar? This country (barely) survived eight years under the community organizer-in-chief and his ACORN affiliates. Such behavior is the last thing we should be trying to "restore" in this country, thank you very much.


freebeacon--2020-01-18--Nuns Will Return to Supreme Court to Fight Obamacare Mandate

The Little Sisters of the Poor are once again asking the Supreme Court to defend their religious exemption to Obamacare 's contraceptive mandate .
On Friday , the Supreme Court agreed to hear Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania , et al .
The nuns welcomed the hearing , which could bring their five-year legal fight to a close .
`` It is disappointing to think that as we enter a new decade we must still defend our ministry in court , '' Mother Loraine Marie Maguire said in a statement .
`` We are grateful the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopeful that the Justices will reinforce their previous decision and allow us to focus on our lifelong work of serving the elderly poor once and for all . ''
The nuns , who care for the elderly poor , previously took the Obama administration to the Supreme Court , arguing that the Affordable Care Act 's contraceptive mandate violated their religious liberty .
Justices urged the two sides to reach a compromise , and the Catholic religious order appeared to have won the battle after the Trump White House expanded an existing exemption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
Democratic leaders in Pennsylvania and California , however , sued to block the new rules from taking effect .
`` The Trump Administration ’ s rule allows employers to deny contraceptive services to any employee for any reason—including the belief that women don ’ t belong in the workforce , '' Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in an email to the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Two federal courts have blocked this rule and we are confident the Supreme Court of the United States will do the same .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justices . ''
Pro-life organizations and religious liberty activists called on the Supreme Court , which previously returned the sisters ' case to lower courts , to take decisive action to end their legal struggle .
`` The Supreme Court of the United States needs to protect once and for all the Little Sisters of the Poor and people of all faiths from government-forced violations of their religious beliefs , '' Stephanie Taub , senior counsel to the First Liberty Institute , said in a statement .
`` We are confident the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all religious non-profits and reverse the Third Circuit ’ s dangerous decision . ''
Marjorie Dannenfelser , president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List , said the exemption should stand to safeguard religious freedom .
`` President Trump took strong steps to put this nonsense to an end and his administration ’ s rule should be upheld .
No one—not Catholic nuns who care for the elderly poor , and not moral objectors like Susan B. Anthony List—should ever be forced by the government to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Conscience rights and religious freedom are important parts of American history and tradition , and the government , state-level or federal , does n't need nuns to deliver abortion inducing drugs to women . ''
The Supreme Court has yet to set a date for a hearing , but has allotted one hour for oral arguments .

The Little Sisters of the Poor are once again asking the Supreme Court to defend their religious exemption to Obamacare's contraceptive mandate.
On Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, et al. The nuns welcomed the hearing, which could bring their five-year legal fight to a close.
"It is disappointing to think that as we enter a new decade we must still defend our ministry in court," Mother Loraine Marie Maguire said in a statement. "We are grateful the Supreme Court has decided to weigh in, and hopeful that the Justices will reinforce their previous decision and allow us to focus on our lifelong work of serving the elderly poor once and for all."
The nuns, who care for the elderly poor, previously took the Obama administration to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate violated their religious liberty. Justices urged the two sides to reach a compromise, and the Catholic religious order appeared to have won the battle after the Trump White House expanded an existing exemption to include organizations like the Sisters in 2018. Democratic leaders in Pennsylvania and California, however, sued to block the new rules from taking effect.
"The Trump Administration’s rule allows employers to deny contraceptive services to any employee for any reason—including the belief that women don’t belong in the workforce," Pennsylvania attorney general Josh Shapiro said in an email to the Washington Free Beacon. "Two federal courts have blocked this rule and we are confident the Supreme Court of the United States will do the same. I look forward to making our case before the Justices."
Pro-life organizations and religious liberty activists called on the Supreme Court, which previously returned the Sisters' case to lower courts, to take decisive action to end their legal struggle.
"The Supreme Court of the United States needs to protect once and for all the Little Sisters of the Poor and people of all faiths from government-forced violations of their religious beliefs," Stephanie Taub, senior counsel to the First Liberty Institute, said in a statement. "We are confident the Justices will again respect the religious liberty of all religious non-profits and reverse the Third Circuit’s dangerous decision."
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, said the exemption should stand to safeguard religious freedom.
"President Trump took strong steps to put this nonsense to an end and his administration’s rule should be upheld. No one—not Catholic nuns who care for the elderly poor, and not moral objectors like Susan B. Anthony List—should ever be forced by the government to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plans," she said. "Conscience rights and religious freedom are important parts of American history and tradition, and the government, state-level or federal, doesn't need nuns to deliver abortion inducing drugs to women."
The Supreme Court has yet to set a date for a hearing but has allotted one hour for oral arguments.


freebeacon--2020-01-18--Mark Levin Warns of Democratic Overreach in Virginia

Conservative radio host Mark Levin said Democratic legislative overreach could drive residents out of Virginia .
`` What 's going to happen is the productive people in Virginia will begin to leave .
A lot of people who believe in liberty will leave , '' Levin said during his radio show Friday night .
`` So you 'll see depopulation , voluntary depopulation , like you see in New York , New Jersey , California , Illinois , on and on , where people are looking for liberty . ''
Virginia Democrats won a majority in the both houses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aiming to address priorities such as increased gun control measures .
State Democrats withdrew a senate bill that would have effectively confiscated firearms like AR-15s .
Such measures have sparked public backlash and demonstrations from gun rights activists .
More protests are expected early next week .
`` These issues of the Second Amendment , the First Amendment , property rights . ''
Levin said .
`` It 's not about being a ‘ right-winger . '
It 's about liberty… People will look for freedom .
It 's like water finding cracks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this is the problem . ''
Levin also warned about a decline in civic knowledge .
`` The principles upon which this nation was founded are not taught , they 're not promoted , they 're not embraced , '' he said .
`` A country can not survive on its founding principles if its founding principles are not indoctrinated into one generation after the next . ''

Conservative radio host Mark Levin said Democratic legislative overreach could drive residents out of Virginia.
"What's going to happen is the productive people in Virginia will begin to leave. A lot of people who believe in liberty will leave," Levin said during his radio show Friday night. "So you'll see depopulation, voluntary depopulation, like you see in New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, on and on, where people are looking for liberty."
Virginia Democrats won a majority in both houses of the state's legislature and are aiming to address priorities such as increased gun-control measures. State Democrats withdrew a senate bill that would have effectively confiscated firearms like AR-15s.
Such measures have sparked public backlash and demonstrations from gun-rights activists. More protests are expected early next week.
"These issues of the Second Amendment, the First Amendment, property rights," said Levin, "it's not about being a 'right-winger.' It's about liberty.... People will look for freedom. It's like water finding cracks. But this is how it works, and this is the problem."
Levin also warned about a decline in civic knowledge.
"The principles upon which this nation was founded are not taught, they're not promoted, they're not embraced," he said. "A country cannot survive on its founding principles if its founding principles are not indoctrinated into one generation after the next."


freebeacon--2020-01-18--Warren Says She’s the Only Candidate With Executive Branch Experience

Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
on Friday claimed she is the only candidate in the race with prior experience in the executive branch of the federal government , despite the fact that she ’ s running against a former vice president , Joe Biden .
`` Let me remind you , I think I 'm the only one who 's running for president who 's actually been on the executive side , '' Warren said during a town hall event in Newton , Iowa .
She took credit for getting the Consumer Financial Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operational '' during the Obama administration , although she was passed over to be its director .
Warren 's rival Biden was not only Barack Obama 's vice president , but his 2020 campaign has heavily focused on his record in the Obama administration .
He even made the case on the debate stage last October that he was critical to whipping votes to create the CFPB , although Warren responded by downplaying his contribution .
On Friday , Warren also argued that her experience gives her a superior grasp of `` agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous promises to aggressively use executive power to accomplish her policy goals , such as a ban on fracking that experts say would cost millions of jobs .

Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) on Friday claimed she is the only candidate in the race with prior experience in the executive branch of the federal government, despite the fact that she’s running against a former vice president, Joe Biden.
"Let me remind you, I think I'm the only one who's running for president who's actually been on the executive side," Warren said during a town hall event in Newton, Iowa. She took credit for getting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) "up and operational" during the Obama administration, although she was passed over to be its director.
Warren's rival Biden was not only Barack Obama's vice president, but his 2020 campaign has heavily focused on his record in the Obama administration. He even made the case on the debate stage last October that he was critical to whipping votes to create the CFPB, although Warren responded by downplaying his contribution.
On Friday, Warren also argued that her experience gives her a superior grasp of "agency power." Her campaign platform includes numerous promises to aggressively use executive power to accomplish her policy goals, such as a ban on fracking that experts say would cost millions of jobs.


freebeacon--2020-01-19--Virginia Supreme Court Leaves Governor’s Capitol Gun Ban in Place

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday evening declined to hear a challenge to Democratic governor Ralph Northam 's temporary ban of gun-carry during a pro-gun-rights rally on Monday , leaving the ban in effect .
The high court refused a request by gun-rights groups to overturn a lower court ruling upholding the governor 's emergency order .
Northam had banned guns on the Capitol grounds from Friday night through Tuesday , meaning those planning to gather for Monday 's rally will not , unlike previous years , be allowed to carry firearms .
The restriction may impact how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer not to be disarmed to other areas around Richmond .
Organizers of the gun-rights rally , which is in opposition to a package of gun-control bills being considered by the Democrat-controlled legislature , are asking attendees not to flout the ban on Monday .
`` We ask everyone to follow the temporary Capitol grounds rules , '' the Virginia Citizens Defense League ( VCDL ) told supporters in an email on Saturday .
`` There is NO need for an act of civil disobedience to achieve standing for a court fight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the Supreme Court 's decision not to review the case `` unfortunate '' and insisted the governor 's emergency order is still `` illegal . ''
It said however that the right course forward was to comply on Monday and continue to fight the case in court .
`` We still will have our day in court to fully debate the governor 's unconstitutional overreach in just a few short weeks , '' the group told supporters .
Northam said he was `` grateful '' the temporary gun ban would stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-gun events have been carried out peacefully over the past several months across the state of Virginia with tens of thousands attending , Northam argued the existence of threats from groups unaffiliated with the organizers of Monday 's rally were enough to justify the gun ban .
`` I am confident that the majority of those attending Monday ’ s rally will be peaceful , '' he said in a statement .
`` I have full respect for their fundamental American right to voice their opinions .
But over the past few days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally is attracting extreme individuals and groups—including national hate , neo-Nazi , and white supremacist groups—who are threatening violence and looking to advance a violent agenda . ''
The legal dispute over the ban centered on language in Virginia 's emergency powers law which prohibits the governor from using those powers to ban gun-carry except in limited circumstances .
Plaintiffs argued the governor 's gun ban violates state law , but circuit court judge Joi Taylor upheld the ban on Thursday .
`` Because individuals have limited right to bear arms , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Plaintiffs in this case will not suffer an irreparable harm sufficient to justify the injunction sought by the Plaintiffs . ''
The Virginia Supreme Court did not weigh in on the merits of the case but instead refused to hear it because of a lack of information .
`` Under the circumstances , we are unable to discern whether the circuit court abused its discretion , '' the Virginia Supreme Court said in its ruling .
`` The circuit court decided this case in less than one day , and , accordingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scant , there is no transcript or written statement of facts detailing the events of the hearing , and we are unaware of any evidence that was taken . ''
VCDL and fellow plaintiff Gun Owners of America plan to continue the case after Monday in hopes of preventing similar emergency gun bans in the future .
The gun-rights groups predicted the legal setback will embolden more supporters to show up for the rally .
`` Ironically , this outcome will only further embolden Second Amendment supporters to be even louder for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president of Gun Owners of America , said in a statement .
`` Gun owners in the Commonwealth will continue to challenge Gov .
Northam ’ s unconstitutional gun control measures at every turn . ''

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday evening declined to hear a challenge to Democratic governor Ralph Northam's temporary ban of gun-carry during a pro-gun-rights rally on Monday, leaving the ban in effect.
The High Court refused a request by gun-rights groups to overturn a lower court ruling upholding the governor's emergency order. Northam had banned guns on the Capitol grounds from Friday night through Tuesday, meaning those planning to gather for Monday's rally will not, unlike previous years, be allowed to carry firearms. The restriction may impact how many people attend the event and divert those who prefer not to be disarmed to other areas around Richmond.
Organizers of the gun-rights rally, which is in opposition to a package of gun-control bills being considered by the Democrat-controlled legislature, are asking attendees not to flout the ban on Monday.
"We ask everyone to follow the temporary Capitol grounds rules," the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) told supporters in an email on Saturday. "There is NO need for an act of civil disobedience to achieve standing for a court fight. We already have standing."
VCDL called the Supreme Court's decision not to review the case "unfortunate" and insisted the governor's emergency order is still "illegal." It said, however, that the right course forward was to comply on Monday and continue to fight the case in court.
"We still will have our day in court to fully debate the governor's unconstitutional overreach in just a few short weeks," the group told supporters.
Northam said he was "grateful" the temporary gun ban would stay in effect for Monday. While hundreds of pro-gun events have been carried out peacefully over the past several months across the state of Virginia with tens of thousands attending, Northam argued the existence of threats from groups unaffiliated with the organizers of Monday's rally were enough to justify the gun ban.
"I am confident that the majority of those attending Monday’s rally will be peaceful," he said in a statement. "I have full respect for their fundamental American right to voice their opinions. But over the past few days, the news has confirmed that this rally is attracting extreme individuals and groups—including national hate, neo-Nazi, and white supremacist groups—who are threatening violence and looking to advance a violent agenda."
The legal dispute over the ban centered on language in Virginia's emergency powers law which prohibits the governor from using those powers to ban gun-carry except in limited circumstances. Plaintiffs argued the governor's gun ban violates state law, but circuit court judge Joi Taylor upheld the ban on Thursday.
"Because individuals have limited right to bear arms," she wrote in the ruling, "the Plaintiffs in this case will not suffer an irreparable harm sufficient to justify the injunction sought by the Plaintiffs."
The Virginia Supreme Court did not weigh in on the merits of the case but instead refused to hear it because of a lack of information.
"Under the circumstances, we are unable to discern whether the circuit court abused its discretion," the Virginia Supreme Court said in its ruling. "The circuit court decided this case in less than one day, and, accordingly, the record before the Court is scant, there is no transcript or written statement of facts detailing the events of the hearing, and we are unaware of any evidence that was taken."
VCDL and fellow plaintiff Gun Owners of America plan to continue the case after Monday in hopes of preventing similar emergency gun bans in the future. The gun-rights groups predicted the legal setback will embolden more supporters to show up for the rally.
"Ironically, this outcome will only further embolden Second Amendment supporters to be even louder for their rights," Erich Pratt, senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, said in a statement. "Gun owners in the Commonwealth will continue to challenge Gov. Northam’s unconstitutional gun control measures at every turn."


freebeacon--2020-01-19--Sara Gideon Raked in Nearly $20,000 From Lobbyists Before Pushing New Anti-Lobbyist Pledge

Sara Gideon , the Democratic challenger to Sen. Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) , vows to combat lobbyists in a newly released campaign finance reform plan , but her campaign has accepted nearly $ 20,000 from more than two dozen lobbyists .
Between April 1 and Sept. 30 , 2018 , the Gideon campaign raked in $ 18,310 from 28 individuals who work directly with special interest groups or at firms that spend big on lobbying activities , filings show .
A majority of the donations came from individuals in the Washington , D.C. , metro area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , seeks to counter lobbyists ' influence .
Gideon , who is currently the speaker of Maine 's House of Representatives , promises to refuse gifts , meals , and trips from anyone working on behalf of special interests .
Her plan also rejects corporate PAC money , calls for the disclosure of dark money donors , and backs a lifetime ban on former members working as lobbyists once they ’ re out of office .
`` Washington is clearly broken—politicians are too responsive to their wealthy donors and corporate special interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were elected to represent , '' Gideon 's plan states .
`` Lawmakers and staff in Washington frequently skirt the rules to rub elbows with powerful lobbyists .
No one should be evading ethics rules to attend lavish receptions held to sway elected officials . ''
While Gideon pledges to steer away from special interests , her campaign has already collected thousands of dollars from lobbyists .
Two lobbyists from Gideon 's state who donated to the campaign , Richard Trahey and Ann Mitchell , have both lobbied on several bills in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office .
Trahey has lobbied on acts to authorize tribal gambling and to restore revenue sharing , while Mitchell has lobbied on acts in relation to hiring immigrants through flexible certification and regulating employee benefit excess insurance , among many other bills .
Gideon 's new reform plan also calls for overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court case , which allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited sums on political advertisements .
Gideon is rejecting corporate PAC donations and plans to make it a central issue in the race .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the issue , saying that she has already accepted such donations through Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer 's ( D. , N.Y. ) PAC .
Gideon also received money directly from corporations and corporate PACs through her state-level PAC .
The plan also touts Gideon 's support of the DISCLOSE Act , which would `` crack down '' on dark money groups by requiring them to disclose their donors .
Gideon , however , has received outside help from Maine Momentum , a dark money group working to oust Collins from office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in spending so far .
Majority Forward , also a dark money group that is closely tied to the Senate Majority PAC , which works to elect Democrats to the Senate , has spent at least $ 750,000 .
The race is expected to be one of the most expensive in the country .
Gideon 's campaign did not respond to requests for comment .

Sara Gideon, the Democratic challenger to Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine), vows to combat lobbyists in a newly released campaign finance reform plan, but her campaign has accepted nearly $20,000 from more than two dozen lobbyists.
Between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2018, the Gideon campaign raked in $18,310 from 28 individuals who work directly with special interest groups or at firms that spend big on lobbying activities, filings show. A majority of the donations came from individuals in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Gideon’s reform agenda, released Wednesday, seeks to counter lobbyists' influence. Gideon, who is currently the speaker of Maine's House of Representatives, promises to refuse gifts, meals, and trips from anyone working on behalf of special interests. Her plan also rejects corporate PAC money, calls for the disclosure of dark money donors, and backs a lifetime ban on former members working as lobbyists once they’re out of office.
"Washington is clearly broken—politicians are too responsive to their wealthy donors and corporate special interests, promoting their agendas over the people they were elected to represent," Gideon's plan states. "Lawmakers and staff in Washington frequently skirt the rules to rub elbows with powerful lobbyists. No one should be evading ethics rules to attend lavish receptions held to sway elected officials."
While Gideon pledges to steer away from special interests, her campaign has already collected thousands of dollars from lobbyists.
Two lobbyists from Gideon's state who donated to the campaign, Richard Trahey and Ann Mitchell, have both lobbied on several bills in the state legislature while Gideon has been in office. Trahey has lobbied on acts to authorize tribal gambling and to restore revenue sharing, while Mitchell has lobbied on acts in relation to hiring immigrants through flexible certification and regulating employee benefit excess insurance, among many other bills.
Gideon's new reform plan also calls for overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court case, which allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited sums on political advertisements.
Gideon is rejecting corporate PAC donations and plans to make it a central issue in the race. The Collins campaign has hit Gideon over hypocrisy on the issue, saying that she has already accepted such donations through Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D., N.Y.) PAC. Gideon also received money directly from corporations and corporate PACs through her state-level PAC.
The plan also touts Gideon's support of the DISCLOSE Act, which would "crack down" on dark money groups by requiring them to disclose their donors.
Gideon, however, has received outside help from Maine Momentum, a dark money group working to oust Collins from office. Maine Momentum has topped $2 million in spending so far. Majority Forward, also a dark money group that is closely tied to the Senate Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats to the Senate, has spent at least $750,000. The race is expected to be one of the most expensive in the country.
Gideon's campaign did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-01-19--Dem Rep: There May Be More ‘Impeachment Activity’ Later This Year

Rep. Maxine Waters ( D. , Calif. ) said Sunday that Democrats `` will not stop '' on impeachment and added that there may be more `` impeachment activity '' in the near future .
`` The subpoenas that I have issued that have gone through the lower courts are now going to be heard at the Supreme Court in March , '' Waters said during an appearance on MSNBC .
`` We will not stop .
Whether or not that leads to another impeachment activity , I do n't know . ''
Waters , who serves as chairwoman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deutsche Bank for President Donald Trump 's personal and professional financial records .
She suspects these documents will point towards illicit behavior on the part of the president .
Waters is not the first Democrat to suggest Congress might impeach Trump again .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) left open the possibility of new articles of impeachment against Trump .
Rep. Al Green ( D. , Texas ) has pushed for Democrats to reimpeach Trump if the Senate trial does not remove him .
Last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) said Democrats would continue to push for impeachment if Trump is reelected in 2020 .
House Counsel Douglas Letter said that a second impeachment of Trump could be necessary if new evidence comes to light about the president 's conduct .
Waters in October tweeted that Trump should be `` imprisoned & placed in solitary confinement '' because `` impeachment is not good enough for Trump . ''
She later claimed she was not speaking literally .
The Senate 's impeachment trial of Trump is expected to get underway this week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump could embolden the president .

Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) said Sunday that Democrats "will not stop" on impeachment and added that there may be more "impeachment activity" in the near future.
"The subpoenas that I have issued that have gone through the lower courts are now going to be heard at the Supreme Court in March," Waters said during an appearance on MSNBC. "We will not stop. Whether or not that leads to another impeachment activity, I don't know."
Waters, who serves as chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee, has subpoenaed Deutsche Bank for President Donald Trump's personal and professional financial records. She suspects these documents will point toward illicit behavior on the part of the president.
Waters is not the first Democrat to suggest Congress might impeach Trump again. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) left open the possibility of new articles of impeachment against Trump. Rep. Al Green (D., Texas) has pushed for Democrats to reimpeach Trump if the Senate trial does not remove him. Last month, Rep. Karen Bass (D., Calif.) said Democrats would continue to push for impeachment if Trump is reelected in 2020. House Counsel Douglas Letter said that a second impeachment of Trump could be necessary if new evidence comes to light about the president's conduct.
Waters in October tweeted that Trump should be "imprisoned & placed in solitary confinement" because "impeachment is not good enough for Trump." She later claimed she was not speaking literally.
The Senate's impeachment trial of Trump is expected to get underway this week. Senate Democrats expressed concern that an acquittal of Trump could embolden the president.


freebeacon--2020-01-19--Northwestern Student Government Votes Against Free Speech Resolution

Northwestern University ’ s student government voted last week to indefinitely table a resolution in support of the First Amendment and freedom of speech on campus .
Northwestern student senators voted 12-11 in favor of tabling the free speech resolution , which came in response to student protesters attempting to shut down a speech by former U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions last year .
Three senators abstained from the vote .
Those in favor of the resolution argued that the protections afforded by the Constitution were not enough to secure student protesters and activists , particularly in the context of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sessions visit last November , during which students attempted to climb through windows and push through doors to disrupt the speech .
Northwestern senators on both sides of the vote declined to comment when reached by the Washington Free Beacon .
The resolution was introduced by freshman Zachary Kessel , who was published by the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Sessions protest .
Kessel writes for the Daily Northwestern but disagreed with the paper ’ s decision to apologize for covering the Sessions protest .
In his resolution , Kessel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campus has in stopping the `` movement against free speech , '' in light of the illegal attempts to shut down Sessions ’ s speech .
The resolution concluded by stating that Northwestern students `` have the right to free speech and free expression , as enumerated in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution . ''
Kessel expressed disappointment in the vote ’ s outcome , arguing that it disagreed with the purpose of a university education .
`` It ’ s one thing to disagree with Mr .
Sessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shout down any dissenting opinions , '' Kessel said in a statement to the Free Beacon .
`` College is supposed to be a time to expand your ideological horizons.… I have enough confidence in the strength of my values to subject them to the light of scrutiny . ''
The vote came in the wake of news that the city of Evanston has dropped 11 charges of disorderly conduct against five of the university ’ s student protesters .
According to the Daily Northwestern , the city filed what is known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the students .
The university has said it is putting the students through its own disciplinary process .
Outside the November event , students attempted to forcibly make their way into the hall to disrupt Sessions .
Despite being told by university police to stop acting disruptively , students continued with their behavior , leading to some being forcibly removed from the area .
Student activists had complained that photographs taken by the Daily Northwestern of the public event were `` retraumatizing and invasive , '' putting the protesters at risk of disciplinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angered that the student paper had reached out to protesters for comment through the publicly available student directory .
In the face of student pressure , the Daily Northwestern capitulated to the activist demands and published a lengthy apology .
Likewise , the `` offensive '' photos and protesters ’ names were retroactively removed from their original coverage .
`` Ultimately , The Daily failed to consider our impact in our reporting surrounding Jeff Sessions , '' the paper ’ s top editors wrote .
`` We know we hurt students that night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
As a campus newspaper covering a student body that can be very easily and directly hurt by the University , we must operate differently than a professional publication in these circumstances . ''
The most notable of the Daily ’ s critics was Northwestern University ’ s dean of the Medill School of Journalism , Charles Whitaker , who defended the paper ’ s original coverage .
In a statement , Whitaker said , `` It is naïve , not to mention wrong-headed , to declare , as many of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff and other student journalists had somehow violated the personal space of the protesters by reporting on the proceedings , which were conducted in the open and were designed , ostensibly , to garner attention . ''
The paper 's editors , Whitaker said , were `` beat into submission by the vitriol and relentless public shaming they have been subjected to since the Sessions stories appeared . ''
The paper again took the side of the protests earlier this month when it published an anonymous attack against university administrators .
The opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of both the protest and its aftermath `` violent and repressive . ''
The piece called for the `` end of police presence on all Northwestern campuses '' and said support for the First Amendment was `` irresponsible and dangerous . ''

Northwestern University’s student government voted last week to indefinitely table a resolution in support of the First Amendment and freedom of speech on campus.
Northwestern student senators voted 12-11 in favor of tabling the free speech resolution, which came in response to student protesters attempting to shut down a speech by former U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions last year. Three senators abstained from the vote.
Those in favor of the resolution argued that the protections afforded by the Constitution were not enough to secure student protesters and activists, particularly in the context of the extreme actions that took place during the Sessions visit last November, during which students attempted to climb through windows and push through doors to disrupt the speech.
Northwestern senators on both sides of the vote declined to comment when reached by the Washington Free Beacon.
The resolution was introduced by freshman Zachary Kessel, who was published by the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Sessions protest. Kessel writes for the Daily Northwestern but disagreed with the paper’s decision to apologize for covering the Sessions protest.
In his resolution, Kessel recognized the "vital" role that his campus has in stopping the "movement against free speech," in light of the illegal attempts to shut down Sessions’s speech. The resolution concluded by stating that Northwestern students "have the right to free speech and free expression, as enumerated in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution."
Kessel expressed disappointment in the vote’s outcome, arguing that it disagreed with the purpose of a university education.
"It’s one thing to disagree with Mr. Sessions's views, but another thing entirely to shout down any dissenting opinions," Kessel said in a statement to the Free Beacon. "College is supposed to be a time to expand your ideological horizons.… I have enough confidence in the strength of my values to subject them to the light of scrutiny."
The vote came in the wake of news that the city of Evanston has dropped 11 charges of disorderly conduct against five of the university’s student protesters. According to the Daily Northwestern, the city filed what is known as a nonsuit, declining to prosecute the students. The university has said it is putting the students through its own disciplinary process.
Outside the November event, students attempted to forcibly make their way into the hall to disrupt Sessions. Despite being told by university police to stop acting disruptively, students continued with their behavior, leading to some being forcibly removed from the area.
Student activists had complained that photographs taken by the Daily Northwestern of the public event were "retraumatizing and invasive," putting the protesters at risk of disciplinary action. Similarly, some students were angered that the student paper had reached out to protesters for comment through the publicly available student directory.
In the face of student pressure, the Daily Northwestern capitulated to the activist demands and published a lengthy apology. Likewise, the
"offensive" photos and protesters’ names were retroactively removed from their original coverage.
"Ultimately, The Daily failed to consider our impact in our reporting surrounding Jeff Sessions," the paper’s top editors wrote. "We know we hurt students that night, especially those who identify with marginalized groups. As a campus newspaper covering a student body that can be very easily and directly hurt by the University, we must operate differently than a professional publication in these circumstances."
The most notable of the Daily’s critics was Northwestern University’s dean of the Medill School of Journalism, Charles Whitaker, who defended the paper’s original coverage.
In a statement, Whitaker said, "It is naïve, not to mention wrong-headed, to declare, as many of our student activists have, that The Daily staff and other student journalists had somehow violated the personal space of the protesters by reporting on the proceedings, which were conducted in the open and were designed, ostensibly, to garner attention."
The paper's editors, Whitaker said, were "beat into submission by the vitriol and relentless public shaming they have been subjected to since the Sessions stories appeared."
The paper again took the side of the protests earlier this month when it published an anonymous attack against university administrators. The opinion piece called the university’s handling of both the protest and its aftermath "violent and repressive."
The piece called for the "end of police presence on all Northwestern campuses" and said support for the First Amendment was "irresponsible and dangerous."


freebeacon--2020-01-19--Dem Senator: I Don’t Believe Bernie Thinks a Woman Can’t Win

Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D. , Ohio ) said Sunday he does not believe that Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) thinks a woman can not win the presidency .
`` I think they both heard what they heard .
I do n't believe for a moment , I do n't think Bernie thinks that a woman ca n't win , '' Brown said during an appearance on CNN 's State of the Union .
`` I think that under the pressures of the presidential races tempers sometimes flare . ''
Brown was addressing the controversial exchange between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren ( D. , Mass . )
after the most recent Democratic presidential debate .
Warren accused Sanders of calling her a liar for denying that he had told her a woman could not win the presidency .
The original exchange allegedly happened , according to Warren , during a private dinner in 2018 .
Brown said he knows both of the senators well and expressed confidence that any Democratic nominee can defeat President Donald Trump in 2020 .
He also told CNN anchor Brianna Keilar that he believes `` there is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sure , either president or vice president . ''

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) said Sunday he does not believe that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) thinks a woman cannot win the presidency.
"I think they both heard what they heard. I don't believe for a moment, I don't think Bernie thinks that a woman can't win," Brown said during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union. "I think that under the pressures of the presidential races tempers sometimes flare."
Brown was addressing the controversial exchange between Sanders and his 2020 opponent Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) after the most recent Democratic presidential debate. Warren accused Sanders of calling her a liar for denying that he had told her a woman could not win the presidency. The original exchange allegedly happened, according to Warren, during a private dinner in 2018.
Brown said he knows both of the senators well and expressed confidence that any Democratic nominee can defeat President Donald Trump in 2020. He also told CNN anchor Brianna Keilar that he believes "there is going to be a woman on the ticket for sure, either president or vice president."


freebeacon--2020-01-19--Dem Rep: ‘There Was No Joy’ at Impeachment Ceremony

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ( D. , N.Y. ) said Sunday that `` there was no joy '' at the ceremony where Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) signed the House 's articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump .
`` There was no joy in that ceremony , '' Jeffries said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday .
`` And from the very beginning through the end , Speaker Pelosi has been clear that we are going to proceed in a very serious and solemn and sober fashion . ''
Anchor Chris Wallace had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicating that `` all the participants look pretty happy . ''
`` Does n't that blow a hole in your narrative that the Democrats are n't enjoying the impeachment and the effort to remove this president ? ''
Wallace asked .
Jeffries said that congressional Democrats do not `` dislike '' President Trump , pointing to bipartisan work on criminal justice reform , the USMCA trade deal , and funding the federal government .
`` We do n't dislike Donald Trump , but we do love America , '' Jeffries said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , not even the president of the United States . ''
Pelosi handed out commemorative pens during the ceremony and posed for pictures with the impeachment managers , including Jeffries .
Pelosi 's approach to the ceremony drew criticism for its treatment of the impeachment process .
Pelosi previously ordered members of her caucus not to cheer at the House vote to impeach Trump .
Jeffries , who has repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of impeachment , on Wednesday called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) `` Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a `` coverup '' to enable Trump .
McConnell has dismissed the `` Moscow Mitch '' label as `` modern-day McCarthyism , '' but it has not stopped congressional Democrats , including Jeffries and Pelosi , from using it on him .

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) said Sunday that "there was no joy" at the ceremony where Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) signed the House's articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
"There was no joy in that ceremony," Jeffries said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. "And from the very beginning through the end, Speaker Pelosi has been clear that we are going to proceed in a very serious and solemn and sober fashion."
Anchor Chris Wallace had shown Jeffries photos of the ceremony, indicating that "all the participants look pretty happy."
"Doesn't that blow a hole in your narrative that the Democrats aren't enjoying the impeachment and the effort to remove this president?" Wallace asked.
Jeffries said that congressional Democrats do not "dislike" President Trump, pointing to bipartisan work on criminal justice reform, the USMCA trade deal, and funding the federal government.
"We don't dislike Donald Trump, but we do love America," Jeffries said. "In America, no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States."
Pelosi handed out commemorative pens during the ceremony and posed for pictures with the impeachment managers, including Jeffries. Pelosi's approach to the ceremony drew criticism for its treatment of the impeachment process.
Pelosi previously ordered members of her caucus not to cheer at the House vote to impeach Trump.
Jeffries, who has repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of impeachment, on Wednesday called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) "Moscow Mitch" and suggested he had engaged in a "coverup" to enable Trump. McConnell has dismissed the "Moscow Mitch" label as "modern-day McCarthyism," but it has not stopped congressional Democrats, including Jeffries and Pelosi, from using it on him.


Beacon Extra 1/17/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
BIDEN THANKS PELOSI … `` Senator Bernie Sanders ‘ Would Rather Be In Iowa.
’ , '' via NYT : On Thursday , shortly after taking the oath to do `` impartial justice '' in President Trump ’ s impeachment trial , [ Sanders ] confessed there were places he would rather be .
`` I would rather be in Iowa today , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , '' he said , after being asked whether he was concerned the trial would do damage to his presidential campaign .
`` I ’ d rather be in New Hampshire and in Nevada and so forth .
But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job and I ’ m here to do my job , and I think the people of the United States understand that . ''
FLEEING THE SINKING CANOE … `` N.H. State Rep Flees Warren for Klobuchar , '' by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representative Michael Pedersen ( D. ) credited [ Sen. Amy ] Klobuchar with a `` proven track record of winning in Trump country '' and said Warren 's electoral victories have only been in the `` liberal northeast . ''
… He also said this week 's debate cemented his change of heart .
He saw Warren 's feud with Sanders as an indication that the two do n't `` appeal widely across the nation as Sen .
Klobuchar . ''
SHOTS FIRED … `` Dem Candidate : Chuck Schumer Does n't Think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : That 's what State Sen. Erica Smith ( D. ) , a former Boeing engineer , told a group of North Carolina voters at a recent campaign event while discussing the national Democratic Party 's endorsement of her white male primary opponent , Cal Cunningham .
`` Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina , '' said Smith , who has previously attacked the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Democratic primary .
SOMETHING ’ S ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF VERMONT … `` Bernie ‘ Will Play Dirty ' : Ex-Vermont Governor Slams Sanders , '' via POLITICO : In an interview with POLITICO , Peter Shumlin—who has endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020 and served as Vermont ’ s governor from 2011 to 2017 , while Sanders represented the state in the Senate—warned that Sanders , an independent and self-described Democratic socialist , ultimately did not feel loyalty to Democrats .
`` What I ’ ve seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team feel they ’ re holier than the rest .
In the end , they will play dirty because they think that they pass a purity test that Republicans and most Democrats don ’ t pass , '' said Shumlin .
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN WOKE … `` As Violent Crime Surged , Buttigieg Admin Lectured Cops on ‘ Sizeism ’ , '' by WFB ’ s Yuichiro Kakutani : The slides for one of the [ diversity and anti-discrimination training ] sessions urged officers to avoid the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` hearing-impaired . ''
`` HEARING-IMPAIRED : an inappropriate term commonly used by hearing individuals referring to those who are Deaf , '' one slide read .
`` Considered offensive ; implying that their hearing is broken , and needs to be fixed . ''
SIGNED , SEALED , DELIVERED … `` Senate Passes USMCA , New North American Trade Pact , '' via WSJ : The U.S. Senate easily passed an overhaul of North America ’ s trade rules on Thursday , sending a major Trump administration priority to the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 10 in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement , which replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement .
The pact updates trading rules in the continent to address 21st-century technology , safeguard environmental and labor standards in Mexico and toughen requirements for auto-industry trade among the three countries .
Notably , the vote reassures farmers , manufacturers and other businesses that tariff-free trade will continue in North America .
THE TRUTH HURTS … `` BEASTMODE : McSally Calls CNN Reporter ‘ Liberal Hack ’ , '' by WFB Staff : Sen. Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not interested in answering impeachment questions from CNN Thursday .
The network 's senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju went up to McSally and her staff to ask whether she believed the Senate should consider new evidence as part of the impeachment trial , prompting her to say , `` You ’ re a liberal hack .
I ’ m not talking to you . ''
DISSENTING VOICE HORRIFIES COLUMNIST … `` ‘ The View ’ Has a Meghan McCain Problem , '' via NYT : For some viewers , Ms. McCain is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the American military-industrial complex .
That coalescence naturally renders her a villain to progressives , who envision her as the cathartic personification of a punching bag on social media … Post-2016 , we are presented with a platform that is devoid of the varnish of genteel , yet is still asking us to take a little time to enjoy the view .
The problem is , with Ms. McCain still on the show , there ’ s not much to enjoy .
The Never-Ending Impeachment , '' by WFB ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polarized vote on two vague and weak articles betrayed the political motivations behind the enterprise .
Impeachment shields Pelosi from leftwing recriminations in the event that Trump is reelected and Democrats retain the House … The test of Republican unity will be a motion to call witnesses .
Republican senators will have to ask why they would want to make Schumer 's job—winning the Senate for Democrats in 2020—any easier by crossing party lines .
Prolonging the trial would legitimize a flawed and politicized investigation .
Republicans understand by now that Pelosi and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact-finding mission .
They are the leaders of an impeachment that will never end .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,132 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Bernie doesn't want to be here, a Warren supporter flips, and impeachment will never end
Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
BIDEN THANKS PELOSI … "Senator Bernie Sanders ‘Would Rather Be In Iowa.’," via NYT: On Thursday, shortly after taking the oath to do "impartial justice" in President Trump’s impeachment trial, [Sanders] confessed there were places he would rather be.
"I would rather be in Iowa today, there’s a caucus there in two-and-a-half weeks," he said, after being asked whether he was concerned the trial would do damage to his presidential campaign. "I’d rather be in New Hampshire and in Nevada and so forth. But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job and I’m here to do my job, and I think the people of the United States understand that."
FLEEING THE SINKING CANOE … "N.H. State Rep Flees Warren for Klobuchar," by WFB’s Graham Piro: State representative Michael Pedersen (D.) credited [Sen. Amy] Klobuchar with a "proven track record of winning in Trump country" and said Warren's electoral victories have only been in the "liberal northeast." …
He also said this week's debate cemented his change of heart. He saw Warren's feud with Sanders as an indication that the two don't "appeal widely across the nation as Sen. Klobuchar."
SHOTS FIRED … "Dem Candidate: Chuck Schumer Doesn't Think a Black Woman Can Win in North Carolina," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: That's what State Sen. Erica Smith (D.), a former Boeing engineer, told a group of North Carolina voters at a recent campaign event while discussing the national Democratic Party's endorsement of her white male primary opponent, Cal Cunningham.
"Sen. Schumer, for whatever reason, did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina," said Smith, who has previously attacked the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for breaking its pledge to remain neutral in the Democratic primary.
SOMETHING’S ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF VERMONT … "Bernie 'Will Play Dirty': Ex-Vermont Governor Slams Sanders," via POLITICO: In an interview with POLITICO, Peter Shumlin—who has endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020 and served as Vermont’s governor from 2011 to 2017, while Sanders represented the state in the Senate—warned that Sanders, an independent and self-described Democratic socialist, ultimately did not feel loyalty to Democrats.
"What I’ve seen in Bernie’s politics is he and his team feel they’re holier than the rest. In the end, they will play dirty because they think that they pass a purity test that Republicans and most Democrats don’t pass," said Shumlin.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN WOKE … "As Violent Crime Surged, Buttigieg Admin Lectured Cops on ‘Sizeism’," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The slides for one of the [diversity and anti-discrimination training] sessions urged officers to avoid the use of "ableist" terms, such as "hearing-impaired."
"HEARING-IMPAIRED: an inappropriate term commonly used by hearing individuals referring to those who are Deaf," one slide read. "Considered offensive; implying that their hearing is broken, and needs to be fixed."
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED … "Senate Passes USMCA, New North American Trade Pact," via WSJ: The U.S. Senate easily passed an overhaul of North America’s trade rules on Thursday, sending a major Trump administration priority to the president’s desk.
The Senate voted 89 to 10 in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. The pact updates trading rules in the continent to address 21st-century technology, safeguard environmental and labor standards in Mexico and toughen requirements for auto-industry trade among the three countries. Notably, the vote reassures farmers, manufacturers and other businesses that tariff-free trade will continue in North America.
THE TRUTH HURTS … "BEASTMODE: McSally Calls CNN Reporter ‘Liberal Hack’," by WFB Staff: Sen. Martha McSally (R., Ariz.) was not interested in answering impeachment questions from CNN Thursday.
The network's senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju went up to McSally and her staff to ask whether she believed the Senate should consider new evidence as part of the impeachment trial, prompting her to say, "You’re a liberal hack. I’m not talking to you."
DISSENTING VOICE HORRIFIES COLUMNIST … "‘The View’ Has a Meghan McCain Problem," via NYT: For some viewers, Ms. McCain is the privileged product of conservative nepotism, capitalism, and the American military-industrial complex. That coalescence naturally renders her a villain to progressives, who envision her as the cathartic personification of a punching bag on social media …
Post-2016, we are presented with a platform that is devoid of the varnish of genteel, yet is still asking us to take a little time to enjoy the view. The problem is, with Ms. McCain still on the show, there’s not much to enjoy.
NO, YOU DIDN'T …
I've talked to my 5-year-old niece about my work and abortion in an age-appropriate way. She understands that kids are a handful and sometimes people don't want to be pregnant. She gets it because it's quite simple.https://t.co/w4Rq6JrUP3 — Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) January 15, 2020
The Never-Ending Impeachment," by WFB’s Matthew Continetti: The rushed inquiry and polarized vote on two vague and weak articles betrayed the political motivations behind the enterprise. Impeachment shields Pelosi from leftwing recriminations in the event that Trump is reelected and Democrats retain the House …
The test of Republican unity will be a motion to call witnesses. Republican senators will have to ask why they would want to make Schumer's job—winning the Senate for Democrats in 2020—any easier by crossing party lines. Prolonging the trial would legitimize a flawed and politicized investigation. Republicans understand by now that Pelosi and Schumer aren't engaged in an honest fact-finding mission. They are the leaders of an impeachment that will never end.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,132. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


Beacon Extra

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
SOLEMN SMILES … `` Dem Rep : ‘ There Was No Joy ’ at Impeachment Ceremony , '' by WFB ’ s Graham Piro : `` There was no joy in that ceremony , '' Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ( D. , N.Y. ) said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday .
`` And from the very beginning through the end , Speaker [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are going to proceed in a very serious and solemn and sober fashion . ''
Anchor Chris Wallace had shown Jeffries photos of the ceremony , indicating that `` all the participants look pretty happy . ''
IT 'S ALL ON VHS … `` Biden and Sanders Fight Over Social Security , '' via WSJ : `` The facts are very clear : [ Joe ] Biden not only pushed to cut Social Security—he is on tape proudly bragging about it on multiple occasions , '' [ Bernie Sanders campaign manager ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to 1995 Senate floor speeches in which Mr. Biden noted his work with Republicans to balance the federal budget .
COMRADES , PLEASE !
… `` Sanders and Warren Try to Tone Down Rift .
Some of Their Supporters Seem Less Willing , '' via NYT : Yet after [ Senator Bernie ] Sanders and [ Senator Elizabeth ] Warren , of Massachusetts , angrily accused one another of lying about whether he had told her a woman could not defeat President Trump , and with just over two weeks until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two progressives and erstwhile political allies remained upset .
`` I was really disappointed , '' said Jayne Cousins , an ardent Sanders supporter who attended his [ New Hampshire ] rally .
She predicted Ms. Warren ’ s claim , which Mr. Sanders denies , would adversely impact Ms. Warren because , she said , it was so implausible .
LETHARGIC FRONTRUNNER … `` Progressives Warn of a Great Deflation , '' via THE ATLANTIC : [ Joe ] Biden ’ s rallies are consistently much less well attended [ than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
And although crowd size is not necessarily predictive of electoral success , it could indicate whether a candidate has a sizable pool of enthusiastic volunteers to draw from in the general election .
A Biden nomination would trigger a huge deflation in enthusiasm , and a shrinking of that volunteer pool , progressives argue .
RUNNING SCARED … `` Under criticism , Buttigieg changes plans and will attend King Day event in South Carolina , '' via WAPO : [ Former South Bend mayor Pete ] Buttigieg ’ s planned absence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some in the state as a slap at those voters .
`` I ’ m putting this out there .
Candidates skipping King Day at the Dome is disrespectful [ as it gets , ] '' Bakari Sellers , a former South Carolina state legislator who endorsed Sen. Kamala D. Harris ( D. , Calif. ) before her departure from the presidential race , tweeted on Friday .
`` You don ’ t miss an Iowa steak fry .
Look , you ’ re not just speaking to black folk in SC you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South .
I ’ m disappointed .
It ’ s like you don ’ t care . ''
SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE … `` ‘ It 's going to be devastating ' : Senators gear up for no-talking , no-electronics impeachment trial rules , '' via CNN : To start , lawmakers used to giving lengthy speeches on the Senate floor to weigh in on the issues of the day will instead have to be quiet .
Official decorum guidelines for the trial released by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that senators must refrain from speaking while the case is being presented … '' It 's going to be devastating for some , '' Democratic senator Jon Tester of Montana said with a smile about the fact that senators wo n't be able to talk .
MIGA ?
… `` ‘ Make Iran Great Again !
’ : Trump hits back after Khamenei ’ s gibe , '' via POLITICO : Shortly after Trump ’ s tweet , [ Ayatollah Ali ] Khamenei ’ s official English language account tweeted out that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Iranian people .
`` If you are standing by the Iranian ppl , it is only to stab them in the heart with your venomous daggers .
Of course , you have so far failed to do so , & you will certainly continue to fail , '' Khamenei 's account said .
Trump retweeted his response in both English and Farsi : `` The noble people of Iran—who love America—deserve a government that ’ s more interested in helping them achieve their dreams than killing them for demanding respect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leaders should abandon terror and Make Iran Great Again ! ''
FINISHING WHAT MEL GIBSON STARTED … `` UK 's Harry and Meghan to drop titles and retire as working royals , '' via REUTERS : The couple ’ s plans for independence , announced after a long break over the Christmas period in Canada , caught the rest of the royal family by surprise earlier this month and left the queen and other senior Windsors hurt and disappointed , according to royal sources .
However , in a TV interview aired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear how they were struggling with the immense media attention .
Harry said he felt his wife had faced `` bullying '' from some tabloids .
RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE … `` NBC News ' Ben Collins slammed for warning of ‘ white nationalist rally in Virginia ' , '' via FOX NEWS : Ahead of Monday 's gun-rights rally in Virginia , NBC News reporter Ben Collins labeled the event a `` white nationalist '' gathering Sunday , even as he warned against spreading `` made-up stuff '' on Twitter—prompting scores of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to condemn his network for sanctioning Collins ' checkered reporting on the so-called `` dystopia beat . ''
… Commentators and Second Amendment advocates had unloaded on Collins , asserting that it was strikingly unfair to claim that the thousands of expected attendees at the gun-rights rally were attending a `` white nationalist '' event simply because a handful of people outside the state potentially plotted to attend .
A TIME FOR NOT CHOOSING … `` Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren : The Democrats ’ Best Choices for President , '' via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this page is not throwing its weight behind a single candidate , favoring centrists or progressives .
But it ’ s a fight the party itself has been itching to have since Mrs. Clinton ’ s defeat in 2016 , and one that should be played out in the public arena and in the privacy of the voting booth .
That ’ s the very purpose of primaries , to test-market strategies and ideas that can galvanize and inspire the country .
Ms. Klobuchar and Ms. Warren right now are the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May the best woman win .
REID ’ S CYBER EXPERT UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT … `` Joy Reid Body Language Expert Says Elizabeth Warren Was Telling the Truth : ‘ I Think Bernie ’ s Lying ’ , '' via MEDIAITE : `` Most of us want to deal with it afterwards instead of just going right for it , '' [ body language expert Janine ] Driver said , and added `` The fact that Elizabeth Warren not only came right over , she squared her body , he ’ s giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t turn to her , she says ‘ I think you just called me a liar on national TV , ’ if you go back to Wienergate , you go back to all of these political armageddons when it comes to deception , no one calls someone else a liar . ''
LACK OF JEW-BAITING DAMPENS ENTHUSIASM … `` Women 's March Draws A Smaller , But Passionate Crowd , '' via NPR : The fourth annual Women 's March descended on the streets of Washington on Saturday .
But unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the capital the day after President Trump 's inauguration , the march drew just a fraction of the original turnout as the movement has struggled with changes in leadership and questions about inclusivity … After claims of anti-Semitism pushed three founding members of the Women 's March to step down from their roles last year , a bigger and more diverse board took their place .
WE READ IT BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL … `` Review : ‘ Restoring Our Republic ’ by Ned Ryun , '' by WFB ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the word `` transcendent '' need to appear in a book about the history of the American republic and how to `` reclaim '' it from the communists ?
Once ?
Twice ?
Surely , 13 times is excessive , but Ryun lets it fly like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stuttering at the podium .
The word `` Trump , '' meanwhile , appears just one time and only in the context of praising the administration 's efforts to reform the Department of Agriculture , an agency that ought to have been abolished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting `` small government '' in this country .
Alas… DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,135 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-20--Warren Wealth Tax Will Have Little Effect on Inequality, Wealth Tax Pioneer Says

Wealth taxes of the sort proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
will have little impact on economic inequality , one of the pioneers of wealth taxation wrote in a recent paper .
Edward Wolff , an economist at New York University whose 1995 book Top Heavy was one of the first to float the idea of a tax on wealth , argued in a recent paper that Warren 's wealth tax would have a `` minuscule '' effect on wealth inequality .
Using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances , Wolff examined the effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swiss-style wealth tax , finding that both would have minimal impact on America 's Gini coefficient , a standard economic measure of inequality .
`` How do the Swiss and Warren wealth tax affect overall wealth inequality ?
On the basis of the Gini coefficient , there would be virtually no impact from either tax , '' Wolff wrote .
`` If one objective of a wealth tax is to substantially reduce wealth inequality , neither of these taxes will achieve that objective . ''
This finding , in particular from Wolff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns like Warren 's and Sen. Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) have framed as a way to close the yawning gap between rich and poor .
Although Wolff remains sympathetic to wealth taxation , his findings further illustrate why many European countries have abandoned wealth taxes in favor of other schemes .
Wolff 's conclusions rely on an analysis of the impact that Warren 's wealth tax would have on the Gini coefficient , a statistical measure of how unequally income or wealth are distributed across society .
A Gini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equally distributed , while a coefficient of one means perfect inequality .
For income , the United States has a coefficient of 0.39 , making it the sixth-most unequal country among the OECD , a group of economically developed nations .
Wolff finds that the Gini coefficient for wealth was between 0.87 and 0.88 as of 2016 .
According to Wolff 's estimate , Warren 's wealth tax—using the old tax rates of 2 percent on wealth in excess of $ 50 million and 3 percent on wealth in excess of $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.0005 .
In other words , wealth inequality would be reduced by roughly half a percent under the Warren tax scheme .
The reason for this surprising finding has partially to do with the way Gini is calculated , such that it is less likely to change simply because of a reduction in wealth at the very top end of the income distribution— '' it is much more sensitive to changes in the middle of the distribution , '' Wolff writes .
But the change would also be minimal because the actual revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a relatively small percentage of total household wealth .
Wolff estimates revenues between $ 230 and $ 303 billion , just a fraction of the $ 2.4 trillion held by the top 400 households alone .
Wolff concludes the paper still seemingly supportive of a wealth tax as part of a more broadly progressive tax system .
As he told the New Yorker , `` From the point of view of fairness , you want to tax people based on their ability to pay … Income itself does n't give you a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combination of income and wealth is better . ''
( Wolff did not respond to a request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon for this article . )
Still , his findings raise questions about the ability of a wealth tax to bring about the `` big , structural change '' that the Warren campaign has promised .
Last January , Warren campaign adviser Emannuel Saez claimed that `` [ t ] he Warren wealth tax … could have a significant affect [ sic ] on wealth concentration in the long run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of California , Berkeley colleague Gabriel Zucman , masterminded the wealth tax schemes proposed by both Warren 's and Sanders 's campaigns , with the explicit goal of reducing what they see as massive income inequality .
Wolff 's analysis throws cold water on those hopes .
Wolff 's findings represent only one year 's worth of tax revenue ; proponents of the wealth tax may argue that its equalizing effects will compound over years , as billionaires ' fortunes are scraped away .
But , Wolff told CNBC in November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big capital flight out of this country , '' as the small number of households actually affected by the tax take their proverbial money and run .
`` Who is going to sit around and see their wealth earning nothing or even in negative territory ? ''
Wolff asked .
( He favors a smaller tax , which he argues would reduce the incentive to flee . )
Concerns about capital flight—as well as about how easily a wealth tax can be administered , and about its constitutionality—have been a hallmark of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns , as well as low actual revenues realized , are part of why 11 European countries abolished their wealth taxes between 1996 and 2018 .

Wealth taxes of the sort proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) will have little impact on economic inequality, one of the pioneers of wealth taxation wrote in a recent paper.
Edward Wolff, an economist at New York University whose 1995 book Top Heavy was one of the first to float the idea of a tax on wealth, argued in a recent paper that Warren's wealth tax would have a "minuscule" effect on wealth inequality. Using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, Wolff examined the effects of both Warren's tax and a Swiss-style wealth tax, finding that both would have minimal impact on America's Gini coefficient, a standard economic measure of inequality.
"How do the Swiss and Warren wealth tax affect overall wealth inequality? On the basis of the Gini coefficient, there would be virtually no impact from either tax," Wolff wrote. "If one objective of a wealth tax is to substantially reduce wealth inequality, neither of these taxes will achieve that objective."
This finding, in particular from Wolff, challenges the efficacy of a tax which campaigns like Warren's and Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) have framed as a way to close the yawning gap between rich and poor. Although Wolff remains sympathetic to wealth taxation, his findings further illustrate why many European countries have abandoned wealth taxes in favor of other schemes.
Wolff's conclusions rely on an analysis of the impact that Warren's wealth tax would have on the Gini coefficient, a statistical measure of how unequally income or wealth are distributed across society. A Gini coefficient of zero means wealth is perfectly equally distributed, while a coefficient of one means perfect inequality. For income, the United States has a coefficient of 0.39, making it the sixth-most unequal country among the OECD, a group of economically developed nations. Wolff finds that the Gini coefficient for wealth was between 0.87 and 0.88 as of 2016.
According to Wolff's estimate, Warren's wealth tax—using the old tax rates of 2 percent on wealth in excess of $50 million and 3 percent on wealth in excess of $1 billion—would cut U.S. Gini by at most 0.0005. In other words, wealth inequality would be reduced by roughly half a percent under the Warren tax scheme.
The reason for this surprising finding has partially to do with the way Gini is calculated, such that it is less likely to change simply because of a reduction in wealth at the very top end of the income distribution—"it is much more sensitive to changes in the middle of the distribution," Wolff writes. But the change would also be minimal because the actual revenue raised by the wealth tax would be a relatively small percentage of total household wealth. Wolff estimates revenues between $230 and $303 billion, just a fraction of the $2.4 trillion held by the top 400 households alone.
Wolff concludes the paper still seemingly supportive of a wealth tax as part of a more broadly progressive tax system. As he told the New Yorker, "From the point of view of fairness, you want to tax people based on their ability to pay … Income itself doesn't give you a good indicator of ability to pay. Some combination of income and wealth is better." (Wolff did not respond to a request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon for this article.)
Still, his findings raise questions about the ability of a wealth tax to bring about the "big, structural change" that the Warren campaign has promised. Last January, Warren campaign adviser Emannuel Saez claimed that "[t]he Warren wealth tax … could have a significant affect [sic] on wealth concentration in the long run." Saez, along with his University of California, Berkeley colleague Gabriel Zucman, masterminded the wealth tax schemes proposed by both Warren's and Sanders's campaigns, with the explicit goal of reducing what they see as massive income inequality. Wolff's analysis throws cold water on those hopes.
Wolff's findings represent only one year's worth of tax revenue; proponents of the wealth tax may argue that its equalizing effects will compound over years, as billionaires' fortunes are scraped away. But, Wolff told CNBC in November, Warren's tax may also "induce a big capital flight out of this country," as the small number of households actually affected by the tax take their proverbial money and run.
"Who is going to sit around and see their wealth earning nothing or even in negative territory?" Wolff asked. (He favors a smaller tax, which he argues would reduce the incentive to flee.)
Concerns about capital flight—as well as about how easily a wealth tax can be administered, and about its constitutionality—have been a hallmark of critics of the Warren plan. Such concerns, as well as low actual revenues realized, are part of why 11 European countries abolished their wealth taxes between 1996 and 2018.


freebeacon--2020-01-20--Fareed Zakaria Features Guest Who Rebukes Central Argument of Zakaria’s Book

Fareed Zakaria , who theorized about the coming post-America world order in his 2008 book , featured a guest on his Sunday show who said America 's economic dominance in the past decade has expanded .
The segment , titled `` America 's Decade of Dominance , '' featured Ruchir Sharma , chief global strategist for Morgan Stanley .
Sharma said that investing in the 2010s was `` all about America . ''
`` America 's share in the global economy actually increased from 23 to 25 percent , '' Sharma said .
`` Now you can say that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given what people thought what America was going to do at the turn of the decade where there was so much declinism about America , this is a pretty surprising outcome . ''
`` When it comes to stock market returns , when it comes to the use of the U.S. dollar in the international system , the U.S. completely dominates in a way that no other country does , '' Sharma continued .
`` In fact , the dominance of the U.S. today is so complete that the U.S. share in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He also pointed out that the U.S. stock market has seen a far larger increase in value than any other nation 's stock market over the last decade .
These numbers run contrary to Zakaria 's thesis featured in his 2008 book , The Post-American World .
Zakaria argued that America 's economic dominance would be undermined by an ineffective political system as other countries caught up to the United States .
However , even Zakaria circa 2020 was forced to agree that this had not come to pass .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of it we came out of it better than anybody else , '' Zakaria said Sunday .

Fareed Zakaria, who theorized about the coming post-America world order in his 2008 book, featured a guest on his Sunday show who said America's economic dominance in the past decade has expanded.
The segment, titled "America's Decade of Dominance," featured Ruchir Sharma, chief global strategist for Morgan Stanley. Sharma said that investing in the 2010s was "all about America."
"America's share in the global economy actually increased from 23 to 25 percent," Sharma said. "Now you can say that's not much of an increase, but given what people thought what America was going to do at the turn of the decade where there was so much declinism about America, this is a pretty surprising outcome."
"When it comes to stock market returns, when it comes to the use of the U.S. dollar in the international system, the U.S. completely dominates in a way that no other country does," Sharma continued. "In fact, the dominance of the U.S. today is so complete that the U.S. share in the global stock markets today is 56 percent."
He also pointed out that the U.S. stock market has seen a far larger increase in value than any other nation's stock market over the last decade.
These numbers run contrary to Zakaria's thesis featured in his 2008 book, The Post-American World. Zakaria argued that America's economic dominance would be undermined by an ineffective political system as other countries caught up to the United States.
However, even Zakaria circa 2020 was forced to agree that this had not come to pass.
"We started the global financial crisis but by the end of it we came out of it better than anybody else," Zakaria said Sunday.


freebeacon--2020-01-21--Erickson: I Only Trust Free Beacon Reporting on Firearms

Washington Free Beacon firearms reporter Stephen Gutowski is the most trustworthy source for coverage of the gun debate , radio host Erick Erickson said Monday .
`` The only member of the media that I trust on the Second Amendment issue is Stephen Gutowski from the Washington Free Beacon , '' Erickson said during his show Atlanta 's Evening News .
`` The reason I trust Stephen and do n't trust anyone else is because Stephen actually is a Second Amendment supporter who is also an NRA firearms instructor , and that matters because so many people in the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is . ''
Later in his show , Erickson criticized mainstream coverage of Monday 's gun-rights rally in Richmond , Va. , including an MSNBC anchor labeling it a `` white supremacist '' event .
Erickson contrasted mainstream networks ' coverage with Gutowski 's `` reasonable '' reporting .
`` [ Gutowski ] is very reasonable , he 's very pro-Second Amendment , and he 's willing to say when the Second Amendment side is doing something they should n't do , '' Erickson said .
`` But he 's also willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the media who do n't know what they 're talking about and also the BS a lot of people who claim to support Second Amendment and really want to undermine it . ''
Erickson went on to play a soundbite from an interview Gutowski conducted with a Second Amendment supporter at the rally .
He also noted attendees ' nonviolent rhetoric .

Washington Free Beacon firearms reporter Stephen Gutowski is the most trustworthy source for coverage of the gun debate, radio host Erick Erickson said Monday.
"The only member of the media that I trust on the Second Amendment issue is Stephen Gutowski from the Washington Free Beacon," Erickson said during his show Atlanta's Evening News. "The reason I trust Stephen and don't trust anyone else is because Stephen actually is a Second Amendment supporter who is also an NRA firearms instructor, and that matters because so many people in the media have no idea what a gun even is."
Later in his show, Erickson criticized mainstream coverage of Monday's gun-rights rally in Richmond, Va., including an MSNBC anchor labeling it a "white supremacist" event. Erickson contrasted mainstream networks' coverage with Gutowski's "reasonable" reporting.
"[Gutowski] is very reasonable, he's very pro-Second Amendment, and he's willing to say when the Second Amendment side is doing something they shouldn't do," Erickson said. "But he's also willing to expose the BS of so many people in the media who don't know what they're talking about and also the BS a lot of people who claim to support Second Amendment and really want to undermine it."
Erickson went on to play a soundbite from an interview Gutowski conducted with a Second Amendment supporter at the rally. He also noted attendees' nonviolent rhetoric.