Tag: taxes

Trump ENDS Secret Service protection for Biden children after learning of ‘ridiculous’ cost to taxpayers

President Donald Trump removed Hunter and Ashley Biden’s Secret Service detail, citing Hunter’s recent trip to South Africa as the reason. 

Joe Biden gave his children six months of Secret Service protection after he left office. It’s not an unusual move by a president. Trump gave his children six months of protection after his first term.

But Trump blasted Biden’s son for going to South Africa and taking his detail, citing the high cost to the U.S. taxpayer. Hunter’s wife Melissa Cohen is originally from South Africa. 

The president’s announcement came hours after a reporter asked Trump about Hunter’s detail. The president said he had not been aware of it but would look into it. 

‘Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer. There are as many as 18 people on this Detail, which is ridiculous! He is currently vacationing in, of all places, South Africa, where the Human Rights of people has been strenuously questioned,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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What Are The Left’s Solutions For The Problems They Created?

The Wall Street Journal has consistently criticized Trump’s economic policies, particularly his ongoing “trade war” with Canada, over the past several weeks. And certainly, the tensions are regrettable. Trump’s trolling of the insufferable Justin Trudeau, with talk of Canada becoming the “51st state,” perhaps only galvanized the Canadian left. It unfortunately may ensure that the only real hope for a Canadian return to normality, the election of Pierre Poilievre, may be lost.

That said, does the WSJ truly believe that the current $1.7 trillion budget deficit stacked on top of $36 trillion in national debt and an annual $1 trillion trade deficit are sustainable in any fashion? Do they believe any Republican president would have survived the midterms if he cut or “reformed” Social Security? If so, consult the fate of the recommendations of left-wing Barack Obama’s 2010 Simpson-Bowles commission (“The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform”).

DOGE, the effort to demand either symmetrical or no tariffs, closing the border, the rare minerals agreement, etc., are all controversial, even desperate efforts to stave off insolvency.

NAFTA was sold on the promise of trade equilibriums, eventually leading to no tariffs and rough parity. Yet Canada currently runs a $60 billion surplus largely because of its energy sales and selective tariffs on U.S. agriculture and some manufactured goods. That sum might be tolerable from a friend and not worth the acrimony, even with the present massive trade and budget deficits—if it had occurred in isolation.

But it did not.

The Canadian surplus is force multiplied by its chronic refusal to spend a measly 2 percent of its GDP on defense. Canada could have easily offered a partnership with the U.S. to explore joint missile defense or shared Arctic Ocean naval patrols with a new fleet of Canadian and American icebreakers.

But it did nothing of the sort.

Worse still, no Canadian leader can offer any defense of their policies, such as: 

“We believe a $60 billion surplus with our free-trade American partner is justified, and we also believe we are further correct in not spending our promised 2 percent of GDP on defense.” 

Their veritable retort of “Trump is a monster” is no defense at all.

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Virginia Governor’s Veto Of Marijuana Sales Bill Would Erase Millions In Revenue For Pre-K And Drug Treatment, State Report Shows

With Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) widely expected to veto a lawmaker-passed plan to legalize retail marijuana sales in the commonwealth, a new fiscal impact statement makes clear that rejecting the proposal would mean missing out on tens of millions of dollars in annual state revenue—including for pre-kindergarten programs, community reinvestment and substance use treatment.

Annual government revenue would begin at an estimated $7.3 million in fiscal year 2026, according to the Department of Taxation, rising steadily as the regulated system got off the ground. By fiscal year 2031, the figure is projected to climb to an annual $87.84 million.

All told, by the end of fiscal 2031, retail cannabis is expected to bring Virginia nearly $300 million in total revenue.

The income would come from an 8 percent excise tax on marijuana sales and a 1.125 percent sales tax imposed under the legislation, from Sen. Aaron Rouse (D) and Rep. Paul Krizek (D).

The numbers were published on Friday in a report from the state Department of Planning and Budget.

The top-level revenue projection does not include separate, local taxes of up to 2.5 percent. Depending on how broadly municipalities implement those taxes, they could bring in up to $2 million statewide in fiscal 2026, rising to an estimated $24.09 million by fiscal 2031.

The bulk of the state money would go to community reinvestment. The Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund would receive an estimated $1.92 million in fiscal 2026, which would rise to $46.26 million in fiscal 2031.

Money would also go to preventing and treating substance use disorders. That would be about $1.92 million in fiscal 2026, rising to $19.27 in fiscal 2031.

Revenue would also fund pre-kindergarten programs (beginning at $2.56 million initially and rising to $7.72 million annually in fiscal 2031), public health programs ($320,000 initially and rising to $3.85 million in fiscal 2031) and other initiatives.

In terms of how the revenue is divided, that would change over time. Until fiscal 2027, 40 percent would fund pre-K, 30 percent would go to the reinvestment fund, 25 percent would go toward substance use disorders and 5 percent would fund public health programs. After that, 10 percent would go to pre-K, 60 percent to community reinvestment, 25 percent to substance use disorders and 5 percent to public health.

As for costs, preparing for and administering a regulated retail sales program would cost several million dollars per year—about $9.37 million total in fiscal 2026 and an estimated $9.26 annually after that.

Licensing fees for marijuana businesses would pay the bulk of administrative costs at the Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), which would regulate the adult-use retail system. During its first year, however, some funds would also need to come from the state general fund.

New expenses at CCA would include 73 more staff members as well as technology and equipment, vehicles and travel.

The Department of Taxation, meanwhile, would incur estimated costs of $468,950 during the first fiscal year of operation in order to update forms and internal systems.

State Police, meanwhile, would incur just over $200,000 annually to hire two additional staff members to conduct fingerprinting and background checks.

Despite the fiscal impact report indicating that legalizing retail sales could bring Virginia hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue over the next several years, the state’s governor is widely expected to veto the lawmaker-passed bills.

Youngkin vetoed a nearly identical proposal last legislative session, and his office has said he’s inclined to do the same this year.

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Pennsylvania Is ‘Losing Out’ To Neighboring States By Keeping Marijuana Illegal, Governor Says

As Pennsylvania lawmakers once again consider proposals to legalize marijuana, the governor is emphasizing that the state is “losing out” to others that have already enacted the reform, while maintaining a policy that’s enriched the illicit market.

During a wide-ranging video that was released on Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) was asked about his call to legalization cannabis for adult use, which he included in his latest budget request that’s been discussed at multiple committee hearings over recent weeks.

“I think it’s an issue of freedom and liberty. I mean, if folks want to smoke, they should be able to do so in a safe and legal way,” he said. “We should shut down the black market—and, by the way, every state around us is doing it. Pennsylvanians are driving to those other states and paying taxes in those other states.”

“It’s time we get some of that revenue here,” Shapiro said.

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$312 Million In COVID Loans Went To Children As Oversight Failures Mount

A major federal audit has revealed that government mismanagement during the pandemic led to thousands of loans being granted to ineligible recipients. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) confirmed that 5,593 loans totaling $312 million were approved for applicants younger than 12 years old.

The loans, issued under the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) pandemic relief programs, were all found to have been processed using incorrect Social Security numbers. DOGE officials stated that the scale of these mismatches indicates widespread fraud, as children do not typically own or operate small businesses.

Further investigation revealed that another $333 million in loans was distributed to individuals listed as being at least 115 years old. One applicant recorded as 157 years old received a $36,000 loan, despite their age making them ineligible for any type of business relief assistance.

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This Is the Strongest Case for Trump’s Tariffs I’ve Heard Yet

Donald Trump’s tariff policies remain a lightning rod for debate. Democrats are sounding the alarm, warning of dire economic fallout and painting a picture of looming catastrophe.

Batya Ungar-Sargon, deputy opinion editor of Newsweek, made one of the strongest, most effective cases yet for former President Donald Trump’s tariffs during the latest episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher.” She broke down exactly why these tariffs are necessary, and by the end, she left Bill Maher flustered.

Ungar-Sargon’s explanation couldn’t have been clearer: manufacturing jobs and economic nationalism are crucial for the American middle class.

When the conversation turned to the economy of the 1970s, Ungar-Sargon wasted no time explaining why so many Americans look back on that era with nostalgia. “In the ‘70s, the largest share of our GDP was in the middle class,” she said. “And that was not separate from the fact that 25% of our economy was in manufacturing.”

Maher sought clarification, asking if that meant “most of what was produced came from the middle, and now it comes from the rich.”

“Now, the top 20% controls over 50% of the GDP,” Ungar-Sargon confirmed, highlighting how economic power has been funneled away from the working class. “That manufacturing is still being done; it’s just being done in other countries.”

Maher interjected, noting that the jobs have moved overseas for “wages we will not work for.”

This, of course, is true, but it also proved Ungar-Sargon’s point.

“Yes, that’s exactly right. You’re right, Bill,” Ungar-Sargon responded. “That’s what the tariffs are for. They are to make American workers more competitive in the global market.” She then challenged the defeatist attitude that has allowed China to dominate industries once vital to the American workforce. “Why are we accepting that there should be a race to the bottom? You know, China, what is its competitive advantage over us? It’s that it pays slave wages. Why should we accept that?”

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Orbán’s Hungary To Implement Largest Tax Cut In Europe – Women With Two or More Children To Pay No Income Tax for Life!

Conservative champion, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave his state-of-the-nation address in which he outlined his government’s plans for 2025.

Orbán announced upcoming (unprecedented) tax cuts for mothers with multiple children.

European Conservative reported:

“Most of the new measures are meant to help families raise more kids, with the most important new element being the expansion of the country’s unique lifetime tax exemption from mothers of four to those with three and two children.

Hungarian mothers with three children will be given lifetime income tax exemption from October this year, while the same will be gradually expanded to cover mothers with two kids starting January 2026. These measures are estimated to affect 250 thousand families with three children, and another 600 thousand raising two.”

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Trump Moves to Shut Down Voice of America, State Media Outlets

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that will dismantle Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and other US state media outlets. A press release from the White House said that the outlets have adopted an increasingly progressive agenda. 

On Friday, the President signed an executive order instructing “the non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” It continues, “And such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”

The United States Agency for Global Media and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars were among the seven agencies facing closure. The US Agency for Global Media runs Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Free Asia. 

In a press release, the White House quoted long-time Voice of America staffer Dan Robinson who claimed the outlet had adopted a progressive bias. “I have monitored the agency’s bureaucracy along with many of its reporters and concluded that it has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media,” he said. “It has sought to avoid accountability for violations of journalistic standards and mismanagement.”

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WTH? State Department Paid Big Money to Put Hillary Clinton Up at 5 Star Hotel in France in 2024

Why did the State Department (taxpayers) pay for Hillary Clinton’s 5-star hotel room and rental vehicles in France in 2024?

Hillary Clinton traveled to Bordeaux, France, on February 23, 2024 and the American taxpayer paid for her lavish retreat.

Clinton reportedly traveled to Bordeaux to promote climate change garbage at the World Impact Summit to benefit the Clinton Foundation.

The twice-failed presidential hopeful stayed at the 5-star Mondrian Hotel (a Clinton favorite).

The total cost for the luxury hotel ($16,759.18) and transportation ($22,570.19) set taxpayers back $39,329.37.

Clinton also took a few “personal visits to the city” according to French media,

With US Secret Service detail, luxury hotel accommodations, transportation, food and other demands, who knows what the total cost was for the American taxpayer.

“Hillary Clinton stayed at the five-star Mondrian Hotel in Bordeaux with the utmost discretion. Prior to her arrival, U.S. security services conducted several reconnaissance missions of the premises in close collaboration with their French counterparts. This coordination required considerable logistics, demonstrating the scale of the security efforts deployed to ensure the former U.S. presidential candidate’s safety,” Too Bordeaux reported.

Not only did Hillary Clinton enjoy a taxpayer-funded stay at a 5-star hotel, she demanded to be treated like royalty – or a Hollywood actress and restricted media access.

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Hunter Biden fled to ‘ultra-luxurious’ vacation in South Africa with round-the-clock Secret Service protection — avoiding grueling deposition

Hunter Biden fled last week to South Africa for a luxury vacation — with round-the-clock Secret Service protection — avoiding a grueling deposition scheduled for this week in a California lawsuit.

California District Court Judge Herman Vera granted Hunter’s motion to dismiss the case Thursday after the former first son claimed he was too broke to continue suing former Trump staffer Garrett Ziegler and his nonprofit Marco Polo.

But photographs show Hunter was already in Cape Town the day the case was dismissed, staying in a $500-a-night beachfront villa described on its website as an “ultra-luxurious designer home with spectacular 180 degrees unobstructed views of the sea.”

Ziegler’s lawyers alleged to the court last week that Hunter had fled to South Africa to potentially “avoid his deposition in this case,” which was set for this week, after originally being planned for February.

“He was in South Africa before the judge even decided the case,” Ziegler said Friday. “That means he is assuming his daddy’s appointee is gonna rubber stamp what he wants.”

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