January 1, Rep. Ilhan Omar Calls for Tax Hikes: “We’ve had it as high as 90 Percent”

During an interview with Yahoo News, Rep. Ihan Omar, D-Minn., says “The one percent must pay their fair share.”

“There are a few things that we can do,” Rep. Omar said.

“One of them, is that we can increase the taxes that people are paying who are the extremely wealthy in our communities. So, 70 percent, 80 percent, we’ve had it as high as 90 percent. So, that’s a place we can start.”

Rep. Omar is just the latest Democrat to call for extremely high taxes on the wealthy. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has also called for a top marginal income tax rate of 70 percent.  Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have also called for increased taxes on the rich.

Rand Paul gets $580,000 Settlement

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul was awarded more than $580,000 in damages and medical expenses on Wednesday in his lawsuit against the neighbor who tackled him and broke several of his ribs in a dispute over lawn maintenance.

A jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, deliberated less than two hours before delivering the award to the Republican lawmaker who had been attacked while doing yard work at his Kentucky home.

Paul had testified during the three-day trial that he feared for his life as he struggled to breathe after Rene Boucher slammed into him in their upscale Bowling Green neighborhood in late 2017.

The jury awarded $375,000 in punitive damages and $200,000 for pain and suffering, plus $7,834 for medical expenses.

Paul, R-Ky., later tweeted about the ruling, saying, “This lawsuit wasn’t about me. It was about all of us and what we find acceptable as a society. We need to send a clear message that violence is not the answer – anytime, anywhere.”

Politico: Mick Mulvaney Eyes Ross’s seat at Commerce

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney remains set on taking over as Commerce secretary, according to Politico, who first reported his interest in November.

Politico first reported that Mulvaney, also the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, was interested in the position last November, as rumors emerged that President Donald Trump has been dissatisfied with his current Commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross. 

“Ross has not done anything terribly wrong that caused distrust with the president. The president might not be happy with everyone all of the time, but what happens this week is often forgotten with no grudges held,” an unnamed former senior administration official told Politico. 
“Loyalty in this business is all you got, and Secretary Ross is loyal to the president. That is the difference between him and some of the other Cabinet members.

Trump’s Pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro Is a Big Hit with FL GOP

Vice President Mike Pence travels to Florida Friday to support “Venezuela’s new interim president Juan Guaido.   highlight the Trump administrations aggressive approach to the ongoing political crisis.”

Politico reports that the Trump administrations “aggressive approach to the ongoing political crisis,” also provides an opportunity to “open a door with Hispanic voters in a state that’s critical to the president’s reelection. The Hispanic vote here is far from monolithic: About 17 percent of Florida’s active registered voters are Hispanic, about a third of whom are estimated to be of Cuban-American descent and a third of Puerto Rican descent, followed by those whose families have roots throughout Latin America: Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

Cardi B invited to speak to Iowa Democrats

Cardi B continues to flirt with national politics. 
The Bronx-born rapper was just invited to speak to Iowa democrats.

The Polk County Iowa Democrats tweeted, “As the center of the IA Caucuses, we have been honored to host Nancy Pelosi, Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards, Kamala Harris…” “…and many powerful women leaders. It only makes sense to invite Cardi B to a reception of her choice while she’s here in May.”Cardi B- caught a lot of people’s attention with her expletive-laden Instagram post criticizing Republicans for the government shutdown.