Coalition’s ‘arbitrary’ tax cap will force future spending cuts, thinktank warns

Exclusive: Australia Institute says debates about funding what people need should not be decided by limits and targets

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The treasurer, Scott Morrison, describes it as the “speed limit” on taxes but a new paper says the Coalition’s 23.9% tax-to-GDP cap is an “arbitrary” limit that will push the government to make austerity cuts to fund new programs.

While a dramatic improvement in revenues has given the Coalition room to ditch the planned $8bn Medicare levy increase and offer income-tax cuts, the Australia Institute has warned in a briefing note that the combination of a limit on tax and a surplus target will necessitate spending cuts in future.

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The racial redlining in Michigan’s Medicaid work requirements

There are a lot of problems with work requirements for Medicaid.

They aren’t necessary because the majority of people who can work, work already; they would increase the ranks of the uninsured; and despite what supporters think, they wouldn’t actually pull people out of poverty but could further hurl them into it.

But there’s also another big issue: Medicaid work requirements could increase racial disparities in health care.

Last week, the Michigan Se...

Rubio tries to defend tax law stance, only manages to insult an intern and further muddy waters

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is once again defending the Republican tax law, just days after he said there’s no evidence it has helped American workers.

On Wednesday, Rubio tried to indignantly correct a Politico story that said he is “walking back” his earlier criticisms of the recently-passed Republican tax overhaul, insulting an intern and failing to make his point any clearer in the process.

The tax overhaul, passed and signed into law last December, raises t...

Rick Santorum says he wishes Trump would stop lying

Former Pennsylvania senator and CNN commentator Rick Santorum said on Wednesday that President Trump “has a problem” with lying, during an interview with CNN’s New Day.

“The president says things that don’t comport with the facts,” Santorum told host Chris Cuomo. “I don’t like calling people liars, but the reality is this president has a problem. And I have said that over and over again. I wish he wouldn’t go out and say...