Rep. Khanna: The Republican Tax Bill Doesn't Help Middle America
Republicans are closing in on their first legislative victory of the year, after two GOP Senators previously opposed to the tax plan got on board this weekend. But Democrats still have concerns.
U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), who joined Cheddar before the most recent concessions were made, said the policies may benefit companies in his home district in the heart of Silicon Valley, but do little for Middle America.
“We should create technology opportunity zones across America,” he said. “I think that the federal government in partnership with the private industry could do so much to bring the new industry to many of these communities.”
Heading into the weekend, the future of tax reform seemed uncertain. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was calling for a tax cut for working families. On Friday, though, he tweeted his support after the child tax credit was increased.
Senator Bob Corker also changed his position after the tax on real estate earnings was reduced, a move that could benefit his own wallet. The Tennessee Republican reportedly made $7 million off his property investments last year.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-ro-khanna-d-ca-congress-needs-to-step-up-to-spread-tech-development-across-the-u-s).
Tearfully embracing a history-making moment, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said Friday her confirmation as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court showed the progress of America.
Krutika Amin, associate director at the Kaiser Family Foundation for the Program on the Affordable Care Act, joins Cheddar Politics to discuss the Biden administration's plan to fix the so-called 'family glitch' in the Affordable Care Act preventing millions of Americans from accessing government-subsidized health plan.
Abdallah Fayyad, opinion writer at the Boston Globe, joins Cheddar Politics to discuss the House's vote to hold former Trump aides Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro in contempt of Congress and send the recommendation to the Department of Justice. Fayyad also weighs in on the pressure facing Attorney General Merrick Garland to be more aggressive in prosecuting the January 6 case.
Those paying back federal student loans are getting a few extra months of relief. President Biden just announced another extension of the pandemic relief program allowing millions of borrowers to freeze their student loan payments. The pause began in March 2020 and it has been extended six times. Tomas Campos, co-founder and CEO of Spinwheel, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
There has been notable disagreement in the medical community about a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose. The FDA last week authorized a second booster dose for older and immunocompromised individuals, as some agency officials did not support the idea. The FDA made the decision without meeting with its advisory committee, as it had ahead of its recommendations on the previous COVID-19 vaccine doses.
The CDC followed in the footsteps of the FDA and authorized a fourth dose as well. Reports say the agency also did not discuss the move with its own advisory team of vaccine experts. Now, a growing number of doctors are speaking out against the decisions - leaving people confused about whether they should get another vaccine dose. Dr. Julie Morita, a member of the CDC's advisory committee to the director, and the executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The Senate has confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, shattering a historic barrier by securing her place as the first Black female justice and giving President Joe Biden a bipartisan endorsement for his effort to diversify the court
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for COVID-19, her spokesman says. That's a day after the 82-year-old Democratic leader appeared unmasked at a White House event with President Joe Biden.
