Sen. Ron Johnson: Joint Committee on Taxation Is in ‘La La Land’

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., continues his efforts for small businesses in the GOP tax reform conferencing between the House and Senate, saying the "Committee on Taxation is completely in La La Land" on potential revenue losses that will "hemorrhage" from federal tax rolls. "I'm really concerned that if we don't close that widened disparity between pass-throughs and C corps, we will incentivize pass-throughs to convert to C corp status, and we will hemorrhage revenues of the federal government," Sen. Johnson told "The Cats Roundtable" on AM 970-N.Y. "A lot of my colleagues aren't really focusing on that, and the Joint Committee on Taxation [JCT} is completely in La La Land denying that potential reality."

The Latest: Shelby will not vote for Roy Moore

Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby says he decided to cast a write-in ballot in the state's upcoming Senate election because of allegations that GOP nominee Roy Moore molested a girl when she was 14. Shelby told CNN in an interview Sunday that the accusation was the "tipping point" in his decision not to vote for Moore. He says he wrote in the name of a "distinguished" Republican instead.

Alabama Senator Says He Didna t Vote for Roy Moorea When it got to the…

As Alabama's special senate election finally approaches, most state Republicans have circled the wagons around Roy Moore, the alleged sexual predator and twice-disbarred former judge who maintains a polling-average lead against Democrat Doug Jones in the highly unpredictable race . The 83-year-old told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday morning that he couldn't bring himself to pull the lever for Moore, and has already voted for a write-in candidate.

Amazon delivery drivers complain about bad work conditions

Twitter turns on 'bully' Chelsea Handler for mocking Sarah Huckabee Sanders' weight and appearance in 'cruel' video which says the Press Secretary looks like a man and has a 'big, fat' face Trump demands Washington Post FIRE reporter who admitted tweeting 'misleading' photos which showed an empty arena at the President's Florida rally when it was actually packed Barneys heir claims his 'gold digging' former mistress is trying to extort him for millions after their whirlwind romance fell apart South Carolina serial killer, who has admitted to killing seven people, now says there are MORE victims whose bodies haven't been discovered Shocking video shows dad-of-five, 42, kicking, punching and dragging a police officer by his foot before being fatally shot by another cop - but his family insist he didn't deserve to die Grab your sleighs: Thousands of Santas brave Winter Storm Benji on the ... (more)

Could Ohio, other states lose exemption from marijuana prosecution?

A little-known federal budget amendment that protects growers, processors, sellers and the professionals who work with them might expire this year at the behest of the Trump administration. Now known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, the measure prohibits the U.S. Justice Department from enforcing federal law against medical marijuana in places where it's legal, as it's been in Ohio since last year.

Moroccan OAP arrested trying to smuggle boy into Spain

Twitter turns on 'bully' Chelsea Handler for mocking Sarah Huckabee Sanders' weight and appearance in 'cruel' video which says the Press Secretary looks like a man and has a 'big, fat' face Trump demands Washington Post FIRE reporter who admitted tweeting 'misleading' photos which showed an empty arena at the President's Florida rally when it was actually packed Barneys heir claims his 'gold digging' former mistress is trying to extort him for millions after their whirlwind romance fell apart South Carolina serial killer, who has admitted to killing seven people, now says there are MORE victims whose bodies haven't been discovered Shocking video shows dad-of-five, 42, kicking, punching and dragging a police officer by his foot before being fatally shot by another cop - but his family insist he didn't deserve to die Grab your sleighs: Thousands of Santas brave Winter Storm Benji on the ... (more)

Health | Weiss: Medicare Takes a Blow Under GOP’s Major Tax Plan Fix

In early December, the GOP-controlled Senate passed by a partisan vote of 51 to 49 its sweeping tax rewrite , sending the $1.4 trillion tax package, detailed in a 492 page bill, to the Conference Committee to iron out the differences between the Senate and House bill, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , that was passed by a 227-to-205 vote on November 16, 2017. While Democrats are technically part of the conference committee, Republicans are yet again hashing out the details behind closed doors on a purely partisan basis.

SNL cold open: Kids wonder if Al Franken, Roy Moore, Donald Trump are on Santa’s ‘naughty list’

In its latest cold open, "Saturday Night Live" took on the recent string of high-profile sexual misconduct scandals, featuring a parade of children - each seemingly more precocious and world-weary than the last - visiting a mall Santa, played by Kenan Thompson. "Can you tell me: What did Al Franken do?" the first boy asks.

Two questions loom over talks on GOP tax bill

Two looming questions threaten to snag the seemingly smooth trajectory of the Republicans' massive tax legislation now in its final leg in Congress. How to satisfy demands of the rebellious GOP lawmakers from high-tax states who demand concessions over a cherished deduction? And how to pay for those concessions? Even President Donald Trump has dropped his stubborn resistance to a smaller cut in the corporate tax rate as Republican leaders consider it as a way to pay for the House GOP rebels' demands.

Around the region

Giant Snacks Inc. started the exchange last month by filing a lawsuit against Wild Dutchman Products Inc. and one of its partners, alleging that Wild Dutchman is misleading consumers about the amount of salt in its products. Wild Dutchman came back with a countersuit earlier this week for what it calls bogus claims Giant Snacks is making about its relationship with sunflower farmers.