Save Net Neutrality: The Sequel

On December 14, the FCC made a mistake.  It overturned the net neutrality rule put in place by Obama's FCC in 2015.  I have written to you before on this subject, explaining that the elimination of the net neutrality standard is contrary to the First Amendment guarantee to freedom of speech, as well as being harmful to small businesses.

I know those arguments didn't sway you.  But today, I received notice that Minnesota's Attorney General, Lori Swanson, is planning to join other state Attorneys General in legal action to reverse the FCC's decision.

After the recent tax bill passed with NO Democratic support, Republicans would do themselves a favor by joining Democrats in a bipartisan vote to restore the 2015 net neutrality regulations.  Doing so would be both good policy AND good politics, as net neutrality is supported by majorities of BOTH Republicans and Democrats in the general public.

Working to reverse this craven decision is good for America, good for your constituents, good for the Republican party, and good for Jason Lewis,  It's a win-win-win-win.

Stop Demonizing the FBI

I see that the Republican propaganda network is relentlessly doing Trump's bidding in attempting to undermine both Robert Mueller and the FBI.  And it appears that congressional Republicans are only too happy to join in.  So I thought I would take the time to point out some facts which are obvious to everyone, and thus certainly to a smart guy like yourself:

• Like all Americans, FBI agents are entitled to their political opinions.
• Not all FBI agents are going to be Trump supporters --- and this should surprise no one, as Trump is historically unpopular, with some polls showing him at 32 percent approval.
• While I agree that FBI agents should not publicly discuss their support or opposition to a president, the text messages which started this whole ridiculous witch hunt were private, and we only know about them because they were sent on government-owned phones.
• The agents in question may think Trump is an "idiot", but they think Bernie is an "idiot" too, and "worried about what happens if HRC is elected".  This is not exactly a smoking gun proving that the FBI is biased in the Democrats' favor.
• Also, Trump is, objectively speaking, an idiot.
• The bigger concern should be why the DOJ appears to have selectively leaked only the anti-Trump texts to Congress.  This appears to be a clear-cut case of Trump's Justice Department interfering with an ongoing criminal investigation, by attempting to discredit both the FBI and Robert Mueller.
• The logical consequence of the Republican argument --- that it's inappropriate for Trump critics to be part of the investigation --- is that the only people qualified to investigate Trump are those who believe he's done nothing wrong.  That is clearly an absurd position.  It also reveals that Republicans must implicitly understand that Trump is actually guilty of wrongdoing if they don't believe his actions can withstand critical scrutiny.
• Sadly, it appears that House Republicans are now planning to use this manufactured controversy as an excuse to shut down their (admittedly Potemkin) probe into Trump's transgressions.

This last point is where you come in.

Surely, you have watched voters in Virginia and Alabama turn out in higher-than-usual numbers for an off-year election, to make sure that they vote Democrats into office.  There is little doubt that these elections mark the start of a trend, which is likely to result in an electoral tsunami in 2018 which will wash Republicans out of the House of Representatives.  I fully expect you to be taken out in that wave, and I expect you do, too.  So I'm not writing to you on the subject of your electoral survival.

I'm writing to you about your legacy.

Four years from now, when adults once again control all the levers of power in government, the Trump administration will be remembered as a corrupt and incompetent regime of unprecedented magnitude.  And when people talk of the Republican 115th Congress, do you want to be remembered as one of the dozens of Republicans who did the president's bidding in an effort to sweep his misdeeds under the rug?

Or do you want to be remembered as one of the few Republicans who took a courageous stand for the rule of law?  Someone who placed principle ahead of party, and acted in the best interest of the country, despite weathering the scorn and derision of his colleagues?

I'm telling you congressman, your legacy is all you're going to have left come January 2019, and you have a very short time to build it.  You know which side is the right side of history.  Do you have the courage to be on it?

Jason Refuses to Disavow Support of Roy Moore from Trump, RNC

Jason Lewis 2nd District, Minnesota 418 House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2271 December 8, 2017 Mr. GUY D. BAILEY Dear Mr. Bailey: Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent high-profile incidents of sexual assault and harassment. Understanding your ideas and concerns helps me better represent you and the Second District of Minnesota. I value your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond. As I have said many times, the reports of sexual harassment incidents by people in positions of public trust are extremely troubling. Suffice it to say, anyone who commits sexual assault is not fit for public office. I continue to believe the best lesson we can learn from all of this is to recommit ourselves to restoring respect for women-in fact, for everyone, in society. I want to ensure that everyone is treated with respect in the workplace, regardless of gender. That is why I strongly supported H.Res. 630, a resolution requiring each Member, officer, and employee of the House of Representatives to complete a program of training in workplace rights and responsibilities each session of Congress. I think this training is an important step to combat sexual harassment, and I, and my staff, completed this training even before the resolution passed. H.Res. 630 passed the House of Representatives, with unanimous support, on November 29, 2017. All Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives will now be required to complete this training annually. As the father of two daughters, this is an issue that is very important to me. Everyone deserves to feel safe at their place of employment. I will continue to monitor these incidents, and if further legislation regarding workplace rights comes before the House of Representatives, I will certainly consider it with your thoughts in mind. Thank you for contacting me. As Congress debates solutions to the challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. Should you have any further questions or comments about this or any legislative issue, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2271. Also, please visit me on social media at: www.facebook.com/repjasonlewis, www.youtube.com/repjasonlewis, https://twitter.com/repjasonlewis, and my website at jasonlewis.house.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter for the latest updates from Washington, D.C. and around the district. Jason Lewis Member of Congress

Jason and the Tax Bill

Jason Lewis 2nd District, Minnesota 418 House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2271 December 8, 2017 Mr. GUY D. BAILEY Dear Mr. Bailey: Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Understanding your ideas and concerns helps me better represent you and the Second District of Minnesota. I value your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond. As you may know, on November 2, 2017, Congressman Kevin Brady, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced H.R. 1. This bill works to fulfill the promise I, and many others, made to our constituents to provide tax relief and simplification. It provides lower and simplified taxes, and makes filing so easy that it could be done on a post card. The current tax system is too costly, too complex, and unfair to hardworking Americans. Our tax code punishes work, rewards special interests, and discourages job creation and investments here in the U.S. Our country has been plagued by subpar economic growth of only 1-2% over the last eight years and American families' wages have stagnated. This bill simplifies the tax code, reducing the number of brackets from seven to four, moving the lowest tax bracket to zero percent. Taxpayers in every bracket will see a reduction in their taxes, increasing the amount of money in all Americans' pockets, and growing the economy. It also repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax, preventing families from having to calculate their taxes twice and pay the higher amount. We also repeal the Death Tax, in which Washington takes Minnesotans' money twice for the same assets. The Death Tax will be repealed after six years, and until then, the Death Tax exemption will be doubled, freeing up more resources for our hard-working families, small-business owners, and farmers. This tax bill works to lower taxes for individuals, families, and small businesses. It doubles the standard deduction, which is taken by seventy percent of Americans, from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples. If a filer chooses instead to itemize their deductions, this bill allows for deductions for mortgage interest for any existing mortgages, and for mortgages on newly purchased homes up to $500,000; for state and local property taxes up to $10,000; and charitable contributions. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also provides additional deductions, even if a filer chooses not to itemize, in the form of a new Family Credit, which includes an expanded Child Tax Credit. This new credit provides for $1,600 per child, and $300 for each parent and non-child dependent in a family. It also includes an Earned Income Tax Credit, for low- and middle- income individuals and couples, and the Higher Education Tax Credit, which retains the American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). The AOTC is a credit for qualified education expenses for an eligible student for the first four years of higher education, up to $2,500 credit per eligible student. This bill also retains the Adoption Tax Credit, which is a non-refundable tax credit for up to $13,460. Under this bill, a typical middle-income family of four, earning the median household income in the United States, will receive a tax cut of $1,182. This bill doesn't only help families and individuals, but it also works to help our small businesses and job creators. American job creators have been leaving for other countries due to America's business tax rates, which are some of the highest in the world. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers the corporate tax rate to twenty percent, down from thirty-five percent. It also lowers the pass-through rate to twenty-five percent, which is the lowest tax rate on small business income since World War II. This legislation also allows businesses to write off the full cost of new equipment immediately, as well as allowing small businesses to write off the interest on loans. Reforming our tax code is key to getting our economy going again. Tax reform will make America more globally competitive by encouraging private sector investments, which will lead to economic growth, and it will let all Americans keep more money in their pockets. Families in Minnesota need a tax code that works for them. That is why I ran for Congress, and that is what this bill accomplishes. I have been passionate about this issue since my days of organizing tax reform rallies at the Minnesota State Capitol, and I am proud to support this legislation. H.R. 1 passed the House of Representatives, with my support, on November 16, 2017, and the Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 1 on December 2, 2017. To reconcile the two versions of the bill, the House voted to go to conference on December 4, 2017, and the Senate voted to go to conference on December 6, 2017. I will continue to monitor the progress of the conference committee, and will keep your thoughts in mind when I review the conference committee's work. Thank you for contacting me. As Congress debates solutions to the challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. Should you have any further questions or comments about this or any legislative issue, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2271. Also, please visit me on social media at: www.facebook.com/repjasonlewis, www.youtube.com/repjasonlewis, https://twitter.com/repjasonlewis, and my website at jasonlewis.house.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter for the latest updates from Washington, D.C. and around the district. Jason Lewis Member of Congress

Disavowal

President Trump has decided to place politics over principle, by endorsing accused pedophile Roy Moore in order to support his right-wing agenda.

Now the RNC has followed suit, resuming their funding of Moore's campaign after previously halting it when the allegations against Moore first surfaced.

President Trump is the leader of your party.  The RNC is the official face of your party.  When they speak, the implicit assumption is that they speak for you as a Republican elected official.

And so, absent a clear statement from you, it is reasonable to assume that you also believe your Republican agenda is so important that it justifies putting an accused pedophile in the Senate.

I'm writing to ask that you publicly disavow both Moore and the RNC's support of him.  Without such a disavowal, I will have no choice but to assume that, like Trump, you are willing to excuse a sexual assault on a child --- and likely more than one --- if it furthers your political goals.  Please understand: despite our political disagreements, I WANT to see you make such a disavowal.

Please respond to let me know where I can expect to see such a disavowal published.

Update: Surprise, surprise, Jason Lewis agrees that sexual assault is bad.  He is completely silent on the fact that Trump and the RNC are actively campaigning to get this monster elected to the Senate, which of course makes him complicit.

Nice work, congressman.

'Tax Reform' and the 2018 Campaign

Congressman Lewis,

I see that your colleagues in the Senate managed to pass their version of a 'tax reform' bill at around 2:00 AM Saturday morning, using an open and transparent process in which last-minute amendments were hastily scribbled in the margins, and Senate Democrats received notification about amendments to the bill from Washington D.C. lobbyists:

This is so bad. We have just gotten list of amendments to be included in bill NOT from our R colleagues, but from lobbyists downtown. None of us have seen this list, but lobbyists have it. Need I say more? Disgusting. And we probably will not even be given time to read them. pic.twitter.com/Mn0i56JeZg

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) December 1, 2017

I believe this is what your president refers to as 'draining the swamp'.

Although I don't know everything that's in this bill --- because literally no one does, including the 51 Republicans in the Senate who voted for it --- I feel compelled to write to you about it immediately.  I feel this urgency because I'm confident that, like the last two Republican bills to destroy health care in America, the more people learn about it, the less popular it will become (and it's already pretty darn unpopular, with one poll showing only 25% support).  And since I believe that Paul Ryan has the same steadfast commitment to transparency and the democratic process as Senate Republicans do, I anticipate that he'll try to ram through a vote to approve the Senate bill as quickly as possible.  Perhaps even before I can finish writing this letter.

Now, I expect you'll vote for this awful bill, because Republicans believe that they need a 'win', and because you expressed great pride about the similarly awful bill that you voted for in the House.  So instead of asking you to vote against the Senate bill or anything similar that might be devised via reconciliation, I'm simply writing to ask which parts of the bill you believe will be most helpful to you during your upcoming re-election campaign.  Choose one or more from the following:

• Jason Lewis voted to increase deficit by anything from $1.6 trillion to $1.8 trillion by 2027, if the alleged economic growth spurred by the tax cuts doesn't materialize --- and anything from $500 billon to $1.3 trillion even if it does.
• Jason Lewis voted to eliminate exemptions for children and other dependents.
• Jason Lewis voted to eliminate the deduction for teachers who buy supplies for their classroom (House bill only).
• Jason Lewis voted to slash corporate tax rates from 35% to 20% --- less than the rate many middle-income families pay.
• Jason Lewis voted to slash taxes for millionaires, while Americans earning less than $75,000 are more likely to see a tax increase by 2027 than a cut.
• Jason Lewis voted to authorize oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
• Jason Lewis voted to end the individual mandate of the Afforable Care Act, eliminating health insurance for an estimated 13 million Americans and increasing premiums by 10% for everyone else.  One expert predicted this would lead to "ballooning premiums that will crush millions of families".
• Jason Lewis voted to cut $25 billion from Medicare to pay more more tax cuts for the richest of the rich.
• And Jason Lewis voted for all of these things in order to spur the economy to a mere 0.1% increased growth rate over each of the next 10 years, or less than 1% total by 2027.

Please get back to me ASAP and let me know which of these items you would most like for voters to have in mind when they enter the voting booth next November.

Update: Jason responds.