Life in the Playground

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Monika Bauerlein, CEO

Dear reader,

Like you, we’ve been trying to process the head-spinning, norm-shattering impeachment developments. It’s going to take all we’ve got to stay grounded and focus on accountability, so I hope you'll read how we’re thinking about it—and that you'll support our journalism during the special Moment for Mother Jones campaign, when your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000 total.

Mother Jones breaks down the head-spinning, norm-shattering impeachment news. Join us in the fight for accountability with a donation when your gift will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000 total.

Via Joe Romm, a wee quiz:

Q: Why do Republicans want to raise Alcoa’s taxes? Also Chrysler’s, Ford’s, GE’s, and Pepsi’s?

A: Because these companies and 20 others are in favor of reducing greenhouse emissions. In other words, they’re traitors, and they no longer deserve the tax breaks the GOP has worked so hard to give them over the years.

Isn’t political kabuki grand? Turns out Joe Barton (R–Fantasyland) and his friends are planning to introduce a tidal wave of 448 amendments to the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Act, apparently in the belief that kindergarten stalling tactics like this will get them taken seriously. Among the 448 are 25 that remove all tax benefits from corporate members of the United States Climate Action Partnership, who obviously no longer deserve them. Plus there are five more that ominously address the “tax status” of nonprofits who support action on greenhouse gases.

Very grown up. But what about the other 418 amendments? Well, a couple hundred or so are routine nonsense, but some of the others are more entertaining. There’s the Dollar-Yuan-Euro Study, whatever that is. The Economy Killer Lobbyist Transparency Provisions. The American Hero Exemption and Credit. And the Virgin Islands Tourism Killer Safety Valve.

But my favorite is BLACK_004, the Black Liquor amendment. There’s no explanation of what this might be, but considering the almost comical bamboozlishness of the current black liquor loophole, you just know it has to be outrageous even by wingnut standards. If you’ve forgotten what this is all about, details are here.