Rollbacks and Paybacks
EPA dismisses half of key board’s scientific advisers; Interior suspends more than 200 advisory panels. WaPo: "Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department are overhauling a slew of outside advisory boards that inform how their agencies assess the science underpinning policies, the first step in a broader effort by Republicans to change the way the federal government evaluates the scientific basis for its regulations."
FCC bends rules to green light Sinclair Network's epic expansion. Common Dreams: "Creating the nation's largest local TV station conglomerate... conservative Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Monday it will buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion. 'Sure looks like a quid pro quo: friendly coverage and full employment for ex-Trump mouthpieces in exchange for a green light to get as big as Sinclair wants'."
CHOICE Act starts rollback of Dodd-Frank financial reforms. IBT: "The bill, which committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R- Tex.) introduced April 26 as “an alternative to the failed Dodd-Frank Act,” eliminates a litany of measures that were meant to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis...In addition to bankrolling the campaigns of the lawmakers involved, financial industry firms and trade associations collectively spent millions on lobbying efforts related at least in part to the CHOICE Act in the first quarter of 2017."
Chilling Dissent
Oklahoma governor signs anti-protest law. The Intercept: "A statute aimed at suppressing protests against oil and gas pipelines has been signed into law in Oklahoma, as a related bill advances through the state legislature. The two bills are part of a nationwide trend in anti-protest laws meant to significantly increase legal penalties for civil disobedience. The Oklahoma law signed this week is unique, however, in its broad targeting of groups “conspiring” with protesters accused of trespassing. It takes aim at environmental organizations Republicans have blamed for anti-pipeline protests that have become costly for local governments."
Trumpcare advocates resort to lies to promote bill. Think Progress: "Price insisted that the proposed system will allow 'greater flexibility so that more resources could be put to the seniors and disabled and appropriate resources could be put to the healthy moms and kids in a medicaid system.' He did not explain how less money will create more flexibility, and he later claimed again — falsely — that 'there are no cuts to the Medicaid program.'"
More from OurFuture.org:
Trump Tax Plan Creates Incentives For Evaders. Gil Manzon & Tim Gray: "The Trump administration wants to change the way the government taxes so-called pass-through entities. In a nutshell, the Trump proposal would dramatically lower the rates this category of filers pay. This would lead to very creative tax planning at best and outright evasion at worst, while prompting more companies to adopt this type of business structure to gain the huge benefits."
Neoliberalism Defeats NeoFascism in France, for Now. Miles Mogulescu: "Neoliberal Emmanuel Macron has defeated neofascist Marine Le Pen to become France's next president. That's good news, but since neoliberalism is part of what has fueled Le Pen's rise, it's too early to break out the Beaujolais."
