'All You Have to Do Is Follow the Money': Ilhan Omar Rebukes Corporate Democrats

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar offered what she termed "an honest accounting" late Wednesday night of the "ever-evolving negotiations" to do with the Democratic effort in Congress to pass the once sweeping, but now hobbling 'Build Back Better' bill that has been ransacked by a small handful of corporate-backed members of the party.

According to Omar's accounting, which included numerous citations, the reality is that the coordinated corporate assault is at the heart of why Democrats ended up negotiating against itself—even on an agenda that President Joe Biden and the party ran on just last year. Omar tweeted:

"First," stated the Minnesota Democrat in a lengthy and detailed thread on social media, "instead of centering the needs of the American people, corporate Democrats have purely been about lining the pockets and serving the interests of the donor class."

"If you really want to know why a provision is being killed," she then added, "all you have to do is follow the money…"

The public rebuke of fellow Democrats like Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona came just hours after reporting revealed that a proposal for paid family leave was the latest progressive initiative on the legislative chopping block, apparently at the insistence of Manchin.According to Omar's accounting, which included numerous citations, the reality is that the coordinated corporate assault is at the heart of why Democrats ended up negotiating against itself—even on an agenda that President Joe Biden and the party ran on just last year. Omar tweeted:

"The U.S. Chamber of Congress—the face of corporate greed—is working overtime to kill the bill, and already spent $30 million this year on lobbyists, along with a six figure ad campaign." (Open Secrets)
"Big Pharma—desperate to keep drug prices as high as possible—has spent $15 million. (Open Secrets) The oil and gas industry has spent over $55 million."

"A shadowy group called "Center Forward" is running ads everywhere to reward politicians trying to slash the bill. Shocker! They receive $1.5 million a year from Big Pharma." (New York Times)




More at link
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/28/all-you-have-do-follow-money-ilhan-omar-rebukes-corporate-democrats

Ronny Jordan- After Hours

'When We Organize, We Win': Ocasio-Cortez Joins India Walton at Rally in Buffalo

A line outside Town Ballroom in Buffalo, New York on Saturday stretched all the way down a city block and around the corner as residents arrived for an early voting rally hosted by Democratic candidate for mayor India Walton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and other progressive leaders

Walton ran in the primary against incumbent Mayor Byron Brown, a Democrat with close ties to real estate developers in Buffalo who refused to debate his challenger and has since launched a write-in campaign which has had significant support from the right.

In recent days, Walton has won endorsements from New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who replaced Andrew Cuomo, a close ally of Brown's, has so far not endorsed either candidate.

On Saturday, The Buffalo News reported that under the Brown administration, the city's urban renewal agency has given $20 million in public funds to the mayor's contributors as well as awarding exclusive development rights to some of his donors, without going through a public bidding process.

"This is corruption at its finest," said Walton on social media. "Federal money meant to serve our community has gone to line the mayor’s pockets. We cannot afford another four years of corruption at City Hall."

To the crowd at the early voting rally, Walton said, "When we organize, we win

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/23/when-we-organize-we-win-ocasio-cortez-joins-india-walton-rally-buffalo

Music to chill to.... Hiroshima -"One Wish"

If I Could Fly · Joe Satriani