Welcome back! Please check out yesterday’s Look Back At-It article on the new Tax Reform Legislation. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations. 5 Things will be off for the holiday season. Thanks for making 2017 awesome and we will see you in 2018! Merry Christmas everyone!
1) National Headlines → Government Funded for the Holidays
After passing tax reform, the government had to turn around a stopgap spending bill before the Christmas recess. The bill passed both the House and Senate today funding the government until January 19th. The government has continued to kick a longer spending bill down the road and keeps passing stopgap bills.
This bill included: “short-term extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), some spending “anomalies” for defense, a waiver for the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budgetary rules so the GOP tax bill doesn’t trigger Medicare cuts and an extension of a controversial surveillance program.” -The Hill
Congress is in recess until 2018. Republicans leave on a high note with their tax reform legislation and avoiding a government shutdown. The GOP will hope these legislative victories will give them momentum heading in the 2018 midterm elections. Democrats will look to push against the President Trump and the GOP tax plan, focusing on the tax cuts for corporations and high-income households. All that will shape up for an interesting midterm election cycle.
2) World Headlines → United Nations Push Back On Jerusalem Move
After President Trump’s recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the international community pushed back on the decision. Earlier this week the U.N. Security Council put forth a resolution that demanded states from placing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem. The resolution did not explicitly name the United States or President Trump. The Security Council has ten rotating member states and five permanent members: United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. Each permanent member holds veto power over any resolutions. So, this resolution was approved by all 14 member states and promptly vetoed by the US.
Then on Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution demanding the United States rescind its decision on recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The vote passed 128-9 with 35 abstentions. Major United States allies like the United Kingdom, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia voted in favor of the resolution. Israel and the US voted against the measure.
United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, condemned the declaration saying the US was “singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation.” She went on to say:
“We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.” -Nikki Haley
The vote is nonbinding and a largely symbolic measure. However, it does go to show that the international community is largely against the United Nations in this measure.
3) Writer’s Choice → Merry Christmas (5 by 5 style)!
I had considered doing a Christmas 10 by 10, but instead enjoy this mini 5 by 5.
Five Favorite Christmas Albums/Songs?
- O Holy Night -Josh Groban
- It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas -Michael Buble
- Ding Dong Merrily on High -Rend Collective
- Christmas Eve/Sarajevo -Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- All I Want for Christmas is You -Mariah Carey
Five Last Minute Present Ideas
- Fun Socks
- A Themed Coffee Mug
- Good Books
- Homemade Crafts or Cookies
- A Subscription (to Spotify, Netflix, a magazine, or something else!)
Five Christmas Treats I Love
- Belly-achers (aka buckeyes or chocolate cover peanut butter balls)
- Christmas sugar cookies
- Orange Slices
- Grandma’s Mint Oreo dessert
- Mom’s Scotcheroos
Five Favorite Christmas Traditions
- Christmas Dinner at Grandma’s
- Hiding things (scissors, wrapping paper, tape, etc) in the Christmas Tree until Mom notices
- Going to a movie with my family
- Having Grandma come over to see what presents we got
- Playing in the snow
Five Favorite Christmas Movies
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Elf
- Die Hard (yes it is indeed a Christmas movie)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Original version)
4) Recommendation of the Week → Manitowoc Minute
Oh my gosh! If you want a fun 3-minute Wisconsin news segment every week this is for you. Wisconsin accents and love for the Packers. Check it out, and keep ‘er movin!
5) Inspiration of the Week → Star Wars, Civic Duty, and the Minnesota Catholic Conference
I came across this article written by a member of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. It brings together two of passions: Star Wars and civic duty. The Minnesota Catholic Conference is also a wonderful resource. Every state has their own Catholic Conference to advise Catholics on how certain pieces of legislation will impact them. However, Minnesota has a wonderful social media presence and I would encourage you to check it out.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Peace, love, and all the above,
DJE