DNC Hopeful: ‘Plenty of Money’ – ‘Just The Government Doesn’t Have It’
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Ill.), who once told progressives “there’s plenty of money, it’s just the government doesn’t have it,” has received the endorsement of Senators Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer in his bid to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Big surprise. Bernie supports a Democrat who thinks government isn’t big enough and doesn’t have enough money.
Here’s the question: how much money is enough money?
“The bottom line is we’re not broke, there’s plenty of money, it’s just the government doesn’t have it,” Ellison told the Progressive Democrats of America roundtable in Washington in July of 2013.
“The government has a right, the government and the people of the United States have a right to run the programs of the United States. Health, welfare, housing – all these things,” Ellison said.
At the time Ellison was discussing his ‘Inclusive Prosperity Act’, a measure that would have levied a sales tax on the trading of stocks, bonds and derivatives. It was never passed.
Ellison’s message hasn’t changed all that much since then, his DNC chair campaign platform showing he still supports the transfer of wealth into the hands of government.
The ‘Keith For DNC’ website says, “We must also reclaim our history as the Party that stands with working people. We can start with our platform — the most progressive in history — which calls for a living wage, requiring the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share, and comprehensive immigration reform.”
I wonder what he calls their fair share. 50% federal tax rate?