by Ron Paul
Many Americans who have wrestled with a 1040 form, or who have paid someone to prepare their taxes, no doubt cheered the news that Congress will soon resume working on tax reform. However taxpayers should temper their enthusiasm because, even in the unlikely event tax collection is simplified, tax reform will not reduce the American people’s tax burden.
In a striking announcement by John Bercow, the speaker of the British House of Commons, Donald Trump is to be barred from giving a historic address in Westminster Hall, the British Parliament's grandest and most prestigious hall.
Bercow announced he would not give the US President permission to speak in the 11th Century Westminster Hall when he makes a state visit. John Bercow slammed Trump for "racism and sexism", his undermining of judges and his migrant ban. Bercow's intervention is unusual because Speakers are expected to remain above Parliament's partisan fray.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants his British counterpart to back his call for a tougher international stance against Iran. Before meeting with the British Prime Minister at Downing Street Netanyahu said that Iran’s aggression cannot go unanswered He has urged Theresa May to pledge her support for renewed sanctions against Iran after the country recently test-fired a ballistic missile ‘Iran seeks to annihilate Israel, it seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world.
Via The Daily Bell
Republican attack on Fed casts doubt over global bank rules Trump-era co-operation uncertain as congressman criticises deals with ‘foreign lands’ … The future of cross-border co-operation on bank regulation in the Trump era has been thrown into doubt, with domestic pressure mounting on the US Federal Reserve and a senior member of the House of Representatives calling on the central bank not to negotiate new rules at “secretive” international bodies. -Financial Times
More than a dozen lawsuits and counting have been filed against President Donald Trump’s executive order that temporarily blocks visas from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. As of last Friday, one such lawsuit heard by Federal District Judge James Robart, a Bush appointee, in Seattle effectively blocked the enforcement of the executive order nationwide (see here for details: "Judge Blocks Trump Travel Ban Nationwide; White House Vows To Challenge 'Outrageous Order'").