A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – With the Bureau of Economic Analysis announcing today that, according to its second estimate, real Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the third quarter–following a second quarter rate of 3.1 percent–the United States took a step toward doing something it has not done in more than 12 years: seeing the economy grow at an annual rate of 3.0 percent or better in three straight quarters.

That milestone would be reached if real GDP were to grow at a rate of 3.0 percent or better in the fourth quarter of this year.

The last time real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 3.0 percent or better for at least three straight quarters was in 2004-2005, according to data published by BEA. [ Source: CNS News (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – The Senate GOP’s tax-cut plan would result in modest economic growth in the coming decade that would shave about $400 billion off its $1.4 trillion price tag, according to a report from congressional scorekeepers released Thursday.

The proposal would boost economic growth by about 0.8 percent on average over 10 years, but the positive budgetary effects would be partially offset by higher interest payments on the federal debt, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT).

Factoring in broader economic effects, the plan would cost slightly more than $1 trillion over 10 years, the report said. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Senate Republicans were struggling to keep their $1.4 trillion tax cut on track Thursday night after a key compromise crumbled, sending leaders scurrying for another last-minute rewrite to try to keep deficit hawks on board.

The hiccup came after the Senate parliamentarian said a “trigger” the deficit hawks had hoped to use to constrain the bill if it produced big deficits wouldn’t fly under the chamber’s rules. At least three Republicans had been counting on the trigger to justify support for the cuts. Without it, party leaders will have to find other ways to limit the bill’s costs.

Senators now face eliminating hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts from the package to satisfy the hawks such as Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican whose vote is crucial to passage. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Given the tenor of the campaign in the state, one might think Doug Jones was a doctor performing abortions on young women, not a former prosecutor and now Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.

But Republicans have been merciless in attacking the man some of them have dubbed “Abortion Jones,” hoping to find reasons to rally a base they fear might stay home on Election Day rather than turn out for embattled Republican nominee Roy Moore.

“I believe the people of Alabama do not understand how important this U.S. Senate race is in the future of the country, but people from outside Alabama do,” former state Sen. Scott Beason said Thursday on his radio talk show. [ Source (Read More…) ]