Linda Bilmes

Prof at Harvard's @Kennedy_School, UN Committee of Experts, wife, mom, dog-lover. My focus is war costs, veterans, budgets and protecting natural capital.

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

@Mark_Penn We wasted $1 trillion to get a much worse “deal” than the one Trump tore up in 2017, while strengthening the hardliners in #Iran inflicting pain on consumers, and boosting Russia’s economy. There is just no way to put lipsticks on this no matter how much spin you apply.

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

@BernieSanders The Pentagon has a “culture of endless money” per former DoD Secy Robert Gates.

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

@gabriel_zucman Thank you!

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

@elonmusk can still be a rich visionary entrepreneur w/o being a “trillionaire”. The problem is that the government has failed to set fair progressive tax laws.

[Warren Gunnels @GunnelsWarren]

If Bernie's 5% annual wealth tax on billionaires had been enacted in 2012, Elon Musk would be worth less than $365 billion instead of the $1.2 trillion that he's worth today.

Elon would still be the wealthiest man alive & every family in America would have universal childcare.

[Rep. Mike Levin @RepMikeLevin]

Not enough people are talking about this.

Trump is trying to escape a $100 million dollar tax penalty, and Senate Republicans are helping him do it.

You know about the $1.8 billion slush fund he tried to create to reward his political allies. They got so much pushback that they’ve halted that, at least for now. But what you probably don’t know is that Trump gave himself, his family, and his businesses complete immunity from IRS audits, past and future.

Everyone focused on the slush fund, and almost nobody noticed the audit immunity. It’s still in place, and it cannot be allowed to stand.

[James Melville 🚜 @JamesMelville]

The Tartan Army are a credit to Scotland. Here they are in full voice singing ‘Loch Lomond’ in Boston Stadium last night for the World Cup match between Scotland and Haiti. Absolutely glorious.

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

Wall street folks are celebrating @elonmusk for creating 4,400 millionaires. Fine.

Did any of them celebrate @JoeBiden IRA, ARP, CHIPS for creating millions of good paying jobs?

Our barometer should be opportunity & stability for the majority, not simply wealth for the few.

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

@elonmusk

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

Even if ends tomorrow, the #IranWar‌ will cost US taxpayers $1 trillion (inc upfront costs, rebuilding 228 US structures damaged by Iran drones, veterans benefits, Pentagon increases and debt service.) That’s a lot of money, even to #Elon #Irán #Iran @CostsOfWar @epsusa

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

Even if ends tomorrow, the #IranWar‌ will cost US taxpayers $1 trillion (inc upfront costs, rebuilding 228 US structures damaged by Iran drones, veterans benefits, Pentagon increases and debt service.) That’s a lot of money, even to #Elon #Irán #Iran @CostsOfWar @epsusa

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

Even if ends tomorrow, the #IranWar‌ will cost US taxpayers $1 trillion (inc upfront costs, rebuilding 228 US structures damaged by Iran drones, veterans benefits, Pentagon increases and debt service.) That’s a lot of money, even to #Elon #Irán #Iran @CostsOfWar @epsusa

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

Musk is worth more than South Africa’s GDP. @BernieSanders and I proposed a 5% tax on people like him.

In one year, it could fund:
- free public college & trade school
-$10/day childcare
- Special-needs education nationwide

Wealth inequality is the moral failure of our time.

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

Raphael Warnock: We Are Witnessing an Assault on Basic Voting Rights https://t.co/4eNWS1SJh8 via @NYTimes

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

Middle class people find that the cap outstrips every wage gain. Given national
income levels, it should be lifted at $150k and reinstated at $250 and everything above.
Additionally, gradually raise minimum age of retirement to 65, steepen incentives to 68, and allow deferment to 72. This needs to be a priority for Congress, and unlike some global problems, fixing this is straightforward.

[Steven Rattner @SteveRattner]

Inflation has overtaken wages for the first time in 3 years.

That means Americans’ incomes are shrinking in real terms, largely because of the Iran war.

My @Morning_Joe Chart.

[James Talarico @jamestalarico]

Since taking office, Ken Paxton has become a multi-millionaire while our pay has stagnated.

He owns 11 homes while most Texans can’t afford one.

He trades favors with rich donors while blocking overtime pay for workers.

Paxton doesn’t serve us — he serves himself.

[Elizabeth Warren @ewarren]

Under the proposed merger, nearly 50% of Paramount-Warner Brothers would be foreign-owned, including by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

This deal could pose a national security threat.

[The Costs of War Project @CostsOfWar]

The debt ceiling deal has been passed into law, exempting military spending from the freeze. But price gouging by military contractors exposed by @60minutes looms large, with Senators urging action. https://t.co/qrA7ecjyqG

[Steven Rattner @SteveRattner]

The inflation story in one chart: gas +40% y/y, energy +24%.

An entirely self-inflicted wound caused by Trump’s War on Iran.

[Sen. Bernie Sanders @SenSanders]

This week, my amendment to ban billionaire-funded super PACs received unanimous support from my Democratic colleagues.

The momentum is growing. It’s time to repeal Citizens United, ban super PACs and move to the public funding of elections NOW.

[Linda Bilmes @LJBilmes]

@MikeLevin Same playbook as firing the BLS Director when the data was displeasing.