This week starts with a look at "Roypublicans" (a term coined by our contributor Tim Lloyd) who now are in control of the GOP. If that gives you pause...it should. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly piece on some of the political things you've seen and some you may have missed. All laced with my commentary..sometimes fun sometimes...not so much. Sit a spell, grab a cup and let's go!
"Roypublicans"
What will happen later this week is that Roy Moore will be elected to the United States Senate and it seems that the Molester in Chief "45" is super excited to have another groper join him in Washington. What I can not understand is how my conservative Christian friends have decided to line up with these people. Or maybe it's not so hard to figure out. Back in September at a Florence, Alabama rally Moore outlined all the wrongs that he sees in Washington. What he called "spiritual wickedness in high places." He warned of "the awful calamity of abortion and sodomy and perverse behavior and murders and shootings and road rage" as "a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins."
In response to a question from one of the only African Americans in the audience — who asked when Moore thought America was last "great" -- Moore acknowledged the nation's history of racial divisions, but said: "I think it was great at the time when families were united — even though we had slavery — they cared for one another.... Our families were strong, our country had a direction."
At the same event he referred to Native Americans and Asian Americans as "reds and yellows" and earlier this year suggested that the September 11 terrorist attacks were "divine punishment".
This is what we are dealing with. And on Tuesday he will be elected to the United States Senate proving, once again, that "Roypublicans" can say and do anything. Congratulations America. (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)
Taxes, Politics and Churches 
Back in 1954 the United States adopted the Johnson Amendment to the tax code. It was named such for the author Lyndon Johnson who would go on to become President Johnson. The Johnson Amendment prohibits nonprofit groups who maintain tax exempt status, including churches and charities, from participating in politics. Guess what...language now being debated in the Roypublican Tax Bill in congress removes that language allowing your church, synagogue or mosque the ability to not only preach politics but also donate to candidates who think just like them...and get to deduct the expense. See what you learn here?
Al Franken
Last week, following the resignation speech by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), I was approached by three people who said they were switching from the Democratic Party to become registered Independents. WHAT? Here is what they said, "While democrats go after the moral high ground we deny people the right to due process and we look like wimps." To say I was shocked would be an understatement however the three people who said this to me were all women. Let that sink in for a moment. Meanwhile an executive told me that he fears there will be a backlash against women in general which could have a chilling impact on some careers. "I fear that some employers will pass over some very talented young women because they do not want to take a risk that their company could be subject to an accusation; true or not."
I don't support either comment however it is stunning that people are coming forward and voicing these thoughts. And, my circle is not that large.
I need to focus on shorter stories...sorry!
As long as we're in the weeds we might as well look at the links between some familiar names in Iowa. While the Iowa Democrats are calling on Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) to remove Congressman Steve King (R-IA) from her campaign committee because he is such a hateful individual the Republicans seem to rally around such folks. Today the Des Moines Register released a new Iowa Poll that measured some 800 Iowa voters. Fifty-one percent of them approve of the job Gov. Reynolds is doing. I'm not making this up. Reynolds who sits on the right hand of "45" who turns to King for political decisions gets a majority of voters thinking she is doing "just fine".
The Iowa Poll 
Meanwhile more people tend to have a positive view of candidate Fred Hubbell (27%) than others in the field but Iowans don't know much about any of them. The vast majority of voters (57% to 70%) say they don't know enough about the candidates to form an opinion. The favorable numbers among the leading Democrats are: Fred Hubbell (27%). Dr. Andy McGuire (26%), Sen. Nate Boulton (21%), John Norris (18%) and Cathy Glasson (18%). What is interesting is that the negative number for Fred Hubbell stands at 16% several points higher than the others. Here is a screen snap from the poll. If you click on it it will enlarge. If you can get through the pay-wall here is a link to the story by The Des Moines Register. If you want a "hoot" check out the comments from some of the people polled. OMG!
Taxes and Business
Some of you know that I do the only daily (M-F) hour-long radio broadcast about business in the Midwest. (Here is a link to our Radio Blog Interviews) I try, very hard, to steer clear of politics as there is enough "toxic talk radio" going on out there. However the lines between politics and business are getting more fuzzy by the day. Case in point. Business groups in Iowa are lining up to make sure the corporate tax rate is reduced. Last week the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Iowa Chamber Alliance both released their "wish lists" for the 2018 Iowa Legislature which will convene on 8 January. Each has listed "Tax Reform" as their number one goal. What that really means is a cut in corporate taxes. They site the fact that Iowa has the highest corporate tax rate in the nation at 12% yet Iowa does allow for deductability of federal taxes paid. The pro-business groups say that this is like putting a big sign on Iowa that says, "Don't come here because we'll tax the hell out of you!" Which...is really not true. Not only are federal taxes 
deducted for corporations so too is the fact that corporations only pay taxes on goods sold in Iowa. Couple that with the fact that by the time you factor in other deductions the 12% shrinks greatly. Oh and one other thing the business groups won't tell you. Between 2009 and 2016 Iowa awarded over $375 million in research and development tax credits and many of the companies that received those credits pay zero in Iowa taxes.
One other thing the business groups want...they want to continue awarding already successful companies more tax forgiveness in the effort to stimulate economic growth.
Bottom line: While Iowa wishes to lead the nation in corporate welfare and our state budget is in a mess you poor chumps will pay more and more services will be cut. Watch and see my friends. They did that to you in 2012 with the famous Terry Branstad Tax Shift on commercial property and it's coming to you again in 2018.
Partly Personal
Sorry this is late getting out to you...I was up way too late last night. If you are celebrating Chanukah starts on Tuesday evening with the lighting of the first of eight candles. My brother Yoni has asked me to be with him at Simpson College that evening to meet with and visit with some of the Jewish students to chat a bit about Chanukah. I'm looking forward to that adventure. While Steve King (R-IA) feels that assimilation is the best thing for America I can share with you it is the worst thing for Jews. That is exactly what the holiday of Chanukah is all about...resisting assimilation. Maybe the good congressman should be reminded about that...or maybe it won't make any sense to him.
Thanks for reading have a wonderful Chanukah, Hanukah, Hanuka...or however you wish to spell it!
Republicans
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