Jean Ross
@jeanmross.bsky.social
Fiscal and economic policy wonk, photographer, wanderer ~ former @amprog , @fordfoundation , and @calbudgetcenter ~ now speak for myself. Californian in long-term exile in Brooklyn.
This could well be the most innovative and impactful path of action for an @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social mayorship.
Lina Khan’s populist plan for New York: Cheaper hot dogs (and other things)
Zohran Mamdani’s new aide will focus on “excavating the law” to lower prices, borrowing from her legal playbook at the Federal Trade Commission.
www.semafor.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This could well be the most innovative and impactful path of action for an @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social mayorship.
I am proud to see philanthropy, including several former employers, stand strong in the face of threats and attempts to restrict fundamental rights and democratic participation.
Statement on the Fundamental Freedom of Speech
“Acts of political violence — from the recent murder of Charlie Kirk to the murder of Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman of Minnesota — have…
medium.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I am proud to see philanthropy, including several former employers, stand strong in the face of threats and attempts to restrict fundamental rights and democratic participation.
Because some crimes apparently don’t warrant attention.
Trump Administration Halts I.R.S. Crackdown on Major Tax Shelters
www.nytimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Because some crimes apparently don’t warrant attention.
Yes! NYS (and more) needs to join in.
Snubbing Kennedy, States Announce Plans to Coordinate on Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Yes! NYS (and more) needs to join in.
Direct File, the free public tax filing option, was a smashing success in its 1st 2 years. In this out today, I explore options for expanding Direct File to independent contractors. While the Trump Admin has shelved it for now, the results are in: free public tax filing works and users love it.
🚀Gig work is everywhere. For some, it’s a way to make extra cash. For others, it’s a lifeline in a tough economy.
But behind the headlines are real struggles. 🧵
But behind the headlines are real struggles. 🧵
August 27, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Direct File, the free public tax filing option, was a smashing success in its 1st 2 years. In this out today, I explore options for expanding Direct File to independent contractors. While the Trump Admin has shelved it for now, the results are in: free public tax filing works and users love it.
It’s about the Fed, but it’s really about democracy.
In the Matter of Lisa Cook
Trump’s attempt to fire a Fed governor is illegal. Now we find out whether that matters.
open.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It’s about the Fed, but it’s really about democracy.
Is there a Lisa Cook defense fund? #askingforafriend
August 26, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Is there a Lisa Cook defense fund? #askingforafriend
Reposted by Jean Ross
The new tax law instructs the IRS to probe public opinion on whether they'd like to keep the Direct File program, which lets many taxpayers file their tax returns for free through the IRS, or whether they'd rather pay Turbotax for that privilege instead.
IRS survey on this question is now live:
IRS survey on this question is now live:
IRS Free Online Tax Preparation Feedback Survey
IRS Free Online Tax Preparation Feedback Survey
irsresearch.gov1.qualtrics.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The new tax law instructs the IRS to probe public opinion on whether they'd like to keep the Direct File program, which lets many taxpayers file their tax returns for free through the IRS, or whether they'd rather pay Turbotax for that privilege instead.
IRS survey on this question is now live:
IRS survey on this question is now live:
The IRS's public option for online tax filing - Direct File - was much beloved by users during its first two years of operation as reported here. Which may be why the Trump Administration decided to kill it.
Direct File is 'beloved by its users,' internal IRS report says
The IRS is reportedly ending the Direct File, but a report obtained via the Freedom of Information Act says that 94% of users rated their experience as “excellent” or “above average.”
www.nextgov.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The IRS's public option for online tax filing - Direct File - was much beloved by users during its first two years of operation as reported here. Which may be why the Trump Administration decided to kill it.
You can’t repeal reality
E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:20 AM
You can’t repeal reality
I received this notice and was deeply offended. Federal agencies shouldn’t be in the business of shilling for any administration and should definitely not send out misleading, politicized propaganda.
Yesterday the Social Security Administration sent a highly misleading & political press release about the tax bill to my work account, where I'd signed up for SSA updates.
Then overnight I got it again, this time to my personal account. And I heard from lots of others who did, too. 🧵
Then overnight I got it again, this time to my personal account. And I heard from lots of others who did, too. 🧵
July 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I received this notice and was deeply offended. Federal agencies shouldn’t be in the business of shilling for any administration and should definitely not send out misleading, politicized propaganda.
Saying the silent part out loud #nokings
Trump Claims Sweeping Power to Nullify Laws, Letters on TikTok Ban Show
www.nytimes.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Saying the silent part out loud #nokings
We've been down this road before. Again and again.
You’ve seen this movie before: Maybe Reagan guessed, Bush hoped, and Trump tried—but tax cuts never paid for themselves. Given the mountain of evidence, claiming once again that "tax cuts will pay for themselves" is no longer ideologically motivated optimism.
It's a lie.
It's a lie.
July 1, 2025 at 2:37 PM
We've been down this road before. Again and again.
The big ugly will take health coverage away from 17 million Americans…to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
For those who haven't been closely following how many people will lose health insurance from Republican actions:
CBO projects 11.8 million more uninsured from the Big Bill.
An additional 5.1 million uninsured from allowing enhanced ACA tax credits to expire and administrative actions.
CBO projects 11.8 million more uninsured from the Big Bill.
An additional 5.1 million uninsured from allowing enhanced ACA tax credits to expire and administrative actions.
June 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The big ugly will take health coverage away from 17 million Americans…to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
Reposted by Jean Ross
New Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers confirm what we already knew – the reconciliation bill is getting worse, not better. The Senate bill will cut health care more deeply than the House bill and leave more people uninsured. www.cbo.gov/publication/...
Estimated Budgetary Effects of an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Relative to the Budget Enforcement Baseline for Consideration in the Senate
As posted on the website of the Senate Committee on the Budget on June 27, 2025
www.cbo.gov
June 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
New Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers confirm what we already knew – the reconciliation bill is getting worse, not better. The Senate bill will cut health care more deeply than the House bill and leave more people uninsured. www.cbo.gov/publication/...
Make no mistake about it, the big ugly is the largest upward redistribution of income ever. Tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by taking health care away from 17 million Americans.
June 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Make no mistake about it, the big ugly is the largest upward redistribution of income ever. Tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by taking health care away from 17 million Americans.
Reposted by Jean Ross
👀The House bill cut Medicaid by $800-863 billion and now the Senate bill as we expected is worse.
CBO preliminary score for Senate bill is up to $930 billion in Medicaid cuts.
CBO preliminary score for Senate bill is up to $930 billion in Medicaid cuts.
Senator Wyden, ranking Democrat, reports preliminary CBO scores of $930B/10 years in #Medicaid cuts, under Senate reconciliation bill: www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-memb...
Wyden Statement on New CBO Numbers Showing More than $930 Billion in Medicaid Cuts In New Senate Draft | The United States Senate Committee on Finance
Wyden Statement on New CBO Numbers Showing More than $930 Billion in Medicaid Cuts In New Senate Draft
www.finance.senate.gov
June 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
👀The House bill cut Medicaid by $800-863 billion and now the Senate bill as we expected is worse.
CBO preliminary score for Senate bill is up to $930 billion in Medicaid cuts.
CBO preliminary score for Senate bill is up to $930 billion in Medicaid cuts.
Reposted by Jean Ross
Prelim CBO estimates confirm that the Senate bill cuts #Medicaid more deeply than the House-passed bill did. www.cbpp.org/charts/senat...
Senate Republican Bill Would Take Health Care and Food Assistance Away From People to Pay for Tax Cuts for Wealthy | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
www.cbpp.org
June 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Prelim CBO estimates confirm that the Senate bill cuts #Medicaid more deeply than the House-passed bill did. www.cbpp.org/charts/senat...
Trump’s Big Bill Would Be More Regressive Than Any Major Law in Decades...this is take from the poor to give to the rich and give the most to the very rich.
Trump’s Big Bill Would Be More Regressive Than Any Major Law in Decades
Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, released Thursday, offer a detailed view into the effects on income groups.
www.nytimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Trump’s Big Bill Would Be More Regressive Than Any Major Law in Decades...this is take from the poor to give to the rich and give the most to the very rich.
"(T)he G.O.P.’s vicious tax and spending plans can’t be separated from the party’s contempt for democracy...Why, then, did House members vote for it? Because they fear Donald Trump more than they fear the voters or because they don’t believe we will ever have fair elections again. Or both."
Reverse Robin Hood and Trumpian Totalitarianism
Trump’s big beautiful bill is a sadistic monstrosity
paulkrugman.substack.com
June 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"(T)he G.O.P.’s vicious tax and spending plans can’t be separated from the party’s contempt for democracy...Why, then, did House members vote for it? Because they fear Donald Trump more than they fear the voters or because they don’t believe we will ever have fair elections again. Or both."
This is where he admits that U.S. consumers - not foreigners - are the ones that will be shouldering the burden of tariffs.
Trump Urges Walmart to Absorb Tariffs After Retailer Says It Could Raise Prices
www.nytimes.com
May 17, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is where he admits that U.S. consumers - not foreigners - are the ones that will be shouldering the burden of tariffs.
I’d add granting the Treasury Secretary the unilateral right to terminate nonprofit status to the list if what’s wrong with the bill. Tax breaks for gun silencers? What…not on many bingo cards.
🧵 (1/20): Re the House tax bill, some early observations.
Across the political spectrum, tax wonks have found little to love. The bill is utterly unprincipled. By the bipartisan policy principles I outlined in Feb, it scores ~0.5 out of 8. Let’s take the issues 1 by 1.
www.piie.com/publications...
Across the political spectrum, tax wonks have found little to love. The bill is utterly unprincipled. By the bipartisan policy principles I outlined in Feb, it scores ~0.5 out of 8. Let’s take the issues 1 by 1.
www.piie.com/publications...
Eight principles for the 2025 tax policy debate (that Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree on)
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Congress passed in 2017, came with a built-in policy time bomb—several of the more popular provisions are set to expire on the last day of 2025. These tax cut expirati...
www.piie.com
May 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I’d add granting the Treasury Secretary the unilateral right to terminate nonprofit status to the list if what’s wrong with the bill. Tax breaks for gun silencers? What…not on many bingo cards.
What she said…
Ways & Means bill takes "haphazard approach to tax breaks, would create new opportunities for tax avoidance & evasion, add complexity to the tax system, & increase filing burdens for low- & moderate-income families and workers"
New @taxlawcenter.org post: taxlawcenter.org/blog/the-hou...
New @taxlawcenter.org post: taxlawcenter.org/blog/the-hou...
The House Ways and Means Tax Bill Encourages Tax “Gaming,” Adds Complexity, and Increases Filing Burdens on Low- and Middle-Income Families and Workers
This post explores the bill's troublingly haphazard approach to tax breaks that would create new opportunities for tax avoidance and evasion, add complexity to the tax system, and increase filing burd...
taxlawcenter.org
May 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
What she said…
Today’s must read. Everything about cryptocurrency is suspect. This just takes it to a new level.
www.nytimes.com
May 7, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Today’s must read. Everything about cryptocurrency is suspect. This just takes it to a new level.