Winning Wednesday: Cleveland Rocks

Four.  Pentagon releases Ukraine aid after Mitch editorial

Say what you will about outgoing KY Senator Mitch McConnell, he has always been a stalwart supporter of Ukraine.  His recent op-ed on money for Ukraine that had been promised, but mysteriously held back, made a difference.  Late in April, Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.). asked Pete Hegseth about it, and he said the money had been released.

In the op-ed in the Washington Post, McConnell said that “Republican majorities on both armed services committees authorized $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative for each of the next two years. Appropriators fully funded that authorization for fiscal 2026 with overwhelming support… The funding was intended to pay for the production of high-priority weapons by American companies for Ukraine’s armed forces.”  What’s not to like?

It seems that one Elbridge Colby, the under secretary of Defense for policy, doesn’t like money going to Ukraine. Earlier, he held up another grant for them, surprising Donald Trump, who had supported it.

Three. Montana state auditor drives bad health insurance company from state

Here’s a good example of why it’s so important to stay informed about your local and state officials, and support them when it’s warranted. 

More than 130 complaints had been filed with the Better Business Bureau against health insurer Strategic Limited Partners (SLP) in Montana in the last three years.  Many people were denied coverage for services they had understood would be covered.  State Auditor James Brown’s office issued a cease-and-desist letter to the company, later saying that SLP has ceased issuing policies in the state.  There’s no money back for their customers, but at least it protects others in the state from the same fate.

News From the States noted that Brown has targeted wrongdoing by other insurance companies during his time in office as well, recently winning a court battle over the right to investigate Blue Cross Blue Shield, and announcing it had gotten back over $37 million in wrongful billing schemes preying on Native American communities.

Two.   Wealth Tax: It’s A Movement

Capital and Main and American Prospect gave us an uplifting roundup of all the states – eleven by my count - that have passed, or are considering, wealth taxes.  Important lessons: We don’t have to wait on Congress to do this.  And, having an actual bill on the table does more to engage people than an abstract idea.  And, every state has rich people.

“Absolutely, it’s a movement,” said Chuck Collins, one of the founders of Patriotic Millionaires, a group of "high net worth" people who advocate for raising their own taxes, as well as other changes that would make our tax system and economy more fair.

In 2022, Massachusetts voters approved a 4 percent surcharge on annual taxable income over $1 million. Since the tax took effect in 2023, the state has collected nearly $6 billion in additional tax revenue—and the number of millionaires in the state has grown, not shrunk.

In California, it looks like their wealth tax plan will be on the ballot this fall.  It would levy a one-time, 5 percent tax on the total wealth of the state’s roughly 200 billionaires, with the money to be used mostly to restore health care services that Trump has cut. 

Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, New York and Rhode Island are all debating new wealth taxes. NY already passed several measures raising taxes on the rich and corporations in 2021. Patriotic Millionaires has been advocating for a Vermont measure as well. New Jersey has had a wealth tax in place since 2020, and Minnesota implemented a tax on investment income over $1 million in 2024.

One.  Poindexter wins in Ohio

Last week, we told you how great Brian Poindexter is, and how important it is for him to win and help spark a movement to take back Ohio.  Well, the Democrats in Congressional District 7 agreed.  Poindexter won the eight-way Democratic primary with 37%. The next candidate had 22%.

Bernie Sanders congratulated him and said he’d be great in Congress.  The Progressive Caucus PAC said on Twitter, “Congrats @BPforCongress on winning the #OH07 Democratic primary! A former union organizer & an ironworker who won a Trump district on the city council, Brian won by focusing on workers' rights, holding corporations accountable & building an economy that works for all Americans.”  You have to love Brian’s logo, a very creative use of wrenches.