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Midtown Shooting Prompts Reactions from Elected Officials; Families Await News

A shooting incident in Midtown Manhattan has drawn strong reactions from political figures, while families anxiously awaited information about their loved ones in the aftermath.The event, wich occurred at Blackstone’s headquarters in Midtown, left three people critically injured, including an NYPD officer.

New York city Council Member Zohran KM Mamdani expressed his distress on X, stating, “I’m heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also took to X to share his reaction. “Deeply disturbed by the horrific shooting in Midtown Manhattan,” he wrote, adding, “Praying hard for the brave NYPD officer impacted and all other victims of this tragedy.”

Representative Ritchie Torres provided details on the incident, noting that the suspect critically injured three individuals, one of whom was a police officer, at the midtown Manhattan location of Blackstone. As of the reporting, police had not released further information regarding the shooting or the total number of victims. Torres commented on X, “This shocking act of terror is a grim reminder of the persistent danger posed by firearms, the hardening of hatred in our society, and the exceptional courage of the NYPD officers who risk their lives to protect the rest of us.”

Families Gathered as area Remained Secured

Several hours after the shooting,police maintained closures on multiple manhattan blocks. The affected area is characterized by numerous business offices and hotels, situated near prominent tourist attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trump Tower.Behind police barricades, Armand Bramellari, 36, waited for his mother, who works as a cleaner in the building where the incident took place. He reported that she was on the second floor when the shooting occurred. Upon seeing news of the event on X,he immediately went to the location to pick her up,parking his vehicle on a side street.

Bramellari expressed his confusion about how the shooter gained access to the building, which typically requires a badge or security clearance for entry.He shared his family’s journey to the United States, noting they arrived through a lottery system his mother entered. “she brought us here, and she’s got to die at work?” he questioned.Shortly thereafter, his mother emerged with a group of women. Bramellari passed an NYPD barricade to embrace his mother and the others before they proceeded to his car on a side street.In the surrounding area, pedestrians moved freely on open streets while police officers were present, occasionally redirecting bicycle delivery workers to choice routes.

Contributing reporting by Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY.
(This story was updated to include video.)

House Republicans Push Forward on Tax Package Amid Internal Discord

Washington, D.C. – House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a notable challenge as he attempts to rally Republican support for a multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package. Despite opposition within his own party, Mr. Johnson has insisted that Republicans will proceed with teh bill,even after a lengthy White house meeting with GOP members who remain hesitant to back the legislation.

The Sticking Points

Local Tax Deductions: A proposed deal to increase deductions for local taxes to $40,000 for residents of New York and other high-tax states has sparked concern among conservative Republicans. They fear this costly provision will exacerbate the nation’s $36 trillion debt.
Spending Cuts: Republicans are aiming to offset lost revenue through spending cuts to federal safety net programs and a rollback of green energy tax breaks from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act.
Medicaid and SNAP: The package includes new work requirements for individuals receiving healthcare through Medicaid and food stamps through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).

Leadership’s Optimism vs. Reality

Despite the internal strife, Mr. Johnson and his leadership team expressed confidence in their ability to secure GOP support for final passage. We’re excited that we’re going to land this airplane, Mr. Johnson said, back at the Capitol.

Though, the mood at the Capitol appeared less optimistic.The Rules Committee has been engaged in a marathon session, exceeding 18 hours, and another Republican, representative John Rose of Tennessee, has announced his opposition to the bill.

Democratic Opposition

Democrats, lacking the votes to block the package, are employing various tactics to voice their opposition and capitalize on the Republican disarray. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, along with his team, testified before the committee, denouncing the bill as one big, ugly bill that’s going to hurt the american people.

Hurt children, hurt families, hurt veterans, hurt seniors, cut health care, cut nutritional assistance, explode the debt.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Trump’s Involvement

This legislation is a critical test for President Trump and his party, representing a significant investment of political capital in the early months of his return to the White house. Mr. Trump had previously urged lawmakers to finalize the bill. Following a White House meeting, Mr.Johnson suggested that Mr. Trump might use executive actions to achieve some goals that Congress cannot agree upon legislatively.

white House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as productive, stating that it moved the ball in the right direction.

Economic Impact

A recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that the tax provisions would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over the next decade. Additionally, changes to Medicaid, food stamps, and other services would result in $1 trillion in reduced spending. The CBO projects that the lowest-income households would experience a decrease in resources, while the highest-income households would see an increase.

Key Provisions of the package

Tax breaks: The package aims to extend tax breaks approved during Mr. Trump’s first term in 2017 and introduce new ones from his 2024 campaign.
No Taxes on Tips: As promised by Mr.Trump, the package proposes eliminating taxes on tips for certain workers.
Increased Standard Deduction: the standard income tax deduction would increase to $32,000 for joint filers.
Child Tax Credit: The child tax credit would increase to $2,500.
Enhanced Deduction for Older Adults: An enhanced deduction of $4,000 would be available for older adults with certain income levels to help offset taxes on Social Security income.

Spending Cuts and Work Requirements

To reduce spending, the package introduces new work requirements for many Medicaid recipients. Able-bodied adults without dependents would need to work or participate in community activities for 80 hours per month.Similar requirements would apply to SNAP recipients. The CBO estimates that these changes could result in 8.6 million fewer people having health insurance and 3 million fewer people receiving SNAP benefits each month.

Did You Know?

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is named using President Trump’s own words. This reflects his direct involvement and vision for the tax and spending package.

Divisions Within the GOP

Representative Andy Harris of Maryland, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, stated earlier that he did not believe the package could pass in a House vote, but there is a pathway forward that we can see. Conservatives are pushing for faster and deeper cuts to federal programs to offset the trillions of dollars in lost tax revenue.Simultaneously occurring, moderate lawmakers are concerned about the potential loss of healthcare for their constituents due to changes in Medicaid.

SALT Deduction Compromise

Lawmakers from high-tax states like New York and California sought a larger state and local tax (SALT) deduction for their constituents.Under the emerging SALT deal, the $10,000 deduction cap would quadruple to $40,000 with an income limit of $500,000, phasing down for incomes above that level.

Debt Concerns

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the House bill is projected to add roughly $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of the tax package?

To extend tax breaks from Trump’s first term and introduce new ones, while cutting spending.

How will the package affect the national debt?

It is indeed estimated to add roughly $3.3 trillion to the debt over the next decade.

What are the proposed changes to Medicaid and SNAP?

New work requirements for recipients, perhaps reducing the number of people covered.

Pro Tip

Stay informed about the ongoing debates and amendments to the bill.Contact your representatives to voice your concerns or support for specific provisions.

Hakeem Jeffries

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