Income inequality refers to how unevenly income is distributed throughout a population. The less equal the distribution, the greater the income inequality. Income inequality is often accompanied by wealth inequality, which is the uneven distribution of wealth.

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The US Democracy category has related posts on government agencies and departments and  committees and their Chairs.

The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury of the federal government of the United States where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the U.S. Mint; these two agencies are responsible for printing all paper currency and coins, while the treasury executes its circulation in the domestic fiscal system.

The USDT collects all federal taxes through the Internal Revenue Service; manages U.S. government debt instruments; licenses and supervises banks and thrift institutions; and advises the legislative and executive branches on matters of fiscal policy. The department is administered by the secretary of the treasury, who is a member of the Cabinet.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is a powerful entity within the US government, situated within the Executive Office of the President. Here’s a breakdown of its key functions:

• Budget Management: The OMB plays a critical role in crafting the Federal budget. This includes assisting the President in formulating budget proposals, overseeing the budget’s execution, and making recommendations regarding legislative actions impacting the budget
• Agency Oversight: The OMB keeps a watchful eye on the performance of various federal agencies, ensuring they adhere to the President’s priorities.
• Regulatory Review: Functioning as a central hub, the OMB reviews and coordinates significant regulations issued by federal agencies. This ensures these regulations align with federal policies and don’t create unnecessary burdens.

The Committee on Oversight and Reform is the main investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. It has authority to investigate the subjects within the Committee’s legislative jurisdiction as well as “any matter” within the jurisdiction of the other standing House Committees.

Subcommittees: 

• Cyber Security, Information Technology and Government Innovation
• Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs
• Government Operations and the Federal Workforce
• Health Care and Financial Services
• National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs

Chair: James Comer, Kentucky (R)
Ranking Member: Jamie Raskin, Maryland (D)

Majority Staff Director: Mark Marin
Minority Staff Director: Karen McAfee
Meeting Location: 2157 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; Phone: (202) 225-5074

Featured Video: Democracy in Danger: The Assault on Voting Rights in Texas – July 29, 2021
Web Links

Current Position: US Representative of OH 4th District since 2007
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: State Senator from 2001 – 2006; State Delegate from 1995 – 2000
Other Positions:  Chair, Committee on the Judiciary
District: was redrawn from the previous district to stretch from Lima, to include the northwestern suburbs of Columbus, up to Tiffin and Elyria on the shores of Lake Erie    
Upcoming Election:

Jordan is a two-time NCAA national champion wrestler and a former college wrestling coach. In Congress, Jordan helped start the right-wing populist House Freedom Caucus, serving as its first chair from 2015 to 2017, and as its vice chair since 2017. Jordan was a prominent critic of Speaker of the House John Boehner, who resigned under Freedom Caucus pressure in 2015.

He was the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee from 2019 to 2020, when he left to become the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, of which he became chair in 2023.

Featured Quote: 
Discussing the January 6th Select Committee on Fox News with @seanhannity and @RepStefanik
at 9:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. CT. Tune in!

Rep. Jim Jordan says Trump is not to blame for Capitol insurrection

Current Position: US Representative of MD District 8 since 2017
Affiliation: Democrat
Other Positions:  Committee on House Administration; Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Former Position: Constitutional law professor from 1990 – 2006
District:  DC suburbs, including Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac and Rockville and Silver Spring.
Upcoming Election:

Raskin co-chairs the Congressional Freethought Caucus. He was the lead impeachment manager (prosecutor) for the second impeachment of President Donald Trump in response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.[3][4] Before his election to Congress, Raskin was a constitutional law professor at American University Washington College of Law and co-founder of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.

Featured Quote: 
When violent insurrectionists assault police officers, smash windows and storm the Capitol, most of us see terrorists. Rep. Clyde sees “tourorists,” a whole new form of riot denial.

Congressman Jamie Raskin recounts Capitol invasion, which happened the day after he buried his son

Mission:  The committee focuses on matters relating to taxation and other revenue measures generally, and those relating to the insular possessions; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act (notably Medicare and Medicaid) and health programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; national social security; reciprocal trade agreements; tariff and import quotas, and related matters thereto; and the transportation of dutiable goods.

House counterpart: Ways and Means Committee

Democratic Members (Minority):
Ron Wyden, Oregon, Ranking Member
Maria Cantwell, Washington
Michael Bennet, Colorado
Mark Warner, Virginia
Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire
Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
Bernie Sanders, Vermont
Ben Luján, New Mexico
Raphael Warnock, Georgia
Peter Welch, Vermont

Republican Members (Majority):
Mike Crapo, Idaho, Chair
Chuck Grassley, Iowa
John Cornyn, Texas
John Thune, South Dakota
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
James Lankford, Oklahoma
Steve Daines, Montana
Todd Young, Indiana
John Barrasso, Wyoming
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Roger Marshall, Kansas

Featured Video: 
Senate Finance Committee holds hearing on tax fraud

Current Position: US Senator since 1997
Affiliation: Democrat
Other Positions: Chair, Committee on Finance;
Chair, Subcommittee on Water and Power – Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Former Position: US Representative from 1981 – 1996

He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1974, but has never been a member of the Oregon State Bar.

While teaching gerontology at several Oregon universities, Wyden founded the Oregon chapter of the Gray Panthers, which he led from 1974 to 1980. He was also the director of the Oregon Legal Services Center for Elderly, a nonprofit law service. From 1977 to 1979 he served on the Oregon State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.

Quotes: 
This is wonky, but it’s a big deal: in Republicans’ 2017 tax law they included something called a pass-through deduction. Over 61% of benefits from this provision go to the top 1%. I introduced a bill to end this giveaway to the ultra-wealthy and help true small businesses.

Sen. Ron Wyden talks on Senate Floor after mob infiltrates capitol

Current Position: US Senator since 1999
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: US Representative for ID-02 from 1993 – 1999
Other Positions:  
Ranking Member, Committee on Finance

He practiced law in his home city throughout the 1980s, while also maintaining an active role in local Republican politics. His brother Terry Crapo was majority leader in the Idaho House of Representatives from 1968 to 1972 and an influential political figure until his death from leukemia in 1982.

Quotes:
A new analysis by the non-partisan @jctgov shows how few taxpayers will meaningfully benefit from the bill recently approved by the House Ways and Means Committee, and that taxpayers across all income levels will face a tax increase under the bill. Sept. 24, 2021

Senator Mike Crapo speaks with Lou Dobbs on Fox Business News

The Joint Economic Committee (JEC) was created when Congress passed the Employment Act of 1946. Under this Act, Congress established two advisory panels: the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and the Joint Economic Committee. Their primary tasks are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy.

Chairmanship of the Committee alternates between the Senate and House every Congress.  The JEC is currently chaired by Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.

Democratic Senate Members (Majority):
Martin Heinrich, New Mexico, Chair
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire
Mark Kelly, Arizona
John Fetterman, Pennsylvania
Peter Welch, Vermont

Democratic House Members (Minority):
Don Beyer, Virginia
David Trone, Maryland
Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
Katie Porter, California

Republican House Members (Majority):
David Schweikert, Arizona, Vice-Chair
Jodey Arrington, Texas
Ron Estes, Kansas
Drew Ferguson, Georgia
Lloyd Smucker, Pennsylvania
Nicole Malliotakis, New York

Republican Senate Member (Minority):
Mike Lee, Utah,
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
J. D. Vance, Ohio
Eric Schmitt, Missouri

Current Position: US Senator since 2013
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: US Representative for NM-01 from 2009 – 2013
Other Positions:   Vice Chair, Joint Economic Committee

After a brief stint doing mechanical drawings, Heinrich worked as an AmeriCorps fellow in New Mexico. From 1996 to 2001 Heinrich served as executive director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, a New Mexico nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people on natural science and the environment.

In 2002 he founded his own public affairs consulting firm. Martin Heinrich, in 2004 to 2008, served on the Albuquerque City Council, representing the 6th district. In February 2006 Governor Bill Richardson appointed Heinrich to be the state’s Natural Resources Trustee.

Quotes:
Our National Labs are driving the energy transition forward every single day.

Heinrich Speaks on Importance of For The People Act with ABC News Live

Current Position: US Representative of AZ 1st District since 2011 (formerly 6th)
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: State Delegate from 1991 – 1994; Maricopa County Treasurer from 2004 – 2007
Other positions:   Senior House Republican Member, U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee
District:   northeast Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills; is majority-white; and is the wealthiest congressional district in Arizona.
Upcoming Election:

Quotes:
Americans are seeing increased costs every day – from grocery to gas, #Bidenflation is hurting hard-working Americans. Yet Democrats are proposing $3.5 trillion in new spending and tax hikes. @RepDavid

GOP Congressman UNLOADS on Congress over their opposition to nuclear energy