Here come the GOP budget bills - with March 14 shutdown date approaching (3 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

The GOP in both the House and Senate have released their budget resolutions. Both aim to produce $1.5T to $2T in tax cuts- while slashing spending.

The Senate budget committee is hearing their resolution today and resolving over 200 proposed amendments.

The House has released their budge resolution:

- $4 Trillion debt-ceiling increase
- Defund Medicaid entirely (effectively)
- Reduce SNAP by 20%

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/12/congress/senate-budget-markup-begins-00203818

House GOP releases budget calling for trillions in cuts to taxes and spending

The blueprint conflicts with a Senate budget resolution, which doesn't address taxes or the debt ceiling. It also includes less funding than the Senate's for immigration enforcement.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[efil4]

What is so bad about the Republican CR? I know it raises defense by about 6% and cuts about 8%, which I don’t like, but what else is bad?

So the CR would cut 1B from DC’s local budget in the middle of the fiscal year. That cut would make the federal firings look timid. DC would have to RIF people immediately. Police, fire, teachers all get benefit cuts of 140M total. Metro would see 216M in cuts alone. That’s about 350M or 1/3 of the needed cuts.

What’s crazy….DC operates with a balanced budget because it’s required by the Home Rule Act. DC has a AAA bond rating. This CR puts DC in a spot to either tear down government services or run a non-balanced budget opening the door to ending Home Rule.

Serious concern about future employment….

 

[Lapaz]

So it isn't a CR. It is a budget with embedded legislation that would allow the Executive to impound money. I think that would spur an immediate court challenge, and probably be ruled unconstitutional, even by the Supreme Court.

I'm not sure if surrendering the right to block tariffs is unconstitutional, but Congress ain't blocking any anyway, so I don't care much about that provision.

What would Home Rule of DC look like? Would residents have no say at all without a mayoral election? Would the House representative be the defacto mayor? Would all current city services have to be run by Congress or Executive? I would say to be careful what you ask for, because that would be a cluster.

 

[Lapaz]

I don't think Democrats are doing a good job of explaining why the CR with legislation is bad. I hear that it will allow the president to cut medicaid and SS, but I think that is unconstitutional. Other provisions may also be unconstitutional. So the worst parts may be stayed, while shutting down the government is irresponsible, and may only provide "proof" that agencies aren't needed.

 

[bird]

Schumer needs to be replaced.

Or he needs to understand…This. Is. War.

 

[bird]

I don't think Democrats are doing a good job of explaining why the CR with legislation is bad. I hear that it will allow the president to cut medicaid and SS, but I think that is unconstitutional. Other provisions may also be unconstitutional. So the worst parts may be stayed, while shutting down the government is irresponsible, and may only provide "proof" that agencies aren't needed.

Things being unconstitutional will not stop Trump.

 

[superchuck500]

So it isn't a CR. It is a budget with embedded legislation that would allow the Executive to impound money. I think that would spur an immediate court challenge, and probably be ruled unconstitutional, even by the Supreme Court.

I'm not sure if surrendering the right to block tariffs is unconstitutional, but Congress ain't blocking any anyway, so I don't care much about that provision.

What would Home Rule of DC look like? Would residents have no say at all without a mayoral election? Would the House representative be the defacto mayor? Would all current city services have to be run by Congress or Executive? I would say to be careful what you ask for, because that would be a cluster.

I'm not sure why impoundment would be unlawful when it's authorized by duly-passed federal legislation. We have the anti-impoundment act but that, itself, is legislation - so why can't Congress condition funds on executive discretion to impound? Yes, the appropriations power is in the Constitution but if Congress agrees to condition appropriations on executive discretion, I don't see how that's unconstitutional.

On the tariff provision, it's not just that Congress is ceding its power to cancel the tariffs, it's that Congress is ceding its power to cancel a presidential declaration of emergency. We have already seen Trump completely willing to use emergency powers when there's no actual emergency - so that alone should be highly troubling. You're right that Congress wouldn't block it now, but the problem is that when this becomes law, they can't block it at all until 10/1/2025. Trump could go deep-end bat shirt in May and Congress will have eliminated its power to end the use of these emergency powers through the end of September. Yes, for tariffs but it's broader than that.

I also question whether changing how days are counted is permissible - why do it that way?

Simply jumping over to DC home rule with no planning, nothing but this out of the blue, vindictive and punitive budget crushing move, would be an absolute disaster. It's an entire authorization and management shift, that would have to be planned - and the reality is that the GOP doesn't give two shirts about running DC. They want to complain about it but they're not going to run DC. It would be a massive mess.

 

[Lapaz]

I'm not sure why impoundment would be unlawful when it's authorized by duly-passed federal legislation. We have the anti-impoundment act but that, itself, is legislation - so why can't Congress condition funds on executive discretion to impound? Yes, the appropriations power is in the Constitution but if Congress agrees to condition appropriations on executive discretion, I don't see how that's unconstitutional.

On the tariff provision, it's not just that Congress is ceding its power to cancel the tariffs, it's that Congress is ceding its power to cancel a presidential declaration of emergency. We have already seen Trump completely willing to use emergency powers when there's no actual emergency - so that alone should be highly troubling. You're right that Congress wouldn't block it now, but the problem is that when this becomes law, they can't block it at all until 10/1/2025. Trump could go deep-end bat shirt in May and Congress will have eliminated its power to end the use of these emergency powers through the end of September. Yes, for tariffs but it's broader than that.

I also question whether changing how days are counted is permissible - why do it that way?

Simply jumping over to DC home rule with no planning, nothing but this out of the blue, vindictive and punitive budget crushing move, would be an absolute disaster. It's an entire authorization and management shift, that would have to be planned - and the reality is that the GOP doesn't give two shirts about running DC. They want to complain about it but they're not going to run DC. It would be a massive mess.

Okay, you've made the case well. That's the type of explanations that need to be made in the media by Democrats. The shutdown may be better after all.

 

[J-DONK]

Schumer needs to be replaced.

Or he needs to understand…This. Is. War.

Yeah I hope AOC comes for his seat now.

 

[Lapaz]

Okay, you've made the case well. That's the type of explanations that need to be made in the media by Democrats. The shutdown may be better after all.

Need to make the case that this will overturn the Impoundment Act, which will allow the president to gut Medicaid and other crucial services like a dictator; that this will destroy DC because there is no plan to manage D.C. services and will disenfranchise the population; and that it will allow the president to proclaim fake emergencies to violate rights and other dictatorial power. I've heard multiple democrats trying to explain why they're voting against the CR, and none of them have been clear. I hear things like they don't trust him...well duh.

 

[superchuck500]

Okay, you've made the case well. That's the type of explanations that need to be made in the media by Democrats. The shutdown may be better after all.

Thanks - to be honest, I'm not actually sure if shutdown is better. It's a pandora's box, we don't know what Trump, Musk, and Johnson will do if there's a shutdown. I think on the balance, I think it's probably best principled for the Senate to refuse to cede its constitutional power to the president like this - and that alone is enough to take the stand.

The German Reichstag failed to do that in 1933 - it ceded its legislative power to the chancellor who then used it to become the fuhrer.

 

[Booker]

I don't think Democrats are doing a good job of explaining why the CR with legislation is bad. I hear that it will allow the president to cut medicaid and SS, but I think that is unconstitutional. Other provisions may also be unconstitutional. So the worst parts may be stayed, while shutting down the government is irresponsible, and may only provide "proof" that agencies aren't needed.

So are you saying the Democrats have a "messaging problem?" Seems like I've heard that before.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Thanks - to be honest, I'm not actually sure if shutdown is better. It's a pandora's box, we don't know what Trump, Musk, and Johnson will do if there's a shutdown. I think on the balance, I think it's probably best principled for the Senate to refuse to cede its constitutional power to the president like this - and that alone is enough to take the stand.

The German Reichstag failed to do that in 1933 - it ceded its legislative power to the chancellor who then used it to become the fuhrer.

This is roughly where I'm at. As far as I can tell, the Republicans haven't offered the Democrats anything so why should they vote for it? I hate government shutdowns but if the President isn't going to be constrained by legislative funding priorities, why have a budget at all?

 

[superchuck500]

For now, it looks like the cloture vote is set to occur some time after 2pm.

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[coldseat]

This! So much this! Democrats need a revolution within their own party. The old farts need to go and give up power or be driven out. Nobody is following Chuck Schumer anywhere, he has no clue how to lead. This is the weakest shirt I've ever seen.

 

[UriUT]

Thanks - to be honest, I'm not actually sure if shutdown is better. It's a pandora's box, we don't know what Trump, Musk, and Johnson will do if there's a shutdown. I think on the balance, I think it's probably best principled for the Senate to refuse to cede its constitutional power to the president like this - and that alone is enough to take the stand.

The German Reichstag failed to do that in 1933 - it ceded its legislative power to the chancellor who then used it to become the fuhrer.

The principle is the same as negotiating with terrorists. These Maga are just that. You can't negotiate with them because they will keep moving the goal post till we have nothing left to give. Every freaking time they threaten a shut down we cave. When will Americans wake the hell up and put fault on these aholes. I've enough w grading these asshats on a curve. With a child's standards. We may as well just crown them now rather than slow roll there. Otherwise Americans deserve this crap. Turn us into Russia where the mafia elites enjoy 50 yachts hidden in europe and the regular citizens mindless attack the evil liberal west for their poverty.

 

[efil4]

The principle is the same as negotiating with terrorists. These Maga are just that. You can't negotiate with them because they will keep moving the goal post till we have nothing left to give. Every freaking time they threaten a shut down we cave. When will Americans wake the hell up and put fault on these aholes. I've enough w grading these asshats on a curve. With a child's standards. We may as well just crown them now rather than slow roll there. Otherwise Americans deserve this crap. Turn us into Russia where the mafia elites enjoy 50 yachts hidden in europe and the regular citizens mindless attack the evil liberal west for their poverty.

Bravo.

 

[superchuck500]

Debate has begun

U.S. Senate

The Senate will consider the House-passed 6-month spending bill funding government to September 30 to avert a shutdown tonight at midnight as well as nominations and fentanyl legislation.

www.c-span.org

 

[superchuck500]

Debate has begun

U.S. Senate

The Senate will consider the House-passed 6-month spending bill funding government to September 30 to avert a shutdown tonight at midnight as well as nominations and fentanyl legislation.

www.c-span.org

Rand Paul goes first and says the CR is terrible b/c it doesn't cut enough - but also that Congress shouldn't be ceding its power to the president. He's a No.