Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 1d

I may be just a simple country Congressional aide, but seems to me that if you don't want to give backpay to furloughed federal workers, you shouldn't have signed the bill guaranteeing backpay to furloughed federal workers.

Scoop: White House memo says furloughed federal workers aren't entitled to backpay

A move to deny backpay to up to 750,000 furloughed workers would dramatically escalate Trump's pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown.

www.axios.com

1 4 14

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 5d

There's nothing we can do if the executive branch just decides to violate the laws we pass is certainly one opinion that a Senate majority leader could have

POLITICO Pro: Thune warns Democrats about Russ Vought: ‘We don’t control what he’s going to do’

The Senate majority leader spoke out as some Republicans express qualms about the White House slash-and-burn campaign.

subscriber.politicopro.com

4

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 7d

Until yesterday, my wife, a (now former) fed, was getting paid to not work. Starting today, I'm working and not getting paid. Efficiency!

8 27 180

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 8d

Solidarity with Russ's neighbors ✊

5

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 8d

Russell Vought was 32 in this photo

2 5

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 8d

Seems, uh, super illegal to me!

"FEMA deobligated planned awards entirely and withdrew previously disbursed funding... agency actions and Administration policy statements indicate that the agency is taking steps to prevent the implementation of these programs and activities."

2

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 8d

The Trump Administration broke the law when FEMA illegally withheld funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, the Shelter and Services Program, and the Next Generation Warning System Grants Program.

www.gao.gov

1 2 3

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 11d

Kagan, in dissent: The Constitution "gives Congress the power to make spending decisions through the enactment of appropriations laws. If those laws require obligation of the money... then the Executive must comply."

SCOTUS majority: No he doesn't because [garbled gibberish]

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 11d

BREAKING: The Supreme Court rules 6-3 to allow Trump’s “pocket rescission” of $4 billion in foreign aid funding, ruling that it’s unlikely the groups suing have standing to pursue the claim and that Trump’s foreign policy power outweighs their purported harms.

1 6

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 11d

Brandon Buck,,, welcome to the #resistance

Opinion | Republicans in Congress Must Take This Spending Threat Seriously

www.nytimes.com

1 4

Reposted by Joshua Smith

Senate Budget Committee @senatebudget.bsky.social · 12d

🚨Trump and Vought Threaten to Fire Public Servants if Republicans Shut Down the Government

Ranking Member Merkley's statement here: www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

2 4

Reposted by Joshua Smith

Senate Budget Committee @senatebudget.bsky.social · 21d

🚨Trump Administration Illegally Withheld Funding AGAIN, Government Watchdog Reports

www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

2 8 13

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 22d

The Trump Administration broke the law when FEMA illegally withheld funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program the and Shelter and Services Program.

www.gao.gov

1 7 24

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 25d

GAO this morning: Pocket rescissions? Still illegal. www.gao.gov/products/b-3...

1 1

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · 28d

WaPo: Rounding is for losers

3

Reposted by Joshua Smith

Senate Budget Committee @senatebudget.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨HUGE WIN: A federal court has confirmed what Ranking Member @merkley.senate.gov has been saying all along: Trump and Vought CANNOT trample on Congress's power of the purse and claw back approved funding with their illegal “pocket rescission.”

1 17 49

Joshua Smith @smithmachine.bsky.social · Aug 31

The best part of Cassidy fact-checking Paul on vaccines is the latter’s insistence on being called “Dr. Rand Paul”

1 1 6

Reposted by Joshua Smith

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · Aug 29

This quote from the Trump admin about its pocket rescissions couldn’t be more brazen. Pocket rescissions are an illegal way to ignore the will of Congress — which they feel comfortable saying out loud directly to the press.

The Trump administration boldly embraced the strategy on Friday. "Congress can choose to vote to rescind or continue the funds - it doesn't matter," an official from the White House budget office said in a statement. "This approach is rare but not unprecedented."

5 19 67

Reposted by Joshua Smith

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · Aug 29

Pocket rescissions are illegal.

Picking foreign aid also highlights the intent here is to overrule the will of Congress. Trump already asked Congress to legally get rid of $8 billion in foreign aid funding. Why not also get rid of this $5 billion then? Cause they were worried Congress would say no.