The Trump administration announced plans Friday night to cancel $810 million in funding for health, education and other programs just days before the end of the current fiscal year, triggering another fight with Congress over the power of the purse.
The so-called pocket rescission claws back money already appropriated by Congress, with little time for lawmakers to respond before the new fiscal year begins next week. The House is already out of town and not scheduled to return until after the November midterm elections.
Top appropriators of both parties immediately denounced the move and accused the Trump administration of acting illegally by holding up and then canceling funds without congressional approval.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the White House budget office "intentionally withheld these funds for months to execute this unlawful cancellation of appropriations that were approved on a bipartisan basis and signed into law."
Chris Hedges: By any standard of morality, Trump is depraved. But adorned with the power of the state, he descends to another level -- the level of evil. read more
Xi Jinping has called for extensive cooperation with Washington to avoid the "Thucydides trap" that could put the US and China on a military collision course amid rising tensions over artificial intelligence, trade and Taiwan. read more
Play what you like... I like some good covers by the kids, and some original, too.
Thread link is:
System Of A Down - Toxicity (GUITAR SHRED) || Sophie Lloyd
"Our new report exposes this old-fashioned corruption, by a thuggish government and a desperate industry, that is squeezing every last dollar out of Americans' pocketbooks while they still can." read more
Acting Illegally is Job 1 in this Admin.