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Trump Trying To Ditch Oversight of the Stimulus Bill


BarryLaverty

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Now, just why would he do that? Ordinarily, he is all about ethics, transparency, and would never, never do anything to fatten the wallet of his friends or family by his position as PINO, so this is just shocking! 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-objects-oversight-provisions-coronavirus-011717145.html

USA TODAY

Trump objects to oversight provisions of coronavirus law, setting stage for new front with Democrats

John Fritze, USA TODAY
USA TODAY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House members race back to Washington for vote on economic rescue bi

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump used a relatively rare signing statement Friday to object to portions of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus law, potentially opening a new front with Democrats on the oversight of how that money is spent

Trump said he would ignore portions of the law demanded by some Democrats to give Congress additional visibility into the stimulus spending, arguing that those requirements would infringe on the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution. 

Congress and the White House moved with stunning speed to pass the massive economic stimulus, the largest in the nation's history, in an effort to avoid economic calamity from the coronavirus. But now that the measure is law, the administration must shell out hundreds of billions of dollars quickly while attempting to avoid controversy.

"It is a big deal," said Danielle Brian with the Project On Government Oversight. "I'm hoping that, given the crisis, Congress will realize this is a line that must not be crossed."

A signing statement is a written pronouncement from a president when a bill is signed into law. The document can be used to explain a president's position, prod Congress to pass more legislation, or to put the president on record raising constitutional issues. But the practice has drawn fire from watchdog groups who say presidents have used the documents to rewrite portions of laws they disagreed with rather than vetoing them.

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room, Friday, March 27, 2020, in Washington.
President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room, Friday, March 27, 2020, in Washington.

Brian said Congress has acquiesced to the statements since before the Trump administration, but she said they have no legal meaning, and she urged lawmakers to push back against efforts to undermine congressional oversight of the spending.  

"Americans expect and deserve accountability for the $2 trillion coronavirus emergency spending bill, and Congressional oversight of this Administration’s handling of the funds is absolutely critical," Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn said in a statement.

"This attempt by President Trump to bypass oversight is nothing more than a corrupt power grab by an administration known for bending over backwards to shower rewards on its political supporters," she added. 

Democrats balked at what they saw as a lack of oversight provisions in the initial draft of the measure. Trump drew attention this week when, responding to questions about those concerns, he declared that, "I'll be the oversight." Lawmakers ultimately OK'd several new entities, including a new inspector general, to monitor the law's implementation. 

More: Trump signs $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus intended to halt economic meltdown

The legislation, designed in part to help businesses and corporations hammered by closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, creates multiple layers of accountability for the billions of dollars in loans, grants and direct cash that will soon flow from the federal government. The House passed the bill by voice vote on Friday and Trump immediately signed it.

President Barack Obama faced similar concerns after the approval of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009. Republicans pilloried the nearly $800 billion effort, arguing it was full of "wasteful government spending." Several GOP lawmakers produced lists highlighting examples they thought were particularly egregious. 

Neither House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., immediately responded to questions about Trump's statement. 

“It’s not a surprise to anyone,” Pelosi said of the president’s signing statement on MSNBC. “Congress will exercise its oversight.”

A Democratic aide speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy said Democrats anticipated the president’s move “so that’s why there are multiple layers of strict oversight in this bill.” The aide pointed to a congressional oversight commission created by the law in addition to the special inspector general and other provisions.

The coronavirus stimulus package, which will send millions of Americans and businesses direct payments or loans, creates several new oversight entities.

The law requires the leaders of a newly created Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to be appointed by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency with the consultation of congressional leaders. The council is an independent agency within the executive branch and Trump said in his statement that requiring it to consult with Congress to fill the roles represents an overreach. 

Trump wrote that he anticipates consultation would take place, but that it shouldn't be a requirement. 

Another section creates a special inspector general for pandemic recovery within the Treasury Department. The new law requires that person to report to Congress if an agency in the administration denies a document request. Trump said he would not treat the provision as allowing the inspector general to issue reports to Congress without "presidential supervision." 

Trump said that other provisions of the law appear to condition the ability of federal agencies to spend money on consultation with congressional committees. 

"These provisions," Trump wrote, "are impermissible forms of congressional aggrandizement with respect to the execution of the laws."

Trump said he would "make appropriate efforts to notify the relevant committees" before taking the actions called for in the law but would not treat "spending decisions as dependent on prior consultation with or the approval of" Congress. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump obje

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1 hour ago, Youngcoach123 said:

Congress is not the executive branch. They pass the law, they don’t enforce it. They are mad they don’t get to have a hand in implementIng it, but that is literally, not their job. 

Not quite understanding how this whole 'checks and balances' things works, huh, do you? Literally. 

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5 minutes ago, BarryLaverty said:

Not quite understanding how this whole 'checks and balances' things works, huh, do you? Literally. 

Right, if they didn’t write there exact oversight into the bill, they get none. Lol 😂 

You want more oversight then they need to write better laws. Trump already said he would report the spending. 

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7 minutes ago, Youngcoach123 said:

Right, if they didn’t write there exact oversight into the bill, they get none. Lol 😂 

You want more oversight then they need to write better laws. Trump already said he would report the spending. 

There is oversight written into the bill, with the Inspector General expected to report to Congress, and Trump saying in his 'signing statement' that he will ignore that does expose the level of his corruption, but he will be held accountable. Why would you NOT want accountability for the money?

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8 minutes ago, BarryLaverty said:

There is oversight written into the bill, with the Inspector General expected to report to Congress, and Trump saying in his 'signing statement' that he will ignore that does expose the level of his corruption, but he will be held accountable. Why would you NOT want accountability for the money?

Then what is your concern?? Trump isn’t writing the checks himself. He can’t ignore it. Trump could say anything and you would lose your mind. Calm down.
 


CARES Act Oversight

The CARES Act establishes three separate oversight bodies: (1) the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, (2) the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and (3) the Congressional Oversight Commission.[1] While the special inspector general has oversight over the CARES Act funds, the committee and the commission are tasked with ensuring accountability in the disbursement of funds from all three phases of the COVID-19 legislative response.
 

honestly Barry, it just seems like you are saying orange man bad. 

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Specifically, the special inspector general will conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations regarding the making, purchase, management, and sale of loans, loan guarantees, and other investments made by the treasury secretary under the CARES Act. He or she will provide Congress with quarterly reports detailing all such loans, loan guarantees, or other investments made by the secretary.

 

in your articles last paragraph trump said he would follow the act accordingly. 

 

“Trump said he would "make appropriate efforts to notify the relevant committees" before taking the actions called for in the law but would not treat "spending decisions as dependent on priorconsultation with or the approval of" Congress. 
 

is your only issue that he said it was an over reach?

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19 minutes ago, BarryLaverty said:

There is oversight written into the bill, with the Inspector General expected to report to Congress, and Trump saying in his 'signing statement' that he will ignore that does expose the level of his corruption, but he will be held accountable. Why would you NOT want accountability for the money?

Trump said he would "make appropriate efforts to notify the relevant committees" before taking the actions called for in the law but would not treat "spending decisions as dependent on priorconsultation with or the approval of" Congress. 
 

🤦‍♂️

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