Obviously on the side of the Rule of Law, democracy, and not authoritarianism/fascism, the Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough scrapped several parts of The Fascist Felons’ Big, Ugly Bill.
- The Bill will require 60 votes to pass the Senate, not just a simple majority.
- Senate Republicans cannot force US Postal Service to scrap EVs:
- USPS has purchased 7,200 EVs to date
- Scrapping EVs and EV charging infrastructure would cost Postal Service $1.5 billion
- Senate Republicans say provision would focus USPS on core mission of delivering mail, not environmental issues
- Senate Official Rejects Food Aid Cuts Proposed by Republicans in Megabill
- A top Senate official on Friday night rejected a bid by Republicans to slash federal food aid payments as part of their sweeping legislation carrying President Trump’s domestic agenda, sending party leaders scrambling to find another way to help offset the massive cost of the bill.
- Republicans could not include a provision that would bar immigrants who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents from receiving SNAP benefits.
- Senate parliamentarian rejects GOP attempt to authorize states to conduct immigration enforcement
- The Senate parliamentarian has rejected several more provisions in the Republican megabill to enact President Trump’s agenda, including language authorizing states to conduct border security and immigration enforcement, which traditionally have been duties of the federal government.
- Ruled against language in the bill that would increase the Federal Employees Retirement Systems contribution rate for new civil servants if they do not agree to give up civil service protections to become at-will employees.
- Advised against a section of the bill that would allow the executive branch to reorganize federal government agencies — or eliminate whole agencies — without congressional oversight.
- rejected a provision granting authority to agencies to unilaterally rescind funds appropriated by Congress by establishing an incentive program for federal employees to identify “unnecessary expenditures” and transfer savings back to the Treasury Department.
If Republicans fail to remove the measures she deems out of order, Democrats could challenge the bill on the floor, forcing Republicans to muster 60 votes to advance it. That would effectively kill the legislation since Democrats are solidly opposed.
