Jennifer Bendery
@jbendery
Followers
88K
Following
22K
Media
10K
Statuses
121K
I report on Congress, the White House + political campaigns for HuffPost. Bluesky: @jbendery.bsky.social. Tips: [email protected]. Signal: jbendery.41
Washington, DC
Joined August 2008
gaslighting (v.) -- to manipulate someone by psychological means into questioning their own sanity.
619
1K
4K
Unbelievably bad. “The CDC you knew is over. Unless someone takes radical action, there is nothing there that can be salvaged.”
advocate.com
“The CDC you knew is over,” the infectious diseases doctor told The Advocate. “Unless someone takes radical action, there is nothing there that can be salvaged.”
3
81
121
Also, like every other Republican senator, Collins voted to confirm Russ Vought to his post at OMB -- knowing of his plans to do things like trying to bypass Congress' authority.
0
9
12
A pocket rescission "would cede Congress’ power of the purse by allowing a president to, in effect, change the law by shortening the period of availability for fixed-period funds," per GAO. "If Congress wanted a president to have that authority, it would need to change the law.".
1
5
11
The second one, pocket rescissions, is illegal. This is a president sending Congress a request to cancel funds it previously approved within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. If Congress doesn’t vote to reject the request by Sept. 30, funds automatically expire.
1
2
9
It's worth noting the difference between rescissions vs pocket rescissions. The first one is legal. It's when a president asks Congress to cancel funds it previously approved. Congress has 45 days to approve or reject the request. If they do nothing, funds remain spent.
2
3
6
This is setting up a big ol' fight in Congress when lawmakers come back from recess next week. It's gonna take Republicans standing up to Trump, though, whether by voting against this pocket rescissions package or by calling the whole thing illegal.
huffpost.com
The idea that the White House can reverse funding that Congress already approved is “a clear violation of the law,” said the Republican senator.
4
11
28
She's not the only Republican who's said a pocket rescission would violate the law. GOP Rep. Mike Simpson, who chairs a House appropriations subcommittee, has called them “illegal” and “a bad idea” that “undermines Congress’ authority.”.
2
4
12
The Government Accountability Office spells out why pocket rescissions are illegal. "Congress holds the power of the purse—approving a budget and appropriating funds. Presidents and executive branch agencies are responsible for administering those funds."
gao.gov
You may have heard of a “pocket veto,” but maybe not a “pocket rescission.” In both cases, timing is key. But unlike pocket vetoes, pocket rescissions aren’t allowed. As we approach the end of the...
1
6
7
Vought told reporters in July he doesn't think the Impoundment Control Act -- which prohibits what he's doing -- is constitutional. “You have these procedures that have fallen into disuse," he said of pocket rescissions. "Why wouldn’t you use them to send up rescissions?”.
1
3
4
Collins is pissed because she chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, an otherwise powerful gig. Trump and Vought are trying to bypass her (and Congress) with pocket rescissions. Collins: "This type of rescission is unlawful + not permitted by the Impoundment Control Act.".
1
4
10
Russ Vought hinted in July he was going to do what he just did: jam Congress with a "pocket recissions" package. He's trying to cancel $5B in foreign aid that Congress already approved. Idea is if Congress doesn't reject this by Sept. 30, funds canceled. Also this is illegal.
1
6
14
Susan Collins rips Trump's/Russ Vought's effort to bigfoot Congress and cancel $5 billion in foreign aid that was already appropriated: "A clear violation of the law.”
huffpost.com
The idea that the White House can reverse funding that Congress already approved is “a clear violation of the law,” said the Republican senator.
22
41
75
GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik hasn't done an in-person town hall in 6 years
nny360.com
It’s been nearly six years since Rep. Elise M. Stefanik has hosted a face-to-face town hall for constituents in her sprawling north country district.
2
16
30
RT @jbendery: Well, he may have voted to confirm a notorious anti-vaxxer to lead HHS and he may have known how destructive that would be fo….
huffpost.com
Sen. Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health Committee, raised concerns about “the current turmoil in CDC leadership" due to RFK Jr.'s attacks on science.
0
67
0
Well, he may have voted to confirm a notorious anti-vaxxer to lead HHS and he may have known how destructive that would be for everyone's public health, but GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy is now calling for a halt on vaccine decisions at the CDC.
huffpost.com
Sen. Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health Committee, raised concerns about “the current turmoil in CDC leadership" due to RFK Jr.'s attacks on science.
17
67
124
RT @SenTinaSmith: There are 400 million guns in this country. More guns than people. In America, we are ten times more likely to be shot i….
0
138
0
RT @SenTinaSmith: I dare you to go to Annunciation School and tell our grieving community, in effect, guns don’t kill kids, antidepressants….
0
4K
0
RT @hemantmehta: Nothing will happen because Republicans like guns more than children, and they like unborn children more than actual child….
0
301
0