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Musk's Next Target [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-02-03
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By the time Leon’s done, there may be nothing left to salvage.
Musk's wrecking ball pierces government's inner sanctum
www.axios.com — 2/3/25
Musk paid a visit last week to what's likely to be his next target: the General Services Administration, which oversees thousands of government leases as part of its massive budget. "Deleted," Musk responded bluntly to an X post highlighting the billions of dollars and thousands of federal workers under GSA's control.
About the GSA:
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. government offices, provides transportation and office space to federal employees, and develops government-wide cost-minimizing policies and other management tasks.[5] GSA employs about 12,000 federal workers. It has an annual operating budget of roughly $33 billion and oversees $66 billion of procurement annually. It contributes to the management of about $500 billion in U.S. federal property [...] en.wikipedia.org/...
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DOGE does not LEGALLY have the power to “Delete” anything.
At most, DOGE should be writing up a report and submitting it to Congress, for their review, and further action.
Instead Musk is taking over the central Payment System of the Government, and making those changes, that he and his merry crew of Tech Bro pirateers see fit.
In effect, Leon has created his own Oligarch Branch of Govt, found nowhere in the Constitution . Quite the opposite is stated there: Congress has the “power of the Purse,” according to the Appropriations Clause.
ArtI.S9.C7.1 Overview of Appropriations Clause
Article I, Section 9, Clause 7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
The Appropriations Clause establishes a rule of law to govern money contained in the Treasury, which is a term that describes a place where public revenue is deposited and kept and from which payments are made to cover public expenses.1 As the Supreme Court has explained, that rule of law directs that no money can be paid out of the Treasury unless it has been appropriated by an act of Congress.2 [...]
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Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there are signs of life in Congress. Rumblings to stand up to the Trump/Musk/Bessent’s un-Constitutional “line-item Veto” …
Musk: Democrats are raising alarms that the Trump administration is again attempting to seize Congress’ power of the purse by giving officials affiliated with Musk access to the Treasury Department’s payment system. Most Republicans have been publicly silent about the move and its potential to circumvent Congress. Top Senate Democrats will put the issue front and center at a news conference Monday afternoon. www.politico.com/… 2/3/25
Finally. Whatever outrage Dem Senators can muster needs to be amplified. Big-time.
Musk should NOT have the back-door power of Deletion of LEGAL payments authorized by Congress.
Hands off — our Tax Dollars!
Not now. Not ever.
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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/3/2301061/-Musk-s-Next-Target?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
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