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Scott's avatar

It appears that this is an add-on to a bill addressing deadlines for tax filings for individuals wrongfully held overseas. The first three sections of this bill apply to that. This bunch of bullshit doesn't appear until section 4 and appears to be a separate add-on altogether. It's so frustrating in this country that we can't pass good bills because people tack on the bullshit ones on the end in order to either defeat the original bill or to ride the coattails and sneak a piece of shit bill in without being seen. These are the things that need to be corrected in our government.

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ericc's avatar

Ah. Could be a poison pill amendment.

Just about every President wants line-item veto power, but Congress has never given it to them. Both out of self-interest and because it basically undermines the whole 'representative government' concept if one guy at the top can decide which bits of representative legislation become law and which don't.

In fact the line item veto is just a reiteration of the same problem Hemant's OP talks about! Consider for example that with such power, Trump could strike out the tax deadlines and keep the speech suppression.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Not surprised they tacked on this execrable legislation to try to sneak it into law. This is how this government will roll. This is what happens when the majority of US citizens put a convicted felon in the White House, essentially making him above the law.

When this eventually comes back to bite those citizens in the ass, let them remember the following:

"You voted for this. You wanted this to happen. You didn't just screw yourselves, you screwed everyone else. Save your tears."

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Joe King's avatar

"You voted for this. You wanted this to happen. You didn't just screw yourselves, you screwed everyone else. Save your tears."

A very elegant way to say "I told you so".

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NOGODZ20's avatar

We tried. We warned them repeatedly. They closed their ears and their minds. They'll regret that decision.

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Die Anyway's avatar

Only some will regret. Others will revel.

I am painfully reminded every day that: People are no damn good.

🎼 I drink alone. With nobody else.... 🎶

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NOGODZ20's avatar

They'll revel until their turn comes. And come it will. Evil is rapacious. It will consume its own.

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Joe King's avatar

How long that regret takes to show up will depend on how heretical their doctrine is compared to the orthodoxy of the sect that finds itself on top. The religious wars are coming to us sooner rather than later.

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Bagat's avatar

I want to see the pope begging and crying. That will help ease the pain of coming years.

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XJC's avatar

But.. but...Latino men...young Black men...suburban housewives....

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NOGODZ20's avatar

To any Dems foolish enough to sign-off on this: Who do you think this will be used against first? Are you going to ape anyone who voted for Trump, only to realize they put a target on their own backs?

Buyer's remorse always comes too little, too late.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

*Headwall*

I should wonder if human can be so stupid as to give drumpster full power but then I remember less people voted for Ksmala Harris than for Joe Biden, giving the USA to drumpster.

I am afraid the first targets will be any non profits helping people to vote and immigrants, followed by those who help women and vets.

To any pretend Liberal or Centrist who vote in favor of this bill, French expression du jour "Tendre le baton pour se faire battre"

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nmgirl's avatar

Immigrant assistance organizations was my first thought.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

The Trevor Project, the Human Rights Campaign's HRC Foundation...

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

ACLU, FFRF, MRFF . . .

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perspectives's avatar

The bill was written to stop humanistarian aid to victims of the US/Israeli ongoing genocide. iut will be used in many ways.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Well then please oh please find Catholic churches and every other church a threat to this country. If even one church anywhere laid a finger on a minor, I would hope the separation of church and state would be abolished. Maybe his royal orange smugness could do that? Still have churches but hold all accountable. Getting away with too fking much the last 2,000 years and "in Jesus name". Need my Guiness.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Do you mean epstain's friend ?

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John Roberts's avatar

"Tax the Churches" Frank Zappa -1980

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Yes the name that shall not be named. trump the fk. Anyway he'll probably abolish all churches in the U.S. except for the church of the one who sits in the big white house in Washington D.C. Mandatory services meaning "I'm dying" won't give anybody an easy out. Jeez. Now I need two Guiness

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Joe King's avatar

Just called my congresscritter to oppose this. I don't expect it to do much good, my rep is Tim Walberg in Michigan 5th district. He's the guy who once said this: “I believe there’s climate change. I believe there’s been climate change since the beginning of time,” Walberg said. “Do I think man has some impact? Yeah, of course. Can man change the entire universe? No.”

He continued: “Why do I believe that? Well, as a Christian, I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And I’m confident that, if there’s a real problem, he can take care of it.”

A hardcore Christian Nationalist through and through.

I just hope that enough Democrats vote no to deny them the 2/3 fast track.

The reason I gave Walberg's office was that it is too broad and would chill the free speech the country was founded on. Will he listen? No. Will others? I sure as fuck hope so.

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Robot Bender's avatar

My "representative" is Josh Hawley. I'm not going to bother. I wouldn't be shocked if he's the one who snuck that in there.

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Vivian Barro's avatar

I feel you….my Rep is Bob Latta & my Senator is JD Vance. And now Ohio elected disgusting Bernie Moreno as our second senator. I always sign petitions & call their offices but you’re right why even bother! So sad!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

"would chill the free speech the country was founded on"

Most elected repukes would happily go back to the early 18th century, except they want their own Theos Imperatus. Those who are on the fence or against just fear their opponents may use censorship against them.

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Joe King's avatar

To be fair, some of them don't want to go back that far. They just want go 80 years or so so they can eventually have a "solution" that is "final".

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Joan the Dork's avatar

And maybe juuuust a bit farther so they can get rid of that pesky 19th Amerndment. And then the 14th. And the 13th.

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Stephen Brady's avatar

It will quickly become illegal to be Gay, atheist, Jewish unless you are rich, an unmarried woman, unenslaved Black, Native American, Latino outside of a camp... We are well on our way to Neo-Gilead.

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Robot Bender's avatar

Which a few of them have told me to my face.

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perspectives's avatar

The democrats are obeying orders from AIPAC which wants this legistlation to stop aid to vicims of the genocide Israel/USA is commiting.

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John Roberts's avatar

A good bet non theist groups are at the top of the list. IMO the USA is on its way to hitting a complete theocracy. It been in the works for the past 60 years starting with people like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, Kenneth Copeland, Pat Robertson, Paul and Jan Crouch, etc., poisoning the country with Christian nationalism and no end in sight.

In God We Trust?

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Robot Bender's avatar

I agree. Some of the MAGA have said that in my presence. Christian Taliban.

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larry parker's avatar

Kill an innocent dog, disqualifies for VP but qualified for Homeland Security.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

She was a little too not-male for 2024's MAGA to accept her as a VP, but "Homeland Security" sounds much more like "housewife" so they'll let her have it as a consolation prize.

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Guerillasurgeon's avatar

"All dogs, please, this is not a drill, please seek shelter immediately."

Not mine, but I wish it was.

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Guerillasurgeon's avatar

https://bsky.app/profile/donmoyn.bsky.social/post/3laqy6ebljc2k

This is really bad. Lock up your d̶a̶u̶g̶h̶t̶e̶r̶s̶ dogs.

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larry parker's avatar

Follow up. Just saw this headline: ‘Kristi Noem has killed more animals than Haitian migrants'.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

Might as well just let ‘em have at it. Go full bore republicans, tear it all down. Nothing would stop them anyway.

I don’t really feel this way, but it’s difficult to fight the cynicism. And I’m afraid the only way to defeat the fascists is to let them destroy everything, themselves included. Otherwise we will just have to keep going through this with new trumps every few years.

Not let them really, we should fight it as best we can, but it will be futile in many ways.

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Die Anyway's avatar

Republicans have forgotten (or never learned) the lesson of The Monkey's Paw. They have gotten what they wished for but when it doesn't turn out the way they expected, un-wishing it may not be easy.

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Old Man Shadow's avatar

Seems like one of those stupid "do something" bills that someone pushed when they watched the news about a couple of college kids (out of the many protesting Israel's actions) being dicks to Jewish students.

If Democrats vote for this, they might as well just close up shop.

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wreck's avatar

Ready! Fire'! Aim!

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Kay-El's avatar

Here’s some speculation Mr. Harvey. This bill, like the previous one, has one aim only: to deny those non-profits that are working to make our government a better place for all or point out the authoritarian tendencies of the incoming administration (or really any administration that is hell-bent on destroying democracy).

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Richard Wade's avatar

My local atheist group, busy with feeding the homeless, raising funds for charities and research against Alzheimer's disease, and supporting racial and LGBTQ+ justice, is under the umbrella of a larger atheist group, designated a 501c3 non-profit.

I won't be surprised when we are soon declared "a threat to the nation," then soon after labeled a "terrorist group," and following the examples of several Muslim-dominated countries, all atheists are defined as "terrorists."

I WILL be surprised if I survive the pogrom.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Got news for Christians: Muslims view anyone outside their religion as nonbelievers. Those Christians are in the same boat as atheists. Oops!

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Bagat's avatar

SO sad

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Michael Donahoe's avatar

This is a horrible bill. Of course, real terrorist groups should have any tax-exempt status revoked, but that is really not the issue with this bill. For years, I have said that churches should have their tax-exempt status revoked for violating the Johnson Amendment. Yet, they continue to get away with it, and now any other group could possibly be punished just because they do not go along with the status quo. I am afraid this may be only the beginning. Very sad.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

Way to obey in advance, guys! Slo-o-o-o-ow clap. Bravo. Great job. Gold star.

*𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵*

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