Border wall GoFundMe may need to issue refunds after millions raised

NY Post ^ | 12/20/18 | Marisa Schultz

[Revel]

A grassroots online campaign to fund President Trump’s proposed border wall roared past $8.7 million on Thursday, but questions remained about whether the feds would be able to accept the gift.

As of Thursday evening, 143,821 people had donated $8,742,182 toward Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage’s GoFundMe campaign, titled We the People Will Fund the Wall, just a little over three days after its launch.

The pledge drive aims to raise $1 billion to “uphold our laws, and get this wall BUILT!” Kolfage, a Purple Heart recipient who lost both legs and an arm in Iraq, wrote on the campaign’s Web page. “It’s up to Americans to help out and pitch in to get this project rolling.”

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a longtime proponent of tighter border security, hailed the vet’s “impressive” campaign, even as he expressed reservations about allowing private citizens to govern with their wallets.

“I think it’s admirable, and I think that the country should respond,” Goodlatte told The Post. “Obviously, we can’t let citizens raise money and say, ‘The government will spend my money on this purpose.’ ”

According to the Treasury Department, general donations to the feds are directed to a “Gifts to the United States” fund, set aside for “general use” by the federal government or “budget needs.”

Specific federal agencies can’t touch this funding without a congressional appropriation.

Some agencies can accept gifts directly for earmarked purposes, but it was not clear if the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the borders, was among them.

[Revel]

Wouldn't this be a slap in the face.

But I can see a way around this. If private companies are building the wall then have the fund pay those companies directly for a portion of the work.

Side step government corruption.

[mewzilla]

Wouldn't this be a slap in the face.

And incredibly stupid on Congress's part. But Trump can work with that.

[EasySt]

$10,831,266 of $1.0B goal
Raised by 177,878 people in 4 days
(at the moment...)

All the exploding heads are just gravy...

[Doogle]

Meanwhile Hilda walks away with $150 million the Russians gave herb(uranium one)

[mass55th]

"“I think it’s admirable, and I think that the country should respond,” Goodlatte told The Post. “Obviously, we can’t let citizens raise money and say, ‘The government will spend my money on this purpose.’ ”"

Bullcrap. The government sold Bonds, and use the proceeds to specifically finance WWII. That was a particular purpose.

[ransomnote]

I think this article may be intended to discourage donations and downplay the success of the campaign because it’s embarrassing to the anti-wall congress critters.

Based on the timing of the article, I think it understates the amount raised as of “Thursday evening” in the text.

It opines that maybe this will be a waste of time (refunds may be needed) - I dunno but I doubt the “journalists” are actually concerned for those donating.

[SteveH]

then how did the wwii memorial get built?

as i recall, i donated money for the wwii memorial. it got built. presumably the feds built it since it is at the dc mall. i never received a refund. maybe i am missing something (what).

[SteveH]

here is how to donate to mount rushmore national monument:

https://www.nps.gov/moru/getinvolved/donate.htm

[familyop]

"Specific federal agencies can’t touch this funding without a congressional appropriation."

But ah wanted to put lasers on the border, and it's mah money! Ah also want tuh reroute a highway, and it's mah money!

Civics. Learn. Then take action that will be effective. For one, campaigning for a primary and election is easier than trying to implement your own physical security and foreign relations on a U.S. border. A billion dollars and some extra work done by true volunteers would have gotten us a conservative majority House and more conservative Republican majority in the Senate in the midterms. President Trump could have implemented his policies much easier that way.

[familyop]

A billion dollars to the NRA would probably work to win enough of some particular elections to secure our Second Amendment rights and other rights in 2020. A finished border wall would probably result from that, too (same constituents in favor of the same side of both issues).

[PIF]

“Some agencies can accept gifts directly for earmarked purposes ...”

“earmarked” key word ... selling Bonds to finance WWII is an earmark.

[InterceptPoint]

But I can see a way around this. If private companies are building the wall then have the fund pay those companies directly for a portion of the work.
+++++
I had a similar idea. The fund could offer every bidding contractor a percentage of his bid if he wins and completes the job successfully.

If that percentage was 15%, for example, the bids to the Goverment would be about 15% lower than expected and Trumps budget would go further.

More wall for the money. The bigger this fund grows the bigger the subsidy. If this gets going over Pelosi’s Dead Body I would keep contributing as would many others.

I am hopeful. But the 2019 Congress and a slew of Lefty Judges stand in the way.

[PCPOET7]

this tells me that the open border crowd is scared of this fund. they just said that any money goes into the general fund but if you look at the wording it is money sent into the treasury department. you don’t send it to the treasury there is a long history of money being donated to our national park system with out having to get congressional approval on disposing those funds. so you don’t gift it to the treasury you gift it to the military to be used for building the wall no congressional approval needed. just approval of the current commander and chief.

[ScottinVA]

Can’t the private landowners whose property is along the border agree to private wall construction?

[EEGator]

I believe the government maintains an easement.
Attempting to get every land owner on board for 1000 miles is going to be beyond a little rough.

[Erik Latranyi]

I suspected this was the case.

I would not want liberals raising money to do their own government activity.

The idea of giving the money to private contractors is interesting, but federal contracting guidelines may prohibit this as well....so one contractor does not get an advantage over others.

Regardless, we the people are showing what we want and we will find a way to make this work.

[redshawk]

.......this tells me that the open border crowd is scared of this fund......

Bob GoodForNothing..Latte..swamp dweller is a disgrace. Trump should run him out of town on a rail.

Last night on Laura Ingram show, the GoFundMe guy Veteran told Laura that he was already getting flack from the press and the swamp. By Monday, they will pass a law to ban this movement and have the Veteran tossed in jail.

I wish Trump would blast a nice tweet about the Veteran and the wall fund.

[dynoman]

“Obviously, we can’t let citizens raise money and say, ‘The government will spend my money on this purpose.’ ” Is this satire??

[greeneyes]

“Obviously, we can’t let citizens raise money and say, ‘The government will spend my money on this purpose.’ ”" *************************************************************************** And there you have the root of the problem. They don't think that taxpayer's money should be used like the taxpayer's want. They are like thieves - take your money and spend it how THEY want. They don't respect Government of the people and by the people.

[Libloather]

State Dept. misplaced $6B under Hillary Clinton: IG report

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/4/state-dept-misplaced-6b-under-hillary-clinton-ig-r/