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TRUMP’S POLITICAL MASTERSTROKE
Powerline ^ | August 8,2020 | BY PAUL MIRENGOFF

Posted on 08/08/2020 2:41:07 PM PDT by Hojczyk

President Trump says he will sign an Executive Order to ease the suffering of those harmed by the pandemic-related shutdowns and to stimulate the economy. Congress has failed to agree on a new package to accomplish these things.

Trump’s Executive Order would include these four components: (1) a payroll tax holiday until the end of the year, (2) an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits until the end of the year, (3) an extension of the eviction moratorium for federal subsidized housing, and (4) a suspension of student loan payments until further notice.

Questions surround the legality of accomplishing at least some of these things via executive order. Trump’s response to that might be, “so sue me.”

There are also questions about the fiscal impact of some of the measures, at least for those who still care about the national debt. In addition, there are questions about the efficacy of a payroll tax cut and the wisdom of extended generous unemployment benefits.

However, as a political matter, Trump’s move looks like a masterstroke. Since the days of FDR, the public has always seemed to approve of presidents who act to ameliorate suffering while Congress diddles. A flurry of activity, even of the futile or potentially counterproductive kind, makes a president look energetic and caring.

In this instance, Trump’s move might well force congressional Democrats to reach a deal. That outcome, too, would be a political win for the president.

(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bloggers; debt; deficit; dsj03; medicare; powerlineblog; ssi; trumpeo
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To: SomeCallMeTim

“Americans do NOT want a King! Not even one who is doing things that we like. “
____________________________

I think that day has passed. Reading comments..... as long as it is “our guy” its ok. I am very uncomfortable with all of this spending. Trillions. Both sides are buying votes.

Danger.


61 posted on 08/08/2020 3:15:33 PM PDT by xenia ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell)
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To: Hojczyk

A Sharpie and a Phone...


62 posted on 08/08/2020 3:15:44 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Kill a Commie for your Mommy.)
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To: Hojczyk

It’s a very smart move for Trump and will set a tone for presidential powers for the second term.


63 posted on 08/08/2020 3:18:32 PM PDT by Meatspace
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To: Raycpa

The execution of it is not a problem. Deciding whether to do it, or not is. Also, with the expectation that it gets overturned, do you set aside a reserve to pay retroactive reversal? Or will you just take it back in lump sum from your employees in the future? How are you going to report wage expenses ? And then, the correction?

Businesses deserve a reasonable level of certainty.


64 posted on 08/08/2020 3:18:52 PM PDT by SomeCallMeTim ( The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them!it)
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To: linear

“Agreed. If he can do this, the next Dem can do it too. We have an executive officer, not a monarch.”

Kinda like “We have to pass it to see what’s in it”?


65 posted on 08/08/2020 3:21:24 PM PDT by slouper (LWRC SPR 5.5 6)
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To: wiseprince

And even that ruling, as heinous as it was, did not give the executive branch the power of the purse. Something we may come to rely on if we lose the executive but keep the Senate.


66 posted on 08/08/2020 3:24:07 PM PDT by linear (The truth brooks no arbiters.)
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To: SomeCallMeTim
Every single post of yours on this thread is total garbage. And now you top it up by claiming payroll managers somehow don't know how to withhold payroll taxes, as clearly spelled out in the EO, even though they know how to pay payroll taxes?
You are a paid Pelosi troll is that it?
You'd prefer the federal government to pay Cuomo and DeBlasio tens of billions of dollars as reward for their screwing up the economy of New York?
And have the federal government squander hundreds of billions of dollars on nonsensical green new deal spending (in Pelosi’s crazy bill) which have absolutely nothing to do with coronavirus?
Is that it?
67 posted on 08/08/2020 3:25:26 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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To: SomeCallMeTim

“Stroke of the pen, law of the land, pretty cool, huh?”


68 posted on 08/08/2020 3:26:09 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (Hiya kids, hiya, hiya!)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

I agree in part. His actions 1 & 2 are almost certainly illegal and unconstitutional. However three and four may be within the prerogative of the executive based on a very broad interpretation of emergency powers. But I am uncomfortable with the whole thing. We just spent eight years complaining about a leftist governing by executive order. It is more than a bit hypocritical to suddenly start cheering the same behavior from our guy.


69 posted on 08/08/2020 3:26:50 PM PDT by NRx (A man of honor passes his father's civilization to his son without surrendering it to strangers.)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

Look at the optics of the situation.

Democrats will have to go to a judge to stop people from getting unemployment.

Democrats will have to go to a judge to stop people from getting eviction relief.

Democrats will have to go to a judge to stop people from getting student loan deferral.

Democrats will have to go to a judge to stop people from getting payroll tax relief.

Those Democrats are just terrible people. Trump is trying to help working people. Dems want to penalize working people. They are bad people.

I love it!


70 posted on 08/08/2020 3:26:50 PM PDT by SpeedyInTexas (Localization, not Globalization)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

The employees owe the money if it wasn’t withheld from pay. I assume the government would have to collect it from each employee , perhaps on the tax return or send them a bill.

This process will give Trump tremendous leverage to have the amounts forgiven.


71 posted on 08/08/2020 3:28:47 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: SpeedyInTexas

I am not worrying about optics. I am worrying about precedent. This is dangerous and some of these orders are almost certainly illegal and unconstitutional. We rejected monarchy 246 years ago. I am not inclined to start cheering it now.


72 posted on 08/08/2020 3:29:21 PM PDT by NRx (A man of honor passes his father's civilization to his son without surrendering it to strangers.)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

In other words, this will make your job more difficult while keeping some others out of abject misery - and you being inconvenienced is the real issue.

Boo effing hoooo.

I own a business in a Rat state, this won’t make life harder for me. Maybe you should discuss operational changes with your employer.

By the way, how long have you had shoulders that are double jointed? You must, by the way you pay yourself on the back so often.


73 posted on 08/08/2020 3:31:53 PM PDT by datura
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To: BenLurkin

No you benlurkin, not pollyanna. Don’t question your inner-self.


74 posted on 08/08/2020 3:32:04 PM PDT by CJ Wolf ( #wwg1wga #Godwins #150Kclub)
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To: datura

Pat, not pay...


75 posted on 08/08/2020 3:32:14 PM PDT by datura
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To: SomeCallMeTim

If it’s not legal, a court will overturn it. Meantime, it leaves the RATs with a black eye.


76 posted on 08/08/2020 3:33:10 PM PDT by gogeo (It isn't just time to open America up again: It's time to be America again.)
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To: freedumb2003

When it’s you against the world, a masterstroke is what’s required.


77 posted on 08/08/2020 3:34:21 PM PDT by gogeo (It isn't just time to open America up again: It's time to be America again.)
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To: linear

The last dem already wrote tons of ESp.


78 posted on 08/08/2020 3:34:27 PM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: SomeCallMeTim
The execution of it is not a problem. Deciding whether to do it, or not is.

Executive orders are LAW until a duly constituted court or an act of congress says its not. You don't decide to obey or not obey it. You just obey it.
Say, I haven't seen you on the unconstitutional compulsory lockdowns and masks threads, to complain about mask diktats being enforced by power drunk Dem governors and mayors have I?
Why complain about Trump's executive orders now?

79 posted on 08/08/2020 3:34:50 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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To: V_TWIN

EOs


80 posted on 08/08/2020 3:35:08 PM PDT by V_TWIN
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