Posted on 03/06/2025 7:27:50 AM PST by RandFan
Elon Musk and Republican senators are eyeing a package to claw back tens or hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending after meeting in a closed-door lunch on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Musk has been leading the charge on spending cuts from the White House. Some lawmakers want to make his actions more permanent by making them law.
No decisions have been made, but there was some early, general support for the idea being pushed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) after the lunch.
An infamous deficit hawk, Paul pitched Elon Musk on a massive rescission package during a lunch on Wednesday, he told reporters. Such a package would undo federal funding already approved by Congress.
The bill would also only require 51 votes to pass the Senate — no Democrats needed.
Paul said specific numbers weren't discussed, but he'd like to see $500 billion.
Zoom in: Musk "was elated" at the idea, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told reporters. "I think he didn't realize it could be done at 51."
"I do think there is a genuine appetite to continue this work within the legislative branch," Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said after the lunch.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he backs Paul's plan.
(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...
Rand is going to get his day in the sun it seems. He's been calling for this vote for over a decade.
And now he's very likely in the majority on the cusp of winning a meaningful vote in the Senate. Incredible.
It may set him up nicely for a run @ the White House
Why is Rand cast as an “Infamous” budget hawk...rather shaded story if one asks me. “Budget Hawk”, certainly, “Famous”, or “Well Known” Budget Hawk is more of an apt description. Adjectives mean something.
I thought that these two were going to go check Ft. Knox and the pot of gold that’s supposed to be there.
How’d that turn out?
There is entirely too little coverage of the upcoming CR in the House.
It is to hold spending at 2024 levels.
What does this mean? Inflation adjusted? Same Ukraine flow?
Recission votes are not subject to filibuster. This can pass on a majority vote
Can we get the majority of Congress to vote for it? Time will tell
From Google
A rescission bill is a type of bill in the United States that rescinds funding that was previously included in an appropriations bill. Rescission bills proposed by the President of the United States are considered under an expedited process that cannot be filibustered in the Senate, allowing it to pass with 51 votes instead of 60.
Yeah, that has to get through the House, too.
The only problem with somehow codifying DOGE discoveries, is there is no audit of those discoveries.
There are only numbers quoted in right wing blogs. Driving yesterday, happened to hear a blurb on CNBC quoting a rumor quoting whatever that said something like . . “there exists now a list of deletions from the DOGE discoveries. They were never discoveries. They were bureaucratic relabeling.” blah blah.
Bottom line, it’s going to be hard to get such a bill through either house without some sort of audit of things.
I do think some things can get erased, like that list the Pres read off about stupid research in various 3rd world countries, but I listened carefully. Those did not reach even $100M in total. Not B. M.
The big numbers out of DOGE are not going to be proven. It is not magic.
That the reason for the recission bill. It codifies into law the cuts being recommended by DOGE.
It stops all the mindless “he says she said” blather being published in the Alt Left media since it will be right there IN the bill.
You need to realize there are a lot of people in broadcast and published media that are simply lying to you every day.
We see this time and time again. Some Leftist website or blogger simply makes something up. Then the Alt Leftist media quotes that lie as “sources say”.
Unless you see a credible named source on the record saying something, believe nothing you read or hear.
It passes the US House on simple majority vote also.
That is the challenge. However, give how blatant the misuse of Government funds being uncovered by DOGE is, there is going to be a lot of pressure on swing district Democrats to vote with the Republicans on this.
This should be a no brainer, but with some of the cucks we have in both houses of congress, we all need to put all of the pressure that we can on our congress critters.
I don't know how these pricks will respond to our pressure, but if any of my folks let us down, they should be primaried.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.