GOP senators tell Elon Musk that DOGE cuts will require their votes - eviltoast

Summary

GOP senators informed Elon Musk that his initiatives to cut federal spending require congressional approval via a rescission package.

Senator Rand Paul argued at a Senate luncheon that DOGE’s cuts must be formalized through a 51-vote rescission package, citing the recent 5-4 Supreme Court ruling against freezing foreign aid.

Senators expressed frustration about being blindsided by DOGE’s funding freezes and workforce reductions. Musk agreed to establish a process for responding to senators’ concerns.

Republicans remain cautious about directly confronting Musk, who spent $288 million supporting GOP candidates in 2024 and threatened to fund primary challengers against opponents.

  • GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world
    19·
    11 hours ago

    republicans remain cautious about directly confronting Musk, who spent $288 million supporting GOP candidates in 2024 and threatened to fund primary challengers against opponents.

    There are systems to fund political campaigns that don’t involve kissing the boots of one billionaire. Systems that would allow these politicians to actually feel free to more closely represent their constituents. But I don’t see the current crop of politicians wanting to really work too much, they would rather sell their soul to one man and then impotently complain about it.

  • troed@fedia.io
    33·
    12 hours ago

    Musk agreed to establish a process for responding to senators’ concerns

    I lol’d

  • kibiz0r@midwest.socialEnglish
    5·
    10 hours ago

    That’s wild, cuz that case is still ongoing. SC just declined to hear an appeal on the stay. So they don’t actually know that the courts have their back here yet.

    I know the bar is several miles beneath the floor at this point, but at least some senators are willing to walk across it in this one specific very limited instance.

    Edit: It is truly a dark timeline when the best reassurance you can find is that the dismantling of democracy may yet be done through procedurally valid means.