BREAKING: Rep Adam Smith just denied DoD ability to reprogram $1B in counter drug $ for Border Wall

[kpete]

Link to tweet

[gademocrat7]

1. Good news.

[spanone]

2. K&R...

[SHRED]

3. Can Dump override this considering he declared a national emergency?

[ScratchCat]

7. The POTUS

Does not have the authority to appropriate funds. Under any circumstance. He can call all the emergencies he wants, but at the end of the day, someone else has to sign-off on the money transfer. Congressional Committees control that. Its why this has been a joke the entire time. He STILL CAN'T take that money from the DOD himself. That;s why they sent the request to the Armed Forces Committee.

[cstanleytech]

31. But that's also why our guys should put pressure on him and the Repugnants for this by

targeted cuts in defense spending in deep red states.

[FBaggins]

35. That's not quite correct

It's true that Congress holds the power of the purse, but it can't directly manage those funds once they are appropriated.

The error here is that Congress already delegated power to the executive to reprogram funds within a budget cycle. I can't see the tweet here at the office, but the committee chairman does not have the power "deny" it at this point.

In order to remove the power that Congress delegated, they have to pass something (along with the Senate) and get the President to sign it.

[FBaggins]

37. I missed one piece

He STILL CAN'T take that money from the DOD himself. That;s why they sent the request to the Armed Forces Committee.

I'd bet my lunch money that the chairman referred to it as a "request", but that the DoD just called it a notification. This is a decades-old fight over congressional delegation of legislative authority and congressional arrogation of executive authority. Both political parties play this game (it's really legislative vs. executive and doesn't matter which party controls each piece)... but if it goes to court, the executive wins.

[CreekDog]

40. You're guessing and you're wrong

Last edited Wed Mar 27, 2019, 05:23 AM - Edit history (1)

If this level of reprogramming requires approval by the relevant committees by law or regulation, THEN IT DOES.

And stop playing games with us. You're trying to say that it's a request by the congress and that is BS, the "request" comes from the Defense Department.

You're trying to undermine congressional authorities here and without knowing what you're talking about. Thanks for your concern, but , no time for your games and misinformation.

[FBaggins]

41. Lol... let us know when you get down to post #38

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

If you watch the video of the hearing... Jump forward to about minute 25. You’ll see Smith admit they aren’t asking for approval and all that congress can do is try to end the discretion in future years.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread kpete.

[ScratchCat]

5. I love it!

Four Sentences!!!

[allgood33]

6. FIGHT!! Use the weapons that we have. Play the hand that is dealt to us.

[bluestarone]

8. THIS!!

[maxrandb]

15. Damn Right, but they missed a golden opportunity

should have added a 5th sentence.

"Since DOD appears to have excess funds at their disposal, this request will be taken under consideration when reviewing cuts to FY20 Defense Spending".

It's way past time to start punishing this fucking pricks enablers.

[gratuitous]

17. Or add a P.S.

Tell Donald he can suck it.

[watoos]

26. Damn straight,

that's the post of this thread. Send the Pentagon a copy of Ike's farewell address.

[maxrandb]

28. Or a good PS would be

PS: Aren't you supposed to be using some of these funds to buy back the missing concertina wire from Mexico?

[Stonepounder]

30. Great idea. Also, an added sentence:

We will also consider reallocating the $1 billion for humanitarian efforts in Puerto Rico, including sending the Army Corps of Engineers to help rebuild the electrical infrastructure.

[malaise]

9. Great news

Rec

[CrispyQ]

10. What are the chances the Con goes after Adam Schiff for this tweet?

That would be classic.

[leftieNanner]

16. The letter is from Adam Smith

not Adam Schiff, but Dotard is stupid enough to confuse them!

[Bluepinky]

48. That made me laugh, I thought the same!

They’re both named Adam with last names that begin with S, of course they’re the same person (in stupid’s mind). I bet Trump renews his attacks on Adam Schiff.

[ck4829]

50. LOL

[yaesu]

11. Our reps need to fight the fascists at every turn, keep it up! nt

[Sherman A1]

12. K&R

[Maru Kitteh]

13. Well, that should set his orange hair on fire.

[MyOwnPeace]

32. I'm sure he's shocked...........

but then again, this dolt has no clue as to how this government is run.

[Pepsidog]

14. Haha

[watoos]

18. This is the kind of stuff that gets under Trump's orange skin.

Besides, you know the Pentagon would have been reimbursed the money later on. This move by Trump was a shell game.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Text of interest from the tweet

Tara Copp
✔
@TaraCopp

BREAKING: .@RepAdamSmith @HASCDemocrats just denied DoD the ability to reprogram $1B in counterdrug $$$ for #BorderWall
1,561
11:29 AM - Mar 26, 2019

Both here in Philly and in NJ - BOTH literally JUST had HUGE drug hauls the past 2 weeks that came in through the ports.

Port of Philadelphia

450 cocaine bricks worth $38M found at Philadelphia port

March 21, 2019



(This image provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows cocaine seized from a shipping container at the Philadelphia seaport. U.S. customs officials say drug dogs sniffed out Philadelphia's largest seizure of cocaine in more than two decades. Local, state and federal law enforcement officials said Thursday that 450 bricks of cocaine were found inside 13 duffel bags in the shipping container. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP))

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — U.S. customs officials say drug dogs sniffed out 450 bricks of cocaine in Philadelphia, the city’s largest seizure of the drug in more than two decades.

Local, state and federal law enforcement officials said Thursday the cocaine was found inside 13 duffel bags in a shipping container. Customs and Border Protection’s Area Port Director for Philadelphia Joseph Martella says Tuesday’s seizure amounted to more than 1,185 pounds (538 kilograms) of cocaine worth about $38 million.

Martella says the ship was ported in Guatemala before stopping in the Bahamas and was destined for the Netherlands. It wasn’t clear where the cocaine was headed or where it was added to the shipment.

It was Philadelphia’s largest seizure since 1998. Last month, customs agents seized 3,200 pounds of cocaine worth $77 million at Port New York/Newark.

https://www.apnews.com/370198de1ece43999b40a9cd81f5acf8

A couple other images from the AP article -






Port of New York/Newark (NJ)

Ton And A Half Of Cocaine Seized At Port Of New York/Newark

March 12, 20195:00 PM ET

Dalia Mortada



(Sixty packages of cocaine were seized from a shipping container at the Port of New York/Newark.
Courtesy of United States Drug Enforcement Administration)

Authorities at the Port of New York and New Jersey seized approximately 3,200 pounds of cocaine from a shipping container on Feb. 28.

Officials carried out an inspection of the shipment after they noticed tampering of several containers on a large vessel traveling from Buenaventura, Colombia, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in charge Ray Donovan told NPR. That is when they discovered the nearly ton and a half of cocaine with an estimated street value of $77 million.

The bust was part of a joint operation of the DEA, Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, New York Police Department and New York State Police.

"This is the type of case that will last years. We're investigating where it came from, where it's going, everybody and everyone involved," Donovan said. "Any time an organization is moving that amount of cocaine, they've been involved for a long period of time." "This interception prevents a massive quantity of drugs from getting to the streets and in the hands of our children," said Troy Miller, CBP Director of New York Field Operations, in a statement.

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702493749/ton-and-a-half-of-cocaine-seized-at-port-of-new-york-newark

This is how the stuff is coming in - on trailers that get stacked on cargo ships (like the below that go up and down the Delaware River out through the Delaware Bay and into the Atlantic Ocean).

[allgood33]

23. Our candidates should arm themselves with these photos for their Town Hall meetings.

They have unfettered opportunity to explain truths to Town Hall attendees they don't get at huge rallies. A photo is worth a thousand words. Some photos of tots taken from the arms of their moms at the border will help as well. What our candidates need is to schedule more and more Town Hall meetings that take away the opportunity for RW media to troll their rallies and report lies about them. They should all be together on the objectives of the Democrats while they may differ on the ways to reach those objectives.

Medicare for all, in my opinion is a great idea but we may just want to start the ball rolling with Medicare as a public option for those who want it. (just an example).

Defeating Trump and the GOP at the poll is the objective. No other way to do it except to get out and vote and to run challengers in every race available to us. Don't worry about the money, just get on the ballot.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. I think the Town Hall concept

works well in the suburbs and rural areas. They are cumbersome in the urban areas, although the urban areas are generally blue anyway.

I think they should also offer "telephone Town Halls" (or even streaming) for those who can't travel in person. I know one of my state elected officials offers those and I have attended a number of them and asked questions.

[eleny]

20. elections matter

and 2020 is coming!

[watoos]

21. Was it Chou's ship?

McConnell's in-laws (ships) were caught with drugs before.

[Wounded Bear]

22. Hey! That's my representative!

[Lochloosa]

46. You have a good one. I've followed Adam's career since he was a State Rep.

[djacq]

24. Know that feeling when you get denied a layup while playing basketball?

[pnwmom]

27. Wonderful. Adam Smith was challenged this year by a newcomer who didn't think

his record was progressive enough. We are lucky to have someone with his experience now in that position.

[C_U_L8R]

29. Hey Trumpstain, go get your shinebox.

[Blecht]

33. He got the address wrong

The Horrible David L. Norquist

There. Fixed it.

[calimary]

34. Well at least there's this!

[IronLionZion]

36. He wrote The Wealth of Nations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, generally referred to by its shortened title The Wealth of Nations, is the magnum opus of the Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith. First published in 1776, the book offers one of the world's first collected descriptions of what builds nations' wealth, and is today a fundamental work in classical economics. By reflecting upon the economics at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the book touches upon such broad topics as the division of labour, productivity, and free markets.

[Lochloosa]

47. He does have a great name.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

38. This article disagrees. Don't know if it's true

The Pentagon is putting $1 billion toward the wall — and House Democrats can’t stop them

The Department of Defense is moving $1 billion out of a military personnel fund to be used to construct 57 miles of border “wall” — provoking strident (but impotent) objections from Democrats in Congress and setting up a big fight over next year’s Pentagon budget.

On Monday night, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan issued a letter to the Department of Homeland Security informing them that he’d made $1 billion “available” for wall construction, by moving it into a military account for drug enforcement — one of the three pots of money the Trump administration is tapping under its declaration of national emergency. (The logic is that the wall will impede drug-smuggling corridors, though all available evidence suggests that the majority of drugs smuggled into the US through Mexico come via official ports of entry.)

Leaders of the congressional committees overseeing the Pentagon that same day got notification of $1 billion in “reprogramming” — shifting funds from one government agency or account to another — from the military-personnel fund to the drug-enforcement fund.

House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith (D-WA) formally rejected that notice in a letter today: “The committee does not approve the use of Department of Defense funds to construct additional physical barriers,” he wrote.

But the letter was meaningless.

As Smith himself acknowledged while questioning Shanahan in an oversight hearing Tuesday, the request was unilateral — it wasn’t sent to Smith and Congress for approval, and it’s not something they have the ability to stop. The only thing that congressional Democrats can do now is to reduce the Pentagon’s ability to shift money around going forward — and that’s just what they’re threatening to do.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-pentagon-is-putting-dollar1-billion-toward-the-wall--and-house-democrats-cant-stop-them/ar-BBVgoXI?li=BBnb7Kz

[FBaggins]

39. It is (true)

Congress has a habit of arrogating executive authority in some bills... where they approve a certain budget but then put in the bill that the agency (or whatever) has to come back to Congress periodically for approval to spend it. Something like that appears in hundreds of bills and they're virtually always unconstitutional (and are ruled as such whenever they're challenged). They're frequently the subject of "signing statements" (where the President signs the bill but then says he's going to ignore the unconstitutional parts.

So we keep up this dance. Congress pretends that they have the power to compel the executive branch to show up at a hearing and beg for approval for things that have already been approved... and the executive shows up and pretends that it's just an advisory meeting, not a request for approval.

In this case, the executive branch is correct.

Congress could remove the budget flexibility going forward, but only if they can get the Senate to go along and the President to sign it. They can't "reject" this "request". The career military members who were there clearly understood that Trump potentially puts them in a position to have far less flexibility in future years... but they're going to follow orders.

[SCantiGOP]

42. Yes it's true

I don't want to be the Debbie Downer in the celebration of the Dem House blocking the President, but no one except the Courts (or a veto-proof Dem majority in both houses) can stop this.

[DesertRat]

43. Elections do matter!

[meow2u3]

44. Thank God for a Democratic House!

And Democrats aren't taking any more of tRump's shit!

[Apple Fritter]

45. ha denied!!!!! n/t

[ck4829]

49. K&R

[Chin music]

51. We've given so many trusted dollars to the military that they can't even spend it all anymore.

When this type of military kick back(?) happens it's almost like the gop gets to tap the military for money back, to use on failed political positions. The military doesnt decide public works in this country, nor should they be funding or building them. Congress determines where the peoples tax dollars are spent, not the 'end of year, over-payment slush fund', tapping gop. They do anything to fill a campaign "promise,' then act like they parleyed it through congress, and thus are governing legitimately. Just an observation.
You know? Americans forgo things like infrastructure and healthcare, for the diversion of tax dollars to the military. If we can't trust them to respect that we honor them so much, and trust they'll do the right thing, then their budget and especially the rules for the year end 'over-payment funds', or budget over payments to a dept, to be returned to the general fund. At that time CONGRESS (The Peoples Branch and voice) shall determine what gets done w any residual monies. Seems only fair.
How about Election Security and a citizens board to moniter what really gets done.

[riversedge]

53. more of the letter of denial..

Link to tweet