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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums$1,700 refund per family for the people since Trump tariffs were ruled unconstitutional
Sam Stein @samstein 16mGov. Pritzker demands a $1,700 refund per family for the people of Illinois after Trump's tariffs were ruled unconstitutional

MustLoveBeagles
(15,466 posts)I doubt we'll see it
Ritabert
(2,213 posts)bigtree
(93,814 posts)...he's in a box.
He's going to fight the refunds to businesses in court, but he may want to try and make an election-eve gesture to the American people in the form of following through on his promise of the $2k, especially if he's contiunuing his fiction about the amount they're raising for the Treasury.
It's all a political play, complete with so much smoke and so many mirrors, that it's sort of credible to expect the untenable or the abberation from this WH.
Given that republicans are forecasting a rocky road to defeat in the midterms, it's as likely as the Covid stimulus checks were from the president who was denying there was a problem.
Ritabert
(2,213 posts)bigtree
(93,814 posts)Tariff refunds could be THE fight of 2026 - & a major political flashpoint, too. The US govt illegally collected ~$175 BILLION from US firms, often w/ little notice (& ALWAYS w/ no input). And these taxes harmed the smallest firms most.
If they don't willingly pay it back... 🤬
12:30 PM · Feb 20, 2026
Bengus81
(9,998 posts)once they have a majority again.
paleotn
(21,923 posts)Businesses trying to figure out how much tariff they've paid above normal levels. In some cases, it's next to impossible. Many of their suppliers merely slap a percentage on every invoice to cover tariff exposure. Few go to the trouble of passing it on in a detailed manner, i.e., this amount of tariff applies to these purchased widgets.
Though I'd like to see refunds all around, the best course is just apply it to the gapping hole that is this year's federal budget thanks to Shitler's tax cuts for the wealth. Sucks, but that's the path of least resistance and that's why that will probably be the path.
AND....I don't want Shitler refunding anything and getting credit for it. He got his hand slapped. I want it to stay that way.
WA-03 Democrat
(3,345 posts)on existing items its Jan 2025 vs. Jan 2026. Yes totally agree it is a problem he create and should get no credit for solving it.
bucolic_frolic
(54,667 posts)That will carry all the way to election day, along with how the issue of ICE has been decided in voters minds.
GOPee has a hard road ahead.
bigtree
(93,814 posts)...and take some credit for the softening of the harm he's done to the economy, or stick with the theme he started with today about the loss of the tariffs harming the economy.
But he's out there immediately bragging about imposing even more costly ones for businesses and basically just owning the shitty economy instead.
WarGamer
(18,374 posts)Court decided that since the tariffs were illegal, the money was owed back to the importer of record... the government has no right to disburse that money other than to the importers.
unfortunately the only one receiving a windfall will be... WalMart, Target and Dollar Tree and 99c Store
Bengus81
(9,998 posts)Because they can't....................
Bluetus
(2,566 posts)to the importers of record. But to the extent that they passed those costs along to others, therein lies the rub.
But that's not our problem. Trump created this mess. Dems should be demanding a full clawback of all illegal tariffs.
And if MAGA people complain that they actually paid the tariffs and should get the refund, well, we tried to warn you.
I see that Pritzker is taking a different angle, demanding the total tariff collection be refunded to individuals, not importers. Maybe that is the smarter political position, because that goes straight to the point that consumers paid 90% of the tariff. Only 10% was absorbed by importers/retailers
WarGamer
(18,374 posts)I don't know how they'd pay that to consumers.
Articles that I read said that major importers like WalMart only passed on around 50% of the tariff costs...
I don't know if there's a way to refund end consumers... theoretically it would have to come from the importer, like WalMart... which will NEVER happen.
Buns_of_Fire
(19,082 posts)Redeemable only at TrumpCrap dot com, for all your favorite crap from your favorite crappy "president". Shipping and handling extra on all items. (Shipping and handling charges are payable in $USD only, as mandated in EO 260220-687.)
bigtree
(93,814 posts)...and not unexpected, at all.
I can see Lutnick pitching this to him.
twodogsbarking
(18,185 posts)Gets attention.
erronis
(23,319 posts)A few overseas outside of the reach of these crooks.
Evolve Dammit
(21,677 posts)pat_k
(12,893 posts)That horror show was built on collection of something like 5 trillion in tariffs.
Time to repeal the whole fucking thing and start over without that assumption.
Now that people are feeling some of the outrageous cuts in healthcare, snap, etc., and seeing the beginning of the consequences of obscene increase in ice funding, I think a movement to repeal would gain steam quickly.
The house of cards collapses when you pull out the absurd tariff assumptions