BILLBOARD News Now
Recess Is Over
What do you expect tomorrow when Congress returns? If you said normal you are wrong. There is nothing “normal” about the 119th Congress.
Speaker Johnson sent Members home days before the August recess. House Members were about to bring a resolution to the floor demanding the Trump administration release the Epstein files. However, since Johnson did not want to lose a vote & face President Trump…he said good-bye…enjoy your summer.
Senate Majority Leader Thune was ordered by President Trump (when did Senators ever take orders from a President) to stay in session thru August…to confirm his pending nominations. That was a tall order, and Thune could not keep Senators in town.
When Congress returns to the Capitol City, they will not find it normal (anything but) with Trump’s troops roaming the streets. However, they will find serious issues that may impact many of their 2026 races.
Staying in Washington during the summer recess is very unusual. But Republican Chairman James Comer (R-Ky) of the House Committee on Oversight stayed to investigate the Epstein matter during August. The Committee subpoenaed Department of Justice (DOJ) documents and from the Epstein estate. Former officials who oversaw investigations of Epstein in past administrations were summoned.
At the same time President Trump “shook up” the electoral process by asking various states to rearrange their congressional maps to assure a Republican win and save his presidency beyond November 2026. This action meant incumbent Members of Congress could be thrown into new districts and must introduce themselves to new voters and leave behind established relationships, donors & supporters. Others could end up running against colleagues. Beyond that this could disrupt how they vote on issues.
The Trump thieves at the Office of Management and Budget want to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers previously approved for the United States’ contribution to the United Nations and economic development aid programs run by the State Department. It is not normal to cancel a $4.9 billion appropriation with less than the 45-day time period that Congress requires to consider a rescission request.
The “power of the purse” belongs to Congress…read the Constitution! When are the Republicans who oversee both houses of Congress going to stand up to President Trump and exert their constitutional duty. It’s about time they show some guts & teach him a lesson.
All of this comes at the time when Congress must pass 12 appropriation bills to fund the government before September 30th. If they cannot come to an agreement the government will shut down. Of course, there is the old standby…a Continuing Resolution to keep the government open…but that might also be contentious.
In the meantime, there are serious foreign policy issues on everyone’s agenda.
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