Democrats Ask if Trump Administration Misspent Funds During Shutdown

[Yosemito]

Source: Wall Street Journal

The Internal Revenue Service called back thousands of workers to help process taxpayer returns at the start of the filing season. The National Park Service diverted entrance fees meant for infrastructure and maintenance to keep up with daily operations. The Interior Department used donations from the Park Foundation to fix broken lights on the National Christmas Tree near the White House.

In another example, the Federal Aviation Administration allowed Southwest Airlines Co. to cover the cost of briefly recalling a furloughed safety inspector to sign off on putting three of the company’s new jets into service. 

An FAA spokesman said the move, which was approved by agency managers and lawyers, complied with laws and regulations restricting agency functions during the shutdown.

Democratic lawmakers and budget experts have questioned whether the moves comply with the Antideficiency Act, which generally limits government spending during a shutdown to activities necessary to protect human life and property.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-ask-if-trump-administration-misspent-funds-during-shutdown-11548936001?mod=mhp

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

[Rorey]

2. I'm curious about how Melanie going to Florida at our expense was necessary

How did it protect human life and property?

[Maeve]

3. Maybe so she wouldn't kill him for being a jerk!

But that isn't exactly protecting 'human' life....or so she wouldn't throw things in frustration?

[Grasswire2]

6. I think she's a mule between DT and the Russians whose yachts often dock there.

She made a turn-around trip during that time. Down and right back again. Alone.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

9. Good point...

...eom.

[yonder]

10. That is a VERY interesting thought.

For one, it seems she would be a natural for it. Two, that down and back trip was a curious waste of time and effort, even for the trumps. Three, shortly after the trip, Oleg Deripaska was wearing a brand new ear to ear grin because of sanctions being lifted against his kleptoempire.

I can only hope there are qualified "eyes" looking for just that sort of thing.

[Grasswire2]

11. Chris Christie says that she is not disaffected or uninvolved.

He said that yesterday. He said she is all in, and totally supports DOTUS.

There is a real interesting twitter user who tracks not only yacht movements of Russian oligarchs, but also unusual flight paths of United States of America jets and private jets of "interesting" Russians and Americans and others.

[Farmer-Rick]

8. The first naked lady is our burden to bear

We must put up with, and it appears pay for, her surgically enhanced naked a**, if we are to have a president.

Do you ever wonder why she's usually around when short Putin is? The top of his head comes up to her boobs. They are a weird couple.

[RockRaven]

4. OF COURSE they did. The real question is what is the consequence that you can impose on them?

These assholes do everything wrong, and ignore rules and laws right and left. So no doubt they misspent funds somewhere. It is a matter of finding where, proving it to the public in a way they can understand, and exercising some degree of legal recourse.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Right.

[LisaM]

7. "Proving it to the public in a way they can understand". Well put.

I think that's generally been the issue with everything this administration does.