Crackdown on US State Dept payments to Donald Trump's firms

[mahatmakanejeeves]

David Fahrenthold Retweeted

Another punt for my excl in today's @TheScotsman on plans to outlaw further US federal government payments to @realDonaldTrump's properties in Scotland amid ongoing criticism of POTUS profiting from the presidency: https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/crackdown-on-us-state-dept-payments-to-donald-trump-s-firms-1-4952396 …

Link to tweet

Donald Trump’s loss making hotel and golf resorts in Scotland will no longer be allowed to receive payments from the US federal government, under a strict new law being brought forward in the US Congress.

Link to tweet

Crackdown on US State Dept payments to Donald Trump’s firms

By Martyn McLaughlin
Published: 22:00 Friday 21 June 2019

Donald Trump’s loss making hotel and golf resorts in Scotland will no longer be allowed to receive payments from the US federal government, under a strict new law being brought forward in the US Congress. ... Politicians in a little-known House of Representatives sub-committee have voted to adopt an amendment that prevents the US State Department from spending taxpayers’ money at the US president’s properties, which remain in his ultimate ownership via a New York-based revocable trust.

As revealed by The Scotsman last year, Mr Trump’s flagship Scottish resort at Turnberry in South Ayrshire has received tens of thousands of pounds in payments from the State Department in the first two and a half years of his administration. ... The series of payments to Turnberry include more than £52,000 spent on rooms at the historic resort last July, when Mr Trump and key members of his administration enjoyed a two night stay at the hotel and played rounds of golf during his UK visit.

The payments, which were made to Turnberry’s parent company, SLC Turnberry Limited, via the US embassy in London, prompted widespread criticism from ethics groups. ... Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform at the Campaign Legal Centre, a Washington DC-based political watchdog, accused Mr Trump of “using the power and authority of his office to profit personally.”

The amendment to the Stare and Foreign Operations Bill - a labyrinthine piece of legislation which oversees the State Department’s vast budget - has been approved by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programmes. ... The amendment, which covers payments to both Trump Turnberry and Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire as well as other Trump properties, was approved by 231 votes to 187. It will have to be ratified by the Senate before it becomes enshrined in law.
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Yeah, like that's going to happen.

[MineralMan]

1. It might pass in the House, but will be shut down in the Senate.

So, since the bills need to be paid, the prohibition will be removed so the bill can pass. That is why we need to win the Senate majority and elect a Democratic President.

It is that simple.

[struggle4progress]

8. We can do something with a Republican refusal to pass the bill

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Grifters grift, idiots just have to be themselves.

Hence.... the Deplorables.

[Vegas Roller]

3. Another violation of the emoluments clause

Democrats should make a big noise about this on campaign trails and in the media.

[Faux pas]

4. Kicketty Kickin'

[smirkymonkey]

5. The fact that his businesses are profiting off of his status as president

just burns me up. It makes me furious. There must be some way to stop it or force him to stay at other properties when he travels.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. Vote. If voting is not an option, then support. NT

[smirkymonkey]

7. I do both.