Dems Axe Bill Meant To Help Trump Punish Critics

The Intercept reports:

A contingent of Democratic lawmakers rallied Tuesday evening to vote down a controversial bill that would have granted President-elect Donald Trump broad powers to censor and punish his political opponents.

Despite previous bipartisan support, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act — which would allow the Treasury Department unilateral authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit it designates as a “terrorist supporting organization” — hit a roadblock in Congress in the form of Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, who led the charge against the bill in large part due to Trump’s reelection.

“All of us support stopping terrorism,” Doggett said Tuesday. “[But] if he is on a march to make America fascist, we do not need to supply Donald Trump with any additional weapons to accomplish his ill purpose.”

Read the full article. The ACLU warned that the bill, which required 2/3 support under “suspension of the rules,” was both redundant – as providing material support for terrorism is already illegal – and transparently aimed at shutting down pro-Palestine groups.

BREAKING: Failing to reach a 2/3 majority, the House just failed to pass a bill allowing the executive branch to unilaterally strip organizations of non-profit status without due process.

The bill aimed at shutting down countless organizations working for justice for Palestine. pic.twitter.com/kXqZ1In0VL

— CODEPINK (@codepink) November 13, 2024