US and NA Politics (General)

[Peregrine]

Jul 19, 2024 12:14:26 GMT -5 easye said:

www.npr.org/2024/07/19/g-s1-12173/federal-appeals-court-blocks-remainder-biden-student-debt-relief-plan

Federal appeals court blocks remainder of Biden's student debt relief plan

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court blocked the implementation of the Biden administration's student debt relief plan, which would have lowered monthly payments for millions of borrowers.

In a ruling Thursday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion for an administrative stay filed by a group of Republican-led states seeking to invalidate the administration's entire student loan forgiveness program. The court's order prohibits the administration from implementing the parts of the SAVE plan that were not already blocked by lower court rulings.

The ruling comes the same day that the Biden administration announced another round of student loan forgiveness, this time totaling $1.2 billion in forgiveness for roughly 35,000 borrowers who are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The PSLF program, which provides relief for teachers, nurses, firefighters and other public servants who make 120 qualifying monthly payments, was originally passed in 2007. But for years, borrowers ran into strict rules and servicer errors that prevented them from having their debt cancelled. The Biden administration adjusted some of the programs rules and retroactively gave many borrowers credits towards their required payments.

The fact that this case was even granted standing is proof of how broken the US court system is. But I'm so glad we stopped her emails!

[mdgv2]

I’m surprised anyone backed Trump’s pick for those positions, as his own choice in lawyers is shiit.

(Sarcasm, just in case)

[Disciple of Fate]

They don't have to support Trump's picks. They support the Federalist Society's picks that are spoon fed to(/through) Trump.

[herzlos]

Jul 22, 2024 5:45:01 GMT -5 mdgv2 said:

I’m surprised anyone backed Trump’s pick for those positions, as his own choice in lawyers is shiit.

(Sarcasm, just in case)

I'm not sure if Trumps choice of lawyers is because he's hand picked them or if they've been the only ones who'll work for him. A Government appointee via Trump at least is going to get paid.

[semipotentwalrus]

Jul 22, 2024 7:42:51 GMT -5 herzlos said:

Jul 22, 2024 5:45:01 GMT -5 mdgv2 said:

I’m surprised anyone backed Trump’s pick for those positions, as his own choice in lawyers is shiit.

(Sarcasm, just in case)

I'm not sure if Trumps choice of lawyers is because he's hand picked them or if they've been the only ones who'll work for him. A Government appointee via Trump at least is going to get paid.

Until government shuts down over some asinine reason again.

[herzlos]

I always assumed that after a Government shutdown, they'd get back paid to cover the period worked?

[Disciple of Fate]

This is why you need a rich sugar bestie. Won't suffer from a shutdown when you're on a multi-million dollar cruise with your bestie.

Backpay exists for government employees, but all the contractors working for the government aren't so lucky.

[Peregrine]

Jul 22, 2024 12:55:02 GMT -5 semipotentwalrus said:

Until government shuts down over some asinine reason again.

Why would a government shutdown have any effect on their salary? Do their owners stop paying them just because the government shut down?

[easye]

Looks like Biden isn't content being a "Lame-Duck" and is still mixing it up out there in DC.

www.npr.org/2024/07/29/nx-s1-5055094/biden-supreme-court

Biden calls for term limits, enforceable ethics rules for Supreme Court justices

Biden is expected to call for the changes to the court during remarks later in the day at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. He is expected to offer his support to a system in which the president would appoint a justice every two years to spend 18 years in active service of the Supreme Court.

Additionally, he is expected to call on Congress to pass binding, enforceable conduct and ethics rules that require justices on the high court to disclose gifts, refrain from public political activity, and recuse themselves from cases in which they or their spouses have financial or other conflicts of interest.

Biden is also expected to call for a constitutional amendment that would limit the broad immunity presidents now enjoy following a recent Supreme Court decision.

Probably more of a stealth campaign move, to remind Dem voters that there is a huge difference between Ds and Rs. This has no chance in Congress right now.

[Disciple of Fate]

These seem like great ideas that will definitely not pass or be repealed at the first opportunity. So probably more a campaign argument.

[herzlos]

Jul 22, 2024 15:39:09 GMT -5 Peregrine said:

Jul 22, 2024 12:55:02 GMT -5 semipotentwalrus said:

Until government shuts down over some asinine reason again.

Why would a government shutdown have any effect on their salary? Do their owners stop paying them just because the government shut down?

Basically, yeah. If the Government runs out of money it needs a bill passed at Senate level to approve the new funding. The Republicans usually use this impending chaos to ask for all sorts of crap and then let it fail anyway to make the Dems look bad. Until the budget is approved (or they move into next years budget), there's no money and Government employees don't get paid. This seems to happen annaully.

I'm not sure (a) if they still have to work or (b) if they get back paid when the budget is approved.

How a society can work like that I don't know, because it's totally chaotic and wasteful. I've seen huge projects cancelled/delay and costing thousands because they weren't allowed to spend $200 on flights.

[Peregrine]

Jul 29, 2024 13:15:19 GMT -5 herzlos said:

Basically, yeah. If the Government runs out of money it needs a bill passed at Senate level to approve the new funding. The Republicans usually use this impending chaos to ask for all sorts of crap and then let it fail anyway to make the Dems look bad. Until the budget is approved (or they move into next years budget), there's no money and Government employees don't get paid. This seems to happen annaully.

I'm not sure (a) if they still have to work or (b) if they get back paid when the budget is approved.

How a society can work like that I don't know, because it's totally chaotic and wasteful. I've seen huge projects cancelled/delay and costing thousands because they weren't allowed to spend $200 on flights.

That was a joke about how the conservative members of SCOTUS are paid in bribes, not by regular government salary.

[herzlos]

Jul 29, 2024 16:46:25 GMT -5 Peregrine said:

Jul 29, 2024 13:15:19 GMT -5 herzlos said:

Basically, yeah. If the Government runs out of money it needs a bill passed at Senate level to approve the new funding. The Republicans usually use this impending chaos to ask for all sorts of crap and then let it fail anyway to make the Dems look bad. Until the budget is approved (or they move into next years budget), there's no money and Government employees don't get paid. This seems to happen annaully.

I'm not sure (a) if they still have to work or (b) if they get back paid when the budget is approved.

How a society can work like that I don't know, because it's totally chaotic and wasteful. I've seen huge projects cancelled/delay and costing thousands because they weren't allowed to spend $200 on flights.

That was a joke about how the conservative members of SCOTUS are paid in bribes, not by regular government salary.

Ah, I took owners to be the Government, and not their sponsors, my bad!

[easye]

Lame duck President Biden strikes again!

Prisoner swap with Russia frees Americans including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan

www.npr.org/2024/08/01/g-s1-14571/russia-prisoner-swap-evan-gershkovich-paul-whelan

In one of the largest prisoner swaps between the United States, its allies and Russia since the end of the Cold War, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan are among more than a dozen prisoners released by Russia in exchange for Russian prisoners held by the United States and countries throughout Europe, U.S. officials said Thursday.

In all, under the deal, 16 political prisoners, journalists and others, including five Germans, are being exchanged for eight Russians jailed in the U.S., Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Poland. Among the Russians is Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian state assassin in German custody, as well as three other Russians in U.S. custody.

The Right was hammering Biden on not getting these guys released. He managed it and even did it with our allies to make the player even stronger.

[adurot]

But Trump said only He could get Putin to release him!