Summary
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) plans to introduce a bill allowing Congress to block presidential tariffs, marking a rare GOP split with Trump amid market fallout.
His bill mirrors the Senate’s bipartisan Trade Review Act, requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of new tariffs and gain approval within 60 days or face expiration.
With Trump able to veto and Republicans controlling Congress, passage is unlikely.
Meanwhile, House Democrats aim to force a vote ending Trump’s tariff-related national emergency, increasing pressure on vulnerable Republicans.
I think any Congress person who would vote against the tariffs might get a phone call.
Maybe the corporation, who’s stock they hold, gets a tariff exemption if they vote this down?
Maybe, if they show their hand that they plan to vote in favor of this they get primaried.
All this to say, our current crop of politicians can’t be trusted to do the right thing. Although, they can be trusted to do what’s in their own self interest.
I don’t know. Trump quite possibly just wrecked the economy and definitely made everyone poorer. Even if you don’t own stocks or have a 401(k), you’ll be poorer from the inflation and possibly unemployed. I could see Congressional Republicans being more worried about causing a depression and getting crushed in the next several elections than whether they have a primary opponent in 2026 or threats from a President with an approval rating in the tank. It’s already low but it might be 20% once the effects of his dumbfuck policies are impossible to ignore.
After the Smoot-Hawley Act exacerbated the Great Depression with idiotic tariffs, Democrats won every election and controlled the House, Senate, and White House from 1933 to 1947. In the 1936 presidential election, the Republican candidate got 8 electoral votes and FDR got 523.
I really enjoy your optimism and historical accuracy. I hope you’re correct and that’s the direction things take.
Yeah, I’m not good with the words.