Why? Well, because he’s a jackass, of course:
President Donald Trump on Monday justified a smaller-than-anticipated proposed pay raise for civilian federal workers by citing “national emergency or serious economic conditions,” despite his frequent statements that the nation’s economy is booming.Trump proposed that pay raises for civilian federal workers be limited to 1% in 2021 in a bid to “maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course.”
He described a pay increase above 1% as “inappropriate.””This alternative pay plan decision will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well qualified Federal workforce,” the President wrote.An across-the-board 2.5% increase for federal workers is slated to take effect in January 2021.
In limiting federal pay raises, Trump cited his statutory authority to adjust pay because of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare,” but the President frequently touts a growing US economy, including a strong growth rate for the gross domestic product and low unemployment.
This is actually yet another presidential power grab and they get more and more transparently political very time he does it. Recall that he has declared these emergencies to justify aspects of his trade war and the border wall as well. Now he’s using it to punish federal workers — also known among his Fox News wingnut advisers as “the Deep State.”
His budget also calls for cuts to all the safety net programs including medicare and social security even though he has promised never to do that. But he just says whatever he thinks he needs to say to his base and his administration does what it wants.
But never fear, all those military contractors who are gorging themselves until they hurl are get another big taste of taxpayer money in his budget. Of course.
This is just his proposed budget which would have to get through Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in the House so it’s a dead letter. But people shouldn’t dismiss it. if Trump pulls off a victory in November there’s a fairly good chance he’ll take back the House. Then he can do whatever he wants.
Last night in New Hampshire the crowd was chanting “46!” “46!” for Don Jr, which I understand is becoming more and more common in right-wing circles. I guess the idea is that Jr gets 8 and then Ivanka sweeps in and becomes the first woman president after that. I’m not sure if elections are even considered anymore in all this. There’s a good chance that Trump just names his successors after 2024 and that’s that.
But if they do still believe they must coddle their base four years from now, I guess we can take heart in the fact that Trump won’t want to mess up Junior’s chances by destroying Social Security and Medicare before then. So that’s good.