By MELISSA GOLDIN
President-elect Donald Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk performed a key function this week in killing a bipartisan funding proposal that might have prevented a authorities shutdown, railing in opposition to the plan in a torrent of greater than 100 X posts that included a number of false claims.
The X proprietor, an unelected determine, not solely used his outsize affect on the platform to assist sway Congress, he did so with out regard for the details and gave a preview of the function he might play in authorities over the following 4 years.
“Trump has bought himself a handful with Musk,” John Mark Hansen, a professor of political science on the College of Chicago, stated in an e-mail. “Trump’s achieved this type of factor earlier than, blowing up a invoice on the final minute. This time, although, it appears like he was afraid of Musk upstaging him. Now there’s a brand new social media bully on the town, pushing the champion social media bully round.”
Hansen added: “We’ll see what Musk’s affect is when he runs up in opposition to actuality — like when he proposes reducing off ‘wasteful’ spending for different individuals however not NASA contracts for Area-X.”
Musk’s objections to the 1,547-page omnibus invoice included misinformation about congressional salaries, federal funding and public well being preparedness, amongst different matters.
He alleged that the plan included a 40% increase for lawmakers. However the most pay improve doable by means of the proposal would have been 3.8%, based on the Congressional Analysis Service.
A technique that members of Congress can obtain a pay increase is thru automated changes that go into impact except denied by legislation. Most members make $174,000 per a yr after their final improve of two.8% in 2009. Congressional management is the exception, with the Speaker of the Home incomes probably the most at $223,500 yearly.
The rejected invoice struck a bit from a earlier appropriations act that denied members of Congress this automated pay increase. A most improve of three.8% would have bumped their annual wage by about $6,600, to roughly $180,000 yearly.
Musk additionally shared a publish from one other consumer that falsely claimed the invoice supplied $3 billion in funding for a possible new stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, commenting: “This shouldn’t be funded by your tax {dollars}!”
The invoice included a provision to switch management of the land that homes RFK Stadium from the federal authorities to the District of Columbia. That switch is critical to pave the way in which for the Commanders to probably construct a brand new stadium within the franchise’s outdated house — although the workforce continues to be contemplating different areas.
Nonetheless, no such funding is supplied by the invoice. It states, in truth, that the federal authorities “shall not be chargeable for fee or any prices or bills” that the District of Columbia incurs after the switch is full apart from duties associated to particular environmental points.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed false claims in regards to the stadium’s funding on Thursday, calling them “irritating.”
“It was said that the C.R. accommodates $3 billion for a stadium,” she stated at a press convention. “All flawed. There aren’t any federal {dollars} associated to the switch of RFK and in reality, the laws doesn’t require or hyperlink in any respect to a stadium.
Bowser added that she has reached out to the Trump administration to appropriate misinformation about this concern.
In a 3rd publish, Musk incorrectly claimed that “We’re funding bioweapon labs on this invoice!”
The plan supplied funds for as much as 12 regional biocontainment analysis laboratories, not amenities for creating bioweapons. It stipulates that amongst their makes use of, the labs will conduct biomedical analysis to organize for organic brokers reminiscent of rising infectious ailments.
A spokesperson for Musk didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from the Related Press.
Some members of Congress expressed dismay that Musk had disseminated misinformation in regards to the invoice.
“I like you Elon however it is advisable take 5 seconds to verify your sources earlier than highlighting backside feeders on the lookout for clicks,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, wrote on X.
In a rapidly convened Thursday night vote, the Home rejected a brand new Trump-backed invoice whittled all the way down to 116 pages, with the invoice failing 174-235. Dozens of Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. Home Speaker Mike Johnson stated Friday afternoon that Republicans had reached a consensus on a 3rd spending deal, however didn’t present additional particulars.
Trump led Republicans into the longest authorities shutdown in historical past in his first time period through the 2018 Christmas season, and interrupted the vacations in 2020 by tanking a bipartisan COVID-relief invoice and forcing a do-over.
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