Conflict
Last week, the Supreme Court voted on the first of many attempts by district judges to disrupt the workings of Trump's Executive Branch. In this case a district judge had ruled Trump's committee designed to root out government fraud and waste didn't have the right to see information about recipients of potential fraud and waste within the Social Security Administration.
The Supreme Court ruled by a 6 to 3 vote that the Social Security Administration was not barred from turning over that information. The amazing thing is that the three liberal justices actually sided with the Democrat district judge (whose ruling had been pure nonsense). Essentially, the Supreme Court majority correctly upheld the right of Trump (who heads the Executive Branch) to request and receive information from one of the organizations directly under him in his Executive Branch.
Now Trump's committee investigating waste and corruption will finally be able to find out how all those 115-year-old retired folks are cashing their Social Security checks. They'll also be able to determine how all those 3-year-olds are running successful businesses.
Amid this new-found joy in the White House about battling fraud and waste, however, there is also considerable concern with respect to Elon Musk's recent attacks.
It should be noted that President Trump has been somewhat reserved in responding to Musk. He hasn't resorted to any personal attacks, and has simply stated he's disappointed in his friend. He has also indicated that he believes the Great Big Beautiful Bill's exclusion of discount payments for electric vehicles is the reason for Musk's recent harangue.
Musk, of course, contends he opposes the bill because it overspends. That may well be a secondary reason for his opposition, but inside sources indicate the end of $7,500 subsidies for Teslas are a big portion of what drives Elon's unease.
Trump has indicated Musk still receives billions of federal dollars funding much of SpaceX, and that an uncooperative attitude might adversely affect some launches. Musk has responded by threatening to stop making government flights. He rightly observes that his company is far ahead of other competing space exploration concerns.
Musk is right, of course, when he contends the Great Big Beautiful Bill falls short in cutting spending. There is a reason, however, why all of Musk's anti-waste/anti-fraud bills are excluded. The Great Big Beautiful Bill has been constructed so that it can pass the Senate with only 51 votes rather than requiring 60. The addition of Musk's cost cutting would make the bill require the full 60 votes. Those items, therefore, will be included in a separate bill to be submitted after the Great Big Beautiful Bill passes both houses and is signed by the President.
One hopes that perhaps Elon doesn't realize this is the reason for how the Great Big Beautiful Bill is constructed. It would really be nice if these two former friends would kiss and make up. It's a shame to see two good men so upset with one another.
We need the Great Big Beautiful Bill to become law. Without it, every family's taxes double by the end of the year. Medicare and Medicaid are also endangered. (We can't continue paying for healthcare for illegal aliens and not having a work requirement for able-bodied men without bankrupting the system. Medical in California is already bankrupt because of 25% of spending going for illegal aliens.)
When tariffs and Elon's waste and fraud cuts are added following passage of the Great Big Beautiful Bill, spending will be cut (even as tips and overtime pay are excluded from income taxes.) Prices will also stay low due to the increase in the production of gas, gasoline, and diesel fuel. We may even begin to reduce the national debt.
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Tom Haughey is Senior Advisor of the Texas Republican County Chairman’s Association.
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Tom Haughey is Senior Advisor of the Texas Republican County Chairman’s Association.