Curbing Trump On Tariffs

Bungling Russian asset and Very Stable Genius Donald "Rump" Trump has thrown some U.S. and foreign markets into turmoil over his destructive tariffs, which he sold to the rubes he's now hurting as "America First."  Soybean and grain farmers, steel and aluminum producers, pork and whiskey producers, and even the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle company have all taken a hit as a result of Rump's misguided policies.

However, Rump's ability to impose tariffs may be curtailed, if a bipartisan group in Congress succeeds in legislation that would limit his trade / tariff powers when it comes to national security:

"Two bipartisan groups of lawmakers on Wednesday introduced legislation known as the Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bills would require Trump to have congressional approval before taking trade actions like tariffs and quotas under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The law currently allows the president to impose such tariffs without approval from Capitol Hill.

'The imposition of these taxes, under the false pretense of national security (Section 232), is weakening our economy, threatening American jobs, and eroding our credibility with other nations,' said Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, co-sponsor of the Senate bill." (our emphasis)

Former Wall Street banker Toomey's co-sponsorship is telling. He's a taxophobic, Club for Growth Rethuglican who won his election in 2016 with less than 50% of the vote in a generally blue state. He's seeing the damage caused by Rump's policies and broken promises on reviving coal and bringing jobs back to the U.S. and he's running scared.

But with the sinister and amoral Senate majority leader Sen. Mitch "Missy" McConnell serving as Rump's loyal employee in the Senate, the bill may not make it to a floor vote if Rump has his way.

(image: Rump displays Executive Order declaring his hair is beautiful and his hands are big.)