Fact Check: Democratic States Draft Bills to Withhold Federal Payments from Trump
What We Know
Recent reports indicate that Democratic legislators in several states are proposing bills that would allow them to withhold federal payments if they believe the federal government is delinquent in its funding obligations. This initiative has been introduced in states like Connecticut, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin, with similar measures being drafted in Washington state (NBC News, Yahoo News). The bills are a response to what state Democrats describe as illegal funding freezes imposed by President Trump, which they argue have harmed state programs for healthcare, food assistance, and environmental protections (NBC News).
Analysis
The proposed legislation in these states represents a direct counteraction to the Trump administration's funding policies. For instance, Maryland's Democratic majority leader, David Moon, stated that the proposed bills are akin to "collections" actions against a "deadbeat debtor," emphasizing the need for states to protect their residents from the impacts of federal funding cuts (NBC News).
The bills aim to allow states to withhold their own payments to the federal government if they determine that federal agencies have unlawfully withheld funds that were previously appropriated by Congress. This includes payments such as federal taxes collected from state employees (NBC News).
While these measures are still in the early stages and face significant legal and political hurdles, they reflect a growing trend among Democratic states to challenge federal funding policies that they view as detrimental to their constituents. The reliability of the sources reporting on this matter is strong, as they include established news organizations like NBC and Yahoo, which have a history of covering political developments accurately.
Conclusion
The claim that Democratic states are drafting bills to withhold federal payments from Trump is True. The evidence shows that multiple Democratic-led states are indeed proposing legislation to counteract what they perceive as unlawful withholding of federal funds by the Trump administration. These actions are a response to the broader context of federal-state funding disputes and reflect a significant political maneuvering by state legislators.
