Bobby Kogan
Senior Director of Federal Budget Policy for the Center for American Progress doing budget, tax, and econ.
Formerly: Biden OMB, Biden Transition Team, Senate Budget Committee (Murray and Sanders).
CBO and OMB’s biggest fan! Personal account.
- We should also be clear that Republicans made defunding IRS anti-cheating enforcement literally their number one legislative priority when they retook the House in 2023. Since then they've gotten rid of nearly all the enforcement money from the IRA. Their goal is making it easier to cheat on taxes.
- It is not surprising that the people who are ideologically committed to the idea that government can't do anything right actually suck at running the government.
- Rip to the newspaper that ensured the Pentagon Papers were published after Nixon got an injunction against the Times. 🫡 Had a good run, but as with so many cases, a billionaire bought something he didn’t care about and broke it. A tale as old as time.
- House passes bill to end shutdown. Now, all of the govt EXCEPT DHS has funding through end of fiscal year DHS funding runs through Feb 13. At that point, we're looking at DHS-only shutdown Importantly, ICE & CBP continue to operate w/ pay. Not much leverage, but this is least bad leverage option
- the "party of small government" is really out here being like "can you even imagine how inconvenient it would be if we had to adhere to the constitution" imagine!!!!!
- Riffing off Brendan's method of juxtaposition in this awesome report, I'd like to offer another comparison: Food assistance cuts versus new funding for DHS in the "Big Beautiful Bill" Republicans cut food assistance by $187 billion while providing $191 billion in funding for DHS
- Reposted by Bobby KoganJesus Christ.
- Killer report on why the "Big Beautiful Bill" was a disaster from Brendan (whom I yell at to post more on Bluesky about 3 times a week). When I worked at OMB, Brendan had basically the same job at NEC. Tons and tons of great stuff here.
- IMO, very important that House Ds ensure the Senate-negotiated deal becomes law so that, in two weeks, when Republicans ask for more money for DHS without any strings attached, we've given Ds the strongest leverage to reject that. It's a simple, straightforward acceptance/rejection of DHS policy.
- The funding deal provides us leverage to reject specifically this. If the Thune/Schumer deal is enacted, then two weeks from now all of the govt EXCEPT DHS will have funding. Ds must then reject even a penny more for DHS until we can guarantee an end to the madness.
- The guy who tried to end democracy when he lost is continuing to try to end democracy
- Trump: "These people were brought to our country to vote, & they vote illegally. The Republicans should say, we should take over the voting in at least 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that I won that show I didn't win. You're gonna see something in Georgia"
- Reposted by Bobby KoganForeign countries are bribing our president to sell out the American people. Trump family businesses made $187 MILLION from this deal, and just months later he gave the UAE some of our most top-secret AI tech. They are selling our national security to the highest bidder.
- Reposted by Bobby KoganTrump on his multiple suits against the federal government: "I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself ... We could make it a substantial amount, nobody would care, because it's gonna go to numerous, very good charities."
- Reposted by Bobby KoganFederal paramilitaries running up on the rooftops to fire irritants and flash bangs down into a peaceable assembly full of little kids
- “Unless the House descends into chaos” possibility is increasing Traditionally Rules was filled w/ supporters of the Speaker, but the crazies demanded they have enough members on Rules to tank stuff in exchange for backing Johnson (& McCarthy) as Speaker We stay in a 6-bill shutdown if this fails
- huh, would you look at that, elon on the island
- We're looking at a 6-bill shutdown that likely lasts until Monday unless the House descends into chaos. Upon enactment, all of the govt EXCEPT DHS will have full-year funding. DHS funding expires February 14 (tho ICE & CBP continue in a DHS shutdown). At that point, we will be fighting JUST on DHS.
- It's okay to hate me and think I'm wrong! Passion is appropriate because the stakes are monumental. The government is executing citizens, doing drive-by pepper sprays, beating up detained people, shoving the elderly, rounding people up. But we're all trying to figure out how best to make it stop.
- IMO this is key. The last shutdown ended because Ds got spooked when SNAP payments were in danger. Warnock, who'd been amazing on ACA payments said "how can I weigh health care against food?" By separating out DHS, we mute that. SSI and Section 8 won't be on the line. We're focused squarely on DHS.
- (1/3) Working to explain here: ICE and CBP continue to run during a shutdown. Because of OBBBA, they continue to run w/ pay. But even without OBBBA, they'd run w/out pay. That makes leverage weak, but not nothing. The funding deal splits off DHS from the other parts. This provides maximum leverage.
- My phenomenal colleague @citizenwillis.bsky.social is hiring. Will is one of the absolute best in the business for doing good stuff with data. Looking for a relatively recent grad. Someone who feels comfortable digging into things and playing with tons of info — and is committed to the cause.
- Graham’s ploy here is that if he can bribe other members with millions for themselves, maybe they’ll be happy with him also pocketing millions of dollars. Rampant corruption.
- Graham is digging in his heels to try to get millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Corruption in plain sight. Right now, the provision only applies to eight senators. Graham is offering to change the provision to also apply to the House & others — but he won’t accept not getting money for himself.
- To all the reporters out there, remember: we don’t shut down today. We shut down at midnight as Saturday begins, and the horses turn back into mice and the carriage becomes a pumpkin again.
- I will DIE on this hill! When the clock strikes midnight and the carriage turns back into a pumpkin, as Saturday begins, the government shuts down.
- No vote tonight on the funding deal because — and I am not making this up — Lindsey Graham was insisting on undoing this so he can personally enrich himself to the tune of millions in taxpayer dollars
- The funding deal separates DHS from the other bills. An immediate DHS shutdown would be preferable, but whether DHS runs on CR or lapses, ICE & CBP continue. This puts DHS by itself — setting up a DHS-only shutdown if we don’t get enough. That’s a place of maximum strength, if Ds have the courage.
- “If you’re struggling to buy a home it’s because you didn’t work very hard” is an insane thing to say
- Reposted by Bobby KoganThis judge says: - refugees must be released in the next 5 days - Returned to Minnesota. Not released onto the streets of Texas, which is what's been happening. - ICE must alert the refugees' lawyers so they aren't released into dangerous cold without someone to meet them
- REAKING: A federal judge in Minnesota has barred the Trump administration from arresting / detaining the state's 5,600 refugees while they await lawful permanent resident status. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
- Reposted by Bobby KoganDave Matthews and Tim Ryenolds playing Neil Young’s Ohio last night and ends with some Rage Against the Machine.
- Things are so bad I’m reposting Rand Paul
- Reposted by Bobby KoganScrolling through the photos of Pam Bondi's "Minnesota rioters," it's just hero after hero. Every photo includes a cowardly DHS agent with their back to the camera. Bondi thinks she's going to win the propaganda war with this shit, but it's never been more clear that they're losing.
- I am a broken record saying the foundation of society is food, shelter, and medical care. But actually the foundation is not having the government execute you for protecting your fellow citizens. Democrats owe it to the American people to use every ounce of their limited leverage to fight this.
- Funding the govt is one of the few "must-pass" bills that still exists. It's therefore one of the very few leverage points that Democrats have given that they don't control either chamber of Congress. Anything that keeps DHS going under the status quo gives up that leverage and allows more killings
