GOP bill buries bombshell: only the rich could sue to stop Trump's abuses

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

June 2, 2025 4:38AM ET


A single paragraph buried deep in a spending bill that passed the GOP-controlled House of Representatives earlier this month is causing growing concern among democracy watchdogs who warn the provision will make it so only the well-to-do would be in a good position to launch legal challenges against a Trump administration that has shown over and over again its disdain and disregard for oversight or judicial restraint of any kind.

Coming just about half-way through what President Donald Trump has dubbed the Republican Party's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"—which progressive critics point out is a giant giveaway to the nation's wealthiest at the expense of the working class and the common good—the language in question is slight, but could have far-reaching impacts.

"This is what autocrats do. Consolidate power, increase the penalty for objecting, ultimately making it more difficult—eventually impossible—to challenge them." On Saturday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted in a detailed social media thread how the provision "hasn't gotten nearly enough scrutiny" from lawmakers or the public.

A recent piece by USA Today columnist Chris Brennan put it this way:

One paragraph, on pages 562 and 563 of the 1,116-page bill, raised alarms for reasons that have nothing to do with America's budget or safety-net programs or debt. That paragraph invokes a federal rule for civil court procedures, requiring anyone seeking an injunction or temporary restraining order to block an action by the Trump administration to post a financial bond. Want to challenge Trump? Pay up, the provision said in a way that could make it financially prohibitive for Americans to contest Trump's actions in court.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/gop-bill-buries-bombshell-only-the-rich-could-sue-to-stop-trumps-abuses/

[Dan]

1. Most of us are blaming Trump for the bad shit,

But we have to realize - it’s the whole GOP. From the GOP Congress, his enablers and his supporters. They wanted this - everyone of them should have bare the mark of shame.

[dchill]

6. This could not be more true. It bears repetition.

Trump IS the GOP. The GOP IS Trump.

[Evolve Dammit]

2. The rich just enjoy fucking us all. And wish we would die. I am thoroughly disgusted with the abuse. n/t

[I_UndergroundPanther]

17. The rich are sociopath parasites upon

Society and government or any organization they make toxic.
Time to face the facts and take that dewormer.

[Canada Kid]

3. Serious Shit

This is the actions of well-paid Republican legal teams doing their jobs well. They have analyzed in a very detailed and critical fashion the operations of all levels of government, and the writs and laws that exist in all facets of states and federal jurisdictions.
They have figured out how to put in place cleverly formed legal wording on pages 562 and 563 of the 1,116-page bill, that effectively blocks anyone from preventing the onslaught of Trump's twisting of the laws of the land to his vision. This has been quietly going on for years...having also had the ability to be on the "inside" during Trump's first term. Trump is merely a mouthpiece for an organization that operates in the shadows solely to take control of the country both financially and legally. This is a well-orchestrated and ongoing event that requires the same offsetting intensity from the "Democratic" side. Time is definitely of the essence...it is running out for the American people. The slope that the United Staes is sliding down may never be scaled again. It will take years to ever counter the damage being wrought right now.

[live love laugh]

21. The only thing I disagree with is that time is of the essence. They have spent decades studying

this. Trump’s first term he lazily gave them access to everything. The interim period between the two terms is when they were able to complete this during all those Maralago meetings. They even conducted unofficial foreign meetings. Only a miracle could quickly overcome this studied coup.

[WMDemocract]

4. This is how authoritarianism legalizes itself.

The GOP didn’t just bury a landmine in the bill — they engraved it in fine print and dared anyone poor to step on it. This is textbook tyranny: make it legal, make it expensive, and call it “process.”

Trump doesn’t want oversight. He wants immunity. And the only thing standing between him and total impunity is whether or not someone can afford a lawyer and a bond.

This isn’t just corruption. It’s a class war with court costs.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

18. Or a bunch of luigis

With really good aim.

[wryter2000]

5. This bill has to pass the Senate by budget reconciliation, doesn't it?

To avoid a filibuster, it has to pass by reconciliation. So, only budget things can be included. Stuff like this will have to be taken out. Then it will have to go back to the House to be rewritten so the two measures agree.

[markodochartaigh]

7. I think that you are correct.

I remember the Senate Parliamentarian stripping out provisions when President Biden was in office because those provisions weren't "financial".
I guess that that is a rule which only applies to Democratic administrations, like the filibuster.
Weren't both of these bypassed by Republicans on the recent California car emissions legislation?

[BumRushDaShow]

8. That's how it's supposed to work

but it seems Thune is about to blow that whole concept up (regarding the role of the Parliamentarian).

But yes - other than that - if the Senate changes the bill, it would need to go back to the House for debate and a vote (usually the Senate will send their version over as "An Amendment as a Substitute". And at that point, it can go back and forth...

-OR-

They can create a "Joint Conference Committee" with members from both chambers to hash out and agree to ONE BILL to present to their respective chambers for a vote (which is probably what might need to happen here).

[PSPS]

15. The parlimentarian already said this (and the 'can't enforce contempt orders' clause) were improper

But the republicans included them anyway, voting to ignore the parliamentarian, whose role is, apparently, merely advisory.

[mwmisses4289]

9. Thought there were already ops on this?

Like a couple of weeks ago?
Pay to play, I think some were calling it.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Since Congress has come back from it's break

and the Senate has the bill now, the references to some of the stuff in the bill are being brought up again.

[mwmisses4289]

11. Ah, that makes sense.

Didn't realize Congress had taken yet another taxpayer funded break. How many breaks do they take, all the while some of them claim that folks who work three jobs at minimum wage are lazy?

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Whenever there is a federal holiday

(and most are on Mondays), there will almost ALWAYS be a "District Work Period" scheduled that entire week where they are supposedly back home in their states/districts meeting with constituents and/or attending events, etc. Many actually go overseas on junkets during that time too.

[mwmisses4289]

13. (Imagine a decisive snort)🤨🙄

I don't know about your congress critters, but pretty sure most of ours either stayed in d.c. or went on a junket to Mexico or the Carribean or some other playground for the supposedly rich and famous. Working vacay, gotta get those rich donors lined up, ya know.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Well my Congressman had a stroke last year

so he has only been doing minimal travel but he has always been very very "local" (he came out of the state House after being there for over 35 years) so he goes around the district a lot hosting and attending events.

And my Senators? I think people are aware of the issue with Fetterman and the RW loon McCormick is a wealthy hedge fund manager who didn't even live in PA and just helicoptered in for the election, so we know what is going to happen there.

[Firestorm49]

16. " hasn't gotten enough scrutiny " ??? WHY!!!!

[DallasNE]

19. So, How Is This Legal?

Reconciliation measures are limited to fiscal issues. And to assure compliance a ruling from a Parliamentarian was necessary. When did that all go out the window?

[live love laugh]

20. This has been obvious to me already. It's Trump's MO.

At some point new laws will end this but it will take decades of hardship first.

[Baitball Blogger]

22. Probably not constitutional.

[FakeNoose]

23. Can't a bond be crowd-sourced?

Basically everything Chump does is crowd-sourcing ... he gets the MAGA cult to chip in and then he takes the money for himself.

[progressoid]

25. Who cares. The important issue in America is men playing in women's sports!!11!!