cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/40763842
California governor made threat amid reports Trump is weighing huge federal funding cuts targeting state
Step 1. Lib governor makes an empty threat at GOP fascist president.
Step 2. GOP fascist president threats lib gov.
Step 3. Lib gov folds like a cheap suit.
Step 4. Libs lecture everybody that the lib gov planned to do something. Look, it was first step. You think you can win every battle? Of COURSE you can’t! Be patient. We’re gonna win this.
[The process will be repeated a few times in other states with lib govs.]
Step 36: California declares independence and invites the People’s Liberation Army to station troops on California soil to enforce that independence.
Maximum punishment of 5 years in prison and a fine of $100,000.
Gavin, just take the fall dude. I’ll just pardon you in 3 years.
How would this even work? Unless there’s some federal tax that passes through the state instead of going directly to the IRS, it’s not like Gruesome is even in a position to withhold payment, right?
Order businesses in the state to stop giving federal taxes or be shut down by force. Thats basically the only way to do that.
The only two things he could really do would be to stop deducting federal income taxes for state employees and shut down the ports.
If he was serious he’d shut down any business in CA that paid federal taxes but this is all a bluff anyways.
Aside from taxes there is a lot he could do to interfere with the federal government in the state but I doubt he would.
In a practical sense, the Federal Government seems to hold all the cards. The States don’t have any meaningful tools for intercepting federal tax funds.
Yeah it’s an empty threat.
