<< For rejecting GOP’s attempt to limit courts’ contempt powers >>
WHY IT MATTERS
This ruling concerns the requirement in Trump's "great big" bill for anyone suing the federal government to pay a bond before a court would be allowed to use its contempt power to enforce injunctions and other rulings. Described by some as a "pay to play" provision that would cripple the ability of all but the wealthiest sponsors to take action against the government.
MacDonough ruled against the provision that would have made it significantly more difficult for courts to enforce contempt findings against the Trump administration on the basis that it would have violated the Senate’s rules governing what can be passed with a simple-majority vote.
As Senate parliamentarian, MacDonough has a critical task to protect parliamentary procedure - and may well be one of the last lines of defence that we have in America against the breaking of constitutional rules that might otherwise usher in the dismantling or erosion of our democracy.
Some may reasonably argue that we should not be celebrating somebody for merely doing their job - but - right now (and this we must change) - it is not uncommon for many of our representatives in government NOT to o their jobs in order to avoid (see story concerning republican senator Lisa Ann Murkowski tells us that "retaliation is real"
So - We applaud non-partisan MacDonough for doing her job!
