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Majority Again Kills Cohen Amendments to Prohibit Federal Spending at Trump-owned Businesses

July 17, 2018

Effort to Amend Interior & Financial Services Spending Bill Won’t Get a Floor Vote

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today expressed his frustration that, yet again, the House Majority has shot down his amendments prohibiting federal spending at Trump-owned businesses by federal government departments and agencies – this time, the Department of the Interior and federal banking and federal financial service regulators.

Additionally, Congressman Cohen offered an amendment to prohibit the IRS from destroying any tax returns or related documentation that could demonstrate that a company owned by or affiliated with President Trump has entered into financial arrangement or marketing agreement to compensate or enrich the President.

Congressman Cohen has sought to amend several other spending bills for the Fiscal Year that begins in October as well as a to a major spending bill last year. Each time, the House Majority has not permitted their consideration. He has pledged to introduce similar language as amendments to all the annual spending bills because he contends such spending violates that Constitution's anti-corruption provision prohibiting any president from receiving federal funds beyond his salary.

"My first duty is to protect and defend the Constitution, and that includes a 231-year-old provision prohibiting Presidents from receiving funds from the federal government beyond their salary."