There is a lot of misinformation going around, and we need to be very careful that we only share what is verifiably true. Sharing of falsehoods or only partially true information leads to confusion and distrust, negatively affecting our overall mission. Our goal is and should always be effective communication and cooperation via reliable sources of information and openness.
So, on that note, let’s address the current rumors going around – and our next actions to defeat those that are, in fact, mostly true.
What has been disproven:
That aspects of this bill can or will end/delay elections.
The bill gives the government ability to track VPN communications.
What is partially true:
The part about courts not being able to use certain funds for holding Trump in contempt of court.
Why is this only PARTIALLY true?
The provision in the proposed budget reconciliation bill states: “No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order if no security was given when the injunction or order was issued pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c), whether issued prior to, on, or subsequent to the date of enactment of this section.”
What does this translate to?
The No Contempt Clause limits courts’ authority to hold government officials in contempt when they violate a court order.
But this next part is really important:
It does NOT fully eliminate contempt authority — not even close. In fact, the clause leaves a simple workaround in place that judges will likely use to hold the administration accountable in future cases.
In civil and criminal cases, judges sometimes require parties to post money called “bond” — or “security,” in the bill text above — to help ensure litigants follow court rulings. But in cases involving the federal government, a bond is rarely required.
Even if the No Contempt Clause passes, judges will still have the power to hold government officials accountable.
The requirement to secure a bond would create an extra step — but not an insurmountable barrier — for judges to charge officials with contempt of court. As Democracy Docket explains, “judges presiding over Trump-related lawsuits would still have the discretion to significantly minimize the bond amount — potentially to just $1 — when reissuing orders.”
In other words, judges hearing future cases could nullify the No Contempt Clause by requiring a token bond virtually any litigants can afford, and judges on currently active cases may be able to reissue recent orders to do the same.
It may not be the democracy-threatening masterstroke that some initially feared, but it’s still a reckless, anti-democratic ploy that needs to be stopped. And luckily, we have time left to stop it.
Unfortunately, a lot of House reps voted on this bill without actually reading it, and are now backtracking upon being confronted with it. “We didn’t know!” Well, it’s their job to know.
And it’s going to be OUR JOB to be absolutely certain the Senate knows EVERY nasty piece of this thing and rips it to shreds before the next version on their end.
Here are four actions you can take right now:
Email your senators to demand they speak out against this chaos-inducing attack on democracy. We need to get GOP senators on the record about this sneak-attack on checks and balances. https://act.indivisible.org/sign/senator-no-contempt-clause
Email your Republican representative and shame them for supporting the dangerous reconciliation bill without reading it thoroughly. House Republicans betrayed their constituents by voting to gut Medicaid, crush SNAP, and weaken the courts — all so Trump can gain more wealth and power. Let’s hold them accountable. https://act.indivisible.org/sign/no-cutting-programs-to-fund-handouts-to-billionaires/
Sign up for a phonebank to mobilize people in key states against the Republican reconciliation bill. Phonebank volunteers connect other folks directly to their Republican senators so they can voice their opposition to the dangerous megabill. Phonebanks are open each week in June to volunteers nationwide; all you need is a phone and a computer. https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/792462/
Join a No Kings protest on Saturday, June 14, to rally against Trump’s tyrannical power-grab. We’re gathering millions of Americans in thousands of places to remind the world what democracy looks like. Together, we’ll show the overwhelming resistance towards authoritarianism of all kinds — including this bid to sideline the courts. https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/786021/
We know things sounded really, really bad while this was making its way slowly and agonizingly through the House – but now that it’s in the Senate, and people’s eyes are being opened to the Big Beautiful Bill’s true ugly nature, the ball is back in our court.
We’ve got this. So let’s get back to work!
Hopefully we will see you this evening for Scrappy Hour or on the 7th for Snack-Luck Sign Making before the big day!