General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTold Ya, This Was A SCAM --- Border wall GoFundMe may need to issue refunds after millions raised
As of Thursday evening, 143,821 people had donated $8,742,182 toward Air Force veteran Brian Kolfages GoFundMe campaign, titled We the People Will Fund the Wall, just a little over three days after its launch.
The pledge drive aims to raise $1 billion to uphold our laws, and get this wall BUILT! Kolfage, a Purple Heart recipient who lost both legs and an arm in Iraq, wrote on the campaigns web page. Its up to Americans to help out and pitch in to get this project rolling.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a longtime proponent of tighter border security, hailed the vets impressive campaign, even as he expressed reservations about allowing private citizens to govern with their wallets.
I think its admirable, and I think that the country should respond, Goodlatte told The Post. Obviously, we cant let citizens raise money and say, The government will spend my money on this purpose.
According to the Treasury Department, general donations to the feds are directed to a Gifts to the United States fund, set aside for general use by the federal government or budget needs.
Specific federal agencies cant touch this funding without a congressional appropriation.
Some agencies can accept gifts directly for earmarked purposes, but it was not clear if the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the borders, was among them.
The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
Furthermore, GoFundMes terms of service prohibit not using funds for their stated purpose, meaning that if the DHS were unable to accept the windfall, Kolfage may have to reimburse his campaigns donors.
manor321
(3,344 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,748 posts)There is a complete disconnect regarding the reason behind why federal taxes are collected. The funds are used to pay for services in an organized fashion and not at the whim of a few nuts who want to "donate" for some cause.
manor321
(3,344 posts)WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)expenditures as being for the wall. Good luck.
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Never happen on Nancy's Watch - Which is a really good thing.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,324 posts)luvallpeeps
(935 posts)Asylum seekers family reunification.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)but the law specifies without conditions attached
CincyDem
(6,347 posts)...that's what corporations and fat cat donors are for. If, instead of raising this money to actually pay for the wall (excuse me while I roll on the floor laughing hysterically), they had raised 5 million dollars to donate to candidates inciting them to vote for the wall...well...THAT'S a horse of a different color !
Iggo
(47,547 posts)Iggo
(47,547 posts)Hmm.
Gothmog
(145,079 posts)KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)Ask the Koch brothers and Citizens united.
Progressive dog
(6,900 posts)you were right.
modrepub
(3,493 posts)Let's just unpack this a bit.
So this effort has raised $12.1M in 5 days or roughly $2.42M/day. Goal was $1.0B so at the current trajectory that would take 413 days or about 15 months. If they wanted to fund what Trump is asking for in the current budget, $5.0B, that would take 2,066 days or 5 1/2 years. If we use Homeland Security's wall estimate of $21.7B then that would take 8,967 days or 24 1/2 years if they could keep donations at their current pace.
For comparison's sake the State of Delaware's latest budget was for $4.1B. For Idaho it was $3.5B.
Takket
(21,552 posts)and the House can pass an appropriations bill designating all the money from the GFM be provided as additional funding for Planned Parenthood.