6 ms·

> Mulvaney put a hold on much agency work when he took over in November, and said it would last at least 30 days to give him a chance to understand the job. Ye

> Mulvaney put a hold on much agency work when he took over in November, and said it would last at least 30 days to give him a chance to understand the job. Yes, I too routinely shut down entire departments when I'm put in charge of them. Just long enough so I can get a handle on things, you know. Perfectly reasonable behavior.

Avshalom 9y ago
and just a reminder: he went to court to take this job from some one who already knew what she was doing.
- ceejayoz 9y ago
  He also requested this year's [edit: sorry, quarter] operating funds be $0. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/mulvaney-funding-consumer-bureau-cordray-345495 https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/mulvaney-funding-c...
  - jkestner 9y ago
    Not exactly - just for the quarter. "Mulvaney wrote that the bureau has $177 million in the bank, enough to cover the $145 million the bureau has budgeted for its second quarter."
    - ceejayoz 9y ago
      Thanks, you're right. I've edited.
    - Avshalom 9y ago
      it's unfortunately not the top response to jeremy but apparently no they don't have 177 million in the bank.
  - jeremyt 9y ago
    The misinformation here is ridiculous. The operating budget request for zero dollars was because they collected so much in fines last year that it will pay the entire year’s budget.
    - craftyguy 9y ago
      [citation needed]
    - bloorp 9y ago
      The next time you get a speeding ticket, ask yourself if you want public institutions to be financed by fees and fines.
      - notyourwork 9y ago
        Why?
        thaumaturgy 9y ago
        It creates perverse incentives (ex. http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/investigates/exclusive-judge-says-he-quit-over-speeding-ticket-quota/148865111 http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/investigates/exclusive-judge-..., https://www.caranddriver.com/features/town-without-pity https://www.caranddriver.com/features/town-without-pity), even more so than taxes, which typically have multiple layers of oversight on spending. Unlike taxes, fines and fees in the US are not adjusted for income, so they hurt poorer people much more than wealthier people (ex. http://time.com/3182726/if-you-want-to-see-inequality-in-the-u-s-at-its-worst-visit-an-impound-lot/ http://time.com/3182726/if-you-want-to-see-inequality-in-the...). If you're already struggling financially, being forced to pony up 30% of this month's net revenue just to keep some public agency afloat so it can fine and fee more people later is the kind of bad break that kills people (https://www.thecut.com/2016/12/america-is-failing-the-bad-break-test-and-people-are-dying.html https://www.thecut.com/2016/12/america-is-failing-the-bad-br...). It's cruel and unjust and it has no place in America.
        ceejayoz 9y ago
dragonwriter 9y ago
Well, in Mulvaney’s other job n the administration, he's also advocated CFPB be disbanded, so when he talks about understanding the job, it's about understanding how to dismantle it entirely, not how to do it effectively.
- chaostheory 9y ago
  outsidetheparty can correct me, but I feel that outsidetheparty forgot to end their comment with a /s
  - asciimo 9y ago
    My sarcasm detection browser extension predicts 96% probability of sarcasm in the comment.
    - chaostheory 9y ago
      Sure, I don't doubt your ability but have you read the responses? It doesn't seem like they realize it was sarcasm.
  - outsidetheparty 9y ago
    No, no, it's absolutely true: literally every time I personally have been put in charge of a major department or agency, the very first thing I do is just, you know, lock the doors for a month or so. Let the place have a good airing out. Everyone can come back to the office fresh once I've had a good look around, picked my chair, found out where the best coffee machine is... you know how it is
- sangnoir 9y ago
  Same story at the EPA and other agencies. I believe the agenda was summarized as "deconstruction of the administrative state".
  - Crontab 9y ago
    Agreed. The only thing Trump didn't do was appoint a pacifist as Secretary of Defense.
justaguyhere 9y ago
Majority of the voters probably don't understand the severity of the situation or just don't care. This is what gives the courage for politicians and bureaucrats to pull shenanigans like this.
NelsonMinar 9y ago
The GOP has been out to destroy the CFPB since the day it was started. This is them winning.
koolba 9y ago
Sure if you don't think the department should exist, or at least not exist in the with the same scope or scale as before. Being in charge of something doesn't mean you have to be a proponent of expanding it or even maintaining it in its current form. Being in charge for a dismantling is common place as well.

Avshalom 9y ago

and just a reminder: he went to court to take this job from some one who already knew what she was doing.

ceejayoz 9y ago
He also requested this year's [edit: sorry, quarter] operating funds be $0. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/mulvaney-funding-consumer-bureau-cordray-345495 https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/mulvaney-funding-c...
- jkestner 9y ago
  Not exactly - just for the quarter. "Mulvaney wrote that the bureau has $177 million in the bank, enough to cover the $145 million the bureau has budgeted for its second quarter."
  - ceejayoz 9y ago
    Thanks, you're right. I've edited.
  - Avshalom 9y ago
    it's unfortunately not the top response to jeremy but apparently no they don't have 177 million in the bank.
- jeremyt 9y ago
  The misinformation here is ridiculous. The operating budget request for zero dollars was because they collected so much in fines last year that it will pay the entire year’s budget.
  - craftyguy 9y ago
    [citation needed]
  - bloorp 9y ago
    The next time you get a speeding ticket, ask yourself if you want public institutions to be financed by fees and fines.
    - notyourwork 9y ago
      Why?
      - thaumaturgy 9y ago
        It creates perverse incentives (ex. http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/investigates/exclusive-judge-says-he-quit-over-speeding-ticket-quota/148865111 http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/investigates/exclusive-judge-..., https://www.caranddriver.com/features/town-without-pity https://www.caranddriver.com/features/town-without-pity), even more so than taxes, which typically have multiple layers of oversight on spending. Unlike taxes, fines and fees in the US are not adjusted for income, so they hurt poorer people much more than wealthier people (ex. http://time.com/3182726/if-you-want-to-see-inequality-in-the-u-s-at-its-worst-visit-an-impound-lot/ http://time.com/3182726/if-you-want-to-see-inequality-in-the...). If you're already struggling financially, being forced to pony up 30% of this month's net revenue just to keep some public agency afloat so it can fine and fee more people later is the kind of bad break that kills people (https://www.thecut.com/2016/12/america-is-failing-the-bad-break-test-and-people-are-dying.html https://www.thecut.com/2016/12/america-is-failing-the-bad-br...). It's cruel and unjust and it has no place in America.
      - ceejayoz 9y ago

dragonwriter 9y ago

Well, in Mulvaney’s other job n the administration, he's also advocated CFPB be disbanded, so when he talks about understanding the job, it's about understanding how to dismantle it entirely, not how to do it effectively.

chaostheory 9y ago
outsidetheparty can correct me, but I feel that outsidetheparty forgot to end their comment with a /s
- asciimo 9y ago
  My sarcasm detection browser extension predicts 96% probability of sarcasm in the comment.
  - chaostheory 9y ago
    Sure, I don't doubt your ability but have you read the responses? It doesn't seem like they realize it was sarcasm.
- outsidetheparty 9y ago
  No, no, it's absolutely true: literally every time I personally have been put in charge of a major department or agency, the very first thing I do is just, you know, lock the doors for a month or so. Let the place have a good airing out. Everyone can come back to the office fresh once I've had a good look around, picked my chair, found out where the best coffee machine is... you know how it is
sangnoir 9y ago
Same story at the EPA and other agencies. I believe the agenda was summarized as "deconstruction of the administrative state".
- Crontab 9y ago
  Agreed. The only thing Trump didn't do was appoint a pacifist as Secretary of Defense.

justaguyhere 9y ago

Majority of the voters probably don't understand the severity of the situation or just don't care. This is what gives the courage for politicians and bureaucrats to pull shenanigans like this.

NelsonMinar 9y ago

The GOP has been out to destroy the CFPB since the day it was started. This is them winning.

koolba 9y ago

Sure if you don't think the department should exist, or at least not exist in the with the same scope or scale as before. Being in charge of something doesn't mean you have to be a proponent of expanding it or even maintaining it in its current form. Being in charge for a dismantling is common place as well.