Trump: "Oh, you want some of this sweet bailout cash for your state? Cool. How many immigrants have you turned over to me this week?" Trump suggests federal bailout for states could hinge on sanctuary city policies https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/28/trump-states-bailout-sanctuary-cities-215507 President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested that state and local bailout money from the federal government could hinge on whether the immigration policies of the individual governments seeking relief align with Trump administration priorities. From skyrocketing health care expenses to the costs of an unprecedented economic shutdown, the coronavirus has imperiled state and local budgets across the country, prompting calls for federal relief. During an exchange with reporters on Tuesday, the president suggested he would be open to such a plan, but only for states economically impacted by coronavirus, not for problems “related for mismanagement over a long time.” Alongside Trump’s suggestion that states will have to look at sanctuary city policies, the president said a payroll tax cut would need to be part of any negotiation on a state and local bailout. “I think there's a big difference with a state that lost money because of covid and a state that's been run very badly for 25 years,” the president said during his meeting with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “There's a big difference, in my opinion. And you know, we’d have to talk about things like payroll tax cuts. We’d have to talk about things like sanctuary cities, as an example. I think sanctuary cities is something that has to be brought up where people who are criminals are protected, they are protected from prosecution.” He continued: “I think that has to be done. I think it’s one of the problems that the states have. I don’t even think they know they have a problem, but they have a big problem with the sanctuary situation.” (More at above url)
What's ridiculous is tying the idea of federal taxation to state bailouts, just as asinine as tying it to immigration.