• witten@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    The states do pay taxes to the federal government. States are some of the largest employers, and they pay federal payroll taxes. Those could be withheld.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      No court would uphold that.

      Further, virtually all these state accounting and payroll systems are privatized. States don’t pay federal payroll taxes. Officials simply administer contracts to private firms that handle payroll and deductions. And you’re not going to like who the managers of these mega-accounting and payroll management companies supported in 2024.

      What you’re asking these officials to do is issue an obviously illegal order to a subordinate who will simply ignore them and report them to the IRS for prosecution.

      • witten@lemmy.world
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        33 minutes ago

        No court would uphold the federal government, and specifically the executive branch, withholding congressionally appropriated funds destined to states. And yet here we are.