Just another spiteful act from an administration that crawled out the door while doing as much damage as it could. From attacking Israel at the UN, to bashing Cuban refugees to assorted regulations and bans, this was not a bunch willing to give up power without a fight.
Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking.
A State Department official and several congressional aides said the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday. The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office.
That's the procedure you follow when you know that you are doing something wrong.
In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said. The aides and the State Department official weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
Funding terrorism, warmunism and the UN. That sums up the foreign policy priorities of the left.
Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least two GOP lawmakers — Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations.
It's malicious, but not especially smart, since moves like these will only further alienate Trump's people. But extremists prioritize this brand of vandalism and misappropriation of funds over moderation and compromise.