Note: This article may contain commentary reflecting the author's opinion.
On Tuesday, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) joined 13 other brave Republicans who threatened to stop Senate Republican priorities if they voted for an upcoming omnibus spending package currently being considered in the Senate.
The letter, which is signed by congressmen like Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), outlined the dangers of the $1.7 trillion bill. Democrats are attempting to force through the legislation before the start of the new Congress so that the Republican caucus can’t outline the fiscal budget for 2023. House Republicans attempted to make that message clear to Republican Senators in their letter.
“We urge you to take all steps necessary to stop the soon-to-be finalized omnibus spending bill negotiated with Democrats,” the letter began. “At the very least, due respect for Americans who elected us would call for not passing a ‘lame duck’ spending bill just days before Members fly home for Christmas and two weeks before a new Republican majority is sworn in for the 118th Congress. Senate Republicans have the 41 votes necessary to stop this and should do so now and show the Americans who elected you that they weren’t wrong in doing so.”
What the Democrats are attempting to achieve is unprecedented especially in a “lame duck” session of Congress, per Breitbart. According to The Heritage Foundation, “control of the House has changed hands in four midterm election cycles (1994, 2006, 2010, and 2018). Never before has the outgoing House majority passed an omnibus appropriations bill during the lame-duck session following the election.”
The congressmen, and the expected next Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, agreed with this sentiment and outlined that the passing of the omnibus would prove to be an attack on the American people.
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“This slated ‘omnibus spending bill’ is an indefensible assault on the American people. It is an assault on the separation of powers. It is an assault on fiscal responsibility. It is an assault on basic civic decency,” they wrote, emphasizing that “a vote for any omnibus in the remaining days of a Democrat-led government is a vote in favor of that assault. As such, we urge you to oppose this bill completely and to refrain from entertaining any spending bill that extends beyond the first few months of the 118th Congress.”
The Republicans then emphasized that if Republican senators pass the omnibus, then House Republicans would do everything in their power to stop their legislative priorities from getting a vote in the lower chamber of Congress. McCarthy tweeted his support for the idea adding that “their bills will be dead on arrival.”
“Further, we are obliged to inform you that if any omnibus passes in the remaining days of the Congress, we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for this bill – including the Republican leader,” the letter stated, emphasizing that they would even be willing to halt priorities from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). We will oppose any rule, any consent request, suspension voice vote, or roll call vote of any such Senate bill, and will otherwise do everything in our power to thwart even the smallest legislative and policy efforts of those senators.”
“Americans are yearning for an end to the destructive status quo in Washington,” the letter concluded. “If Senate Republicans refuse to give the House Republican majority the opportunity to take the pen on FY23 appropriations to enact fiscal restraint and check the Biden administration’s assault on the American people, then what purpose is there to the Republican party outside of an urge for more power, the perpetuation of grift, and show hearings?”
Senate Republicans should not pass this $1.7 trillion spending package. House Republicans deserve a say in how money is appropriated to the Biden administration and it would be a disservice to voters to not allow a new appropriations bill to be drafted in the next Congress.
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On Tuesday, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) joined 13 other brave Republicans who threatened to stop Senate Republican priorities if they voted for an upcoming omnibus spending package currently being considered in the Senate.
The letter, which is signed by congressmen like Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), outlined the dangers of the $1.7 trillion bill. Democrats are attempting to force through the legislation before the start of the new Congress so that the Republican caucus can’t outline the fiscal budget for 2023. House Republicans attempted to make that message clear to Republican Senators in their letter.
“We urge you to take all steps necessary to stop the soon-to-be finalized omnibus spending bill negotiated with Democrats,” the letter began. “At the very least, due respect for Americans who elected us would call for not passing a ‘lame duck’ spending bill just days before Members fly home for Christmas and two weeks before a new Republican majority is sworn in for the 118th Congress. Senate Republicans have the 41 votes necessary to stop this and should do so now and show the Americans who elected you that they weren’t wrong in doing so.”
What the Democrats are attempting to achieve is unprecedented especially in a “lame duck” session of Congress, per Breitbart. According to The Heritage Foundation, “control of the House has changed hands in four midterm election cycles (1994, 2006, 2010, and 2018). Never before has the outgoing House majority passed an omnibus appropriations bill during the lame-duck session following the election.”
The congressmen, and the expected next Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, agreed with this sentiment and outlined that the passing of the omnibus would prove to be an attack on the American people.
REP JAMES COMER CALLS FOR DISMANTLING THE FBI, INVESTIGATING FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE
“This slated ‘omnibus spending bill’ is an indefensible assault on the American people. It is an assault on the separation of powers. It is an assault on fiscal responsibility. It is an assault on basic civic decency,” they wrote, emphasizing that “a vote for any omnibus in the remaining days of a Democrat-led government is a vote in favor of that assault. As such, we urge you to oppose this bill completely and to refrain from entertaining any spending bill that extends beyond the first few months of the 118th Congress.”
The Republicans then emphasized that if Republican senators pass the omnibus, then House Republicans would do everything in their power to stop their legislative priorities from getting a vote in the lower chamber of Congress. McCarthy tweeted his support for the idea adding that “their bills will be dead on arrival.”
“Further, we are obliged to inform you that if any omnibus passes in the remaining days of the Congress, we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for this bill – including the Republican leader,” the letter stated, emphasizing that they would even be willing to halt priorities from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). We will oppose any rule, any consent request, suspension voice vote, or roll call vote of any such Senate bill, and will otherwise do everything in our power to thwart even the smallest legislative and policy efforts of those senators.”
“Americans are yearning for an end to the destructive status quo in Washington,” the letter concluded. “If Senate Republicans refuse to give the House Republican majority the opportunity to take the pen on FY23 appropriations to enact fiscal restraint and check the Biden administration’s assault on the American people, then what purpose is there to the Republican party outside of an urge for more power, the perpetuation of grift, and show hearings?”
Senate Republicans should not pass this $1.7 trillion spending package. House Republicans deserve a say in how money is appropriated to the Biden administration and it would be a disservice to voters to not allow a new appropriations bill to be drafted in the next Congress.
You Can Follow Sterling on Twitter Here