Any and every “Republican” who votes for the massive, 2,741-page Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 2741, needs a primary opponent. This bill, as we explained elsewhere on today’s CHQ is “the epitome of everything that is wrong with Congress.”
As usual – the omnibus has become a freight train loaded with anti-conservative pork and policy.
So, why would Republicans vote for a monstrosity they haven’t even read?
Simple, some of them are in on it.
FLASH: Pelosi rushed the vote late last night. Here's a link to the roll call and the 39 "Republicans" who voted for it. More tomorrow...
As our friends at Americans for Limited Government explained, “This legislation was jointly negotiated by the House and Senate, and unless Senate Republican leadership proves otherwise by opposing it, it will represent a complete capitulation by the Senate GOP on the only legislation they have leverage over because it requires 60 votes for passage.”
Back in 2018 our friend Mark Meadows, then Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, observed that many politicians campaign as fighters of limited government; however, they often fight for liberal causes when arriving at Capitol Hill.
The then-House Freedom Caucus chairman argued, “Sometimes you will find that people will campaign one way and then act another way once they get here to office. Some people like to campaign like a conservative and legislate like a progressive.”
And as our friend Daniel Horowitz pointed out, Republicans have the votes to block the omnibus bill in the Senate. Technically, they even have a majority, because Democrat Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.) is on medical leave. But right now there is no indication that the Senate’s GOP leadership will organize opposition to the bill.
To that we can only say, “It’s the primaries, stupid.”
Heritage Action, the conservative advocacy group and the sister organization of the Heritage Foundation, said it will use lawmakers' votes on the $1.5 trillion spending package on its scorecard that tracks how often lawmakers vote in line with conservative policies.
FreedomWorks has announced it is “key voting” the bill and will count a yes vote against members in their annual scorecard.
NumbersUSA is scoring against the bill on their scorecard.
CNP Action has come out against the bill.
Citizens for Renewing America has come out against the bill, saying, “The omnibus continues the Biden administration’s war on American energy independence amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the looming threat of communist China. The bill maintains funding for policies that freeze oil and gas development and permitting, stagnate liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits, discontinue the development of key pipelines such as Keystone XL, and perpetuate a green energy charade that is costly, unreliable, and empowers our enemies in Moscow and Beijing.”
We urge CHQ readers to call the toll-free Capitol Switchboard (1-866-220-0044) to ask for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Tell Rep. McCarthy and Sen McConnell that if they want to elect a Republican majority in Congress there should be no Republican votes for a $1.5 trillion, 2,700+ page Consolidated Appropriations bill that no one has read.
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Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 2741
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