Before leaving town for two weeks, Congress caused quite a stir. The House and Senate passed a $1.2 trillion spending package that funds six of twelve government agencies for an entire year. The first six agencies were funded in the bill – HR 4366 – that was passed the first week in March. Conservative Republicans were pushed to the breaking point by the fact that the package contained little more than Pelosi-era policies and they were given a mere 36 hours to read thousands of pages of legislative text before voting. Frustration at House Leadership was the natural reaction. However, the blame lies at least partially elsewhere.
Minutes after the spending bill was passed, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to vacate the Speaker’s Chair. This is the same procedural move that ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and resulted in weeks of infighting, failed votes, and resignations last fall. After receiving sharp criticism from colleagues and the public for potentially throwing the House into chaos once again, Rep. Greene softened her stance by categorizing her move as a “warning” and not an imminent action.
Even though firing Kevin McCarthy and replacing him with Mike Johnson resulted in a Speaker with a more conservative voting record, it is important to remember that the job of Speaker is a unique one. The office was established in 1789 by Article I, Section II, of the U.S. Constitution, although the Constitution does not define the Speaker’s duties. The Speaker is not only the de facto leader of the House’s majority party but is also the administrative head. It is both a political and parliamentary role.
Politically, the job of unifying Republicans from across the ideological spectrum, each with personal agendas, is not easy. It becomes even more difficult with just a tiny majority. If a few Republicans decide to oppose “must pass” legislation such as the government spending bill, the Speaker must weigh the options available — start the drafting process over, let the bill lapse (in this case, allow the government to shut down), or negotiate with Democrats to get the bill across the finish line. With Congress days away from the funding deadline and Senate Republicans refusing to back a government shutdown or insist upon real border security language, Congressional Democrats and the President had the upper hand in negotiations. A lack of unity by House Republicans forced the Speaker to bring up a bill that could get some Democrat votes.
The issues that prompted Rep. Greene’s latest motion to vacate are similar to those that caused some conservatives to vote to oust McCarthy. Once again, the Speaker was moving a spending package loaded with leftist policies and lacking strong measures to secure the border. It was being rushed through without ample time for Members to read the bill or offer amendments. Sadly, this scenario is too common and conservatives are rightly fed up.
Filing a motion to vacate (fire) the Speaker could very well be short-sighted, upend the Republicans’ slim majority, and even depress the chances of keeping the majority after November’s elections. Rep. Greene is well-known for her bold tactics that gain a lot of media attention, even though she did not support getting rid of Speaker McCarthy in September. However, the motivation behind this action should not be ignored. Conservatives are tired of Republican Leadership and colleagues only giving lip service to fiscal discipline and ignoring the social issues that are tearing our communities apart. Passing yet another bill that adds trillions to the national debt while the American people suffer from inflation and high taxes is the norm. Complaining about crime and drugs from Biden’s open border policy but refusing to curb the Administration in any real sense is hypocritical. It seems like important issues are being negotiated away too quickly.
On the other hand, the House Freedom Caucus — the most conservative members in Congress — is not a majority of the GOP conference and can’t deliver enough votes to call the shots. What we end up with too frequently are situations where Republicans are pointing fingers at each other rather than exposing the root of the problem — the far-left policies supported by the Biden Administration and almost all Congressional Democrats. The President is driving our economy further into debt, keeping our borders open, and attacking Americans in countless ways, from dictating the cars we drive to forcing our military to pay for abortions and genital mutilation. There is no evidence that Senate Republican Leadership supported any conservative policies during the negotiations, resulting in a tough hand for Speaker Johnson.
Amidst all the spending bill drama last week, another House Republican announced an early resignation. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), who has expressed his frustrations with his own party, said his last day would be April 19th. Wisconsin law prohibits special elections after the second Tuesday in April, so if Rep. Gallagher cannot be convinced by his colleagues to leave earlier, his seat will remain unfilled for the rest of the year. With Rep. Ken Buck’s (R-CO) recent departure, this gives Republicans only a one-vote majority until the Colorado seat is filled.
It’s no secret that the Republican conference is in turmoil. But as Winston Churchill said, we must never, never, never give up. We should continue to put pressure on our elected officials to find consensus around issues that protect our nation, the economy, and especially our families. We must increase the number of conservatives in Congress so that real pro-family reforms can be enacted. Get involved in your local area by volunteering for a campaign, working at the polls, or becoming a delegate the to National Convention.
Most importantly, donate today to Eagle Forum PAC. Eagle Forum PAC is currently vetting the best candidates around the nation and endorsing them in races where our support can make a difference. Whether you live in a district with a conservative candidate or not, your contribution will help us increase our numbers and make a real difference. Donate TODAY!