Former Fiscal Conservative Mike Johnson Considering Scheme to Expand Earmarks: "Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats to conservatives on government funding, warrantless spying on...

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats to conservatives on government funding, warrantless spying on Americans, and Ukraine aid, is reportedly setting his sights on expanding earmarks.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Johnson’s handpicked choice to take over the House Appropriations Committee after Rep. Kay Granger’s (R-TX) resignation in March, wants to “unlock the possibility of more earmarks,” Politico reports.

The outlet says Cole wants to expand the use of earmarks, specifically in the massive Labor-HHS-Education funding bill — the largest non-defense funding bill — a move that could unlock hundreds of millions in earmarks. The House did not allow earmarks in the funding bill in 2023.

Cole, in making clear his opinion, said Johnson would be the decider. “Wh**ever the speaker comes back with is what I’ll be supporting,” Cole said. ....

Johnson’s move also comes during widespread speculation regarding promises he may have made to Democrats to keep him safe if he brought Ukraine funding to the floor.

With Johnson running the show, Democrats are getting all the spoils of the majority without any of the responsibility.

Johnson made history by using Democrats to pass a procedural rule to bring Ukraine aid to the floor. More Democrats supported that rule than Republicans, meaning Democrats, despite being in the minority, set the agenda of the House floor.

House Republicans banned the practice of earmarking in 2011 after the Republican Tea Party takeover. The practice had long become associated with wasteful pork barrel spending, most exemplified by Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere.”

In practice, earmarks give leadership a powerful tool to coerce skeptical lawmakers to endorse massive multi-trillion dollar spending packages. Lawmakers are incentivized to look the other way and disregard the fiscal responsibility planks of their campaign platforms when their districts get a cut of the l**t.

The Appropriations Committee has little time to craft each of the twelve funding bills for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Congress did not finish the current fiscal year’s bill until late March, almost six months past the original deadline.

MY COMMENT: This is what happens when you have disfunctional leadership in charge!

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/04/22/former-fiscal-conservative-mike-johnson-considering-scheme-to-expand-earmarks/

Milosia2 Loc: Cleveland Ohio

ACP45 wrote:

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats to conservatives on government funding, warrantless spying on Americans, and Ukraine aid, is reportedly setting his sights on expanding earmarks.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Johnson’s handpicked choice to take over the House Appropriations Committee after Rep. Kay Granger’s (R-TX) resignation in March, wants to “unlock the possibility of more earmarks,” Politico reports.

The outlet says Cole wants to expand the use of earmarks, specifically in the massive Labor-HHS-Education funding bill — the largest non-defense funding bill — a move that could unlock hundreds of millions in earmarks. The House did not allow earmarks in the funding bill in 2023.

Cole, in making clear his opinion, said Johnson would be the decider. “Wh**ever the speaker comes back with is what I’ll be supporting,” Cole said. ....

Johnson’s move also comes during widespread speculation regarding promises he may have made to Democrats to keep him safe if he brought Ukraine funding to the floor.

With Johnson running the show, Democrats are getting all the spoils of the majority without any of the responsibility.

Johnson made history by using Democrats to pass a procedural rule to bring Ukraine aid to the floor. More Democrats supported that rule than Republicans, meaning Democrats, despite being in the minority, set the agenda of the House floor.

House Republicans banned the practice of earmarking in 2011 after the Republican Tea Party takeover. The practice had long become associated with wasteful pork barrel spending, most exemplified by Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere.”

In practice, earmarks give leadership a powerful tool to coerce skeptical lawmakers to endorse massive multi-trillion dollar spending packages. Lawmakers are incentivized to look the other way and disregard the fiscal responsibility planks of their campaign platforms when their districts get a cut of the l**t.

The Appropriations Committee has little time to craft each of the twelve funding bills for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Congress did not finish the current fiscal year’s bill until late March, almost six months past the original deadline.

MY COMMENT: This is what happens when you have disfunctional leadership in charge!

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/04/22/former-fiscal-conservative-mike-johnson-considering-scheme-to-expand-earmarks/

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats t... (show quote)

Shocking !

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

ACP45 wrote:

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats to conservatives on government funding, warrantless spying on Americans, and Ukraine aid, is reportedly setting his sights on expanding earmarks.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Johnson’s handpicked choice to take over the House Appropriations Committee after Rep. Kay Granger’s (R-TX) resignation in March, wants to “unlock the possibility of more earmarks,” Politico reports.

The outlet says Cole wants to expand the use of earmarks, specifically in the massive Labor-HHS-Education funding bill — the largest non-defense funding bill — a move that could unlock hundreds of millions in earmarks. The House did not allow earmarks in the funding bill in 2023.

Cole, in making clear his opinion, said Johnson would be the decider. “Wh**ever the speaker comes back with is what I’ll be supporting,” Cole said. ....

Johnson’s move also comes during widespread speculation regarding promises he may have made to Democrats to keep him safe if he brought Ukraine funding to the floor.

With Johnson running the show, Democrats are getting all the spoils of the majority without any of the responsibility.

Johnson made history by using Democrats to pass a procedural rule to bring Ukraine aid to the floor. More Democrats supported that rule than Republicans, meaning Democrats, despite being in the minority, set the agenda of the House floor.

House Republicans banned the practice of earmarking in 2011 after the Republican Tea Party takeover. The practice had long become associated with wasteful pork barrel spending, most exemplified by Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere.”

In practice, earmarks give leadership a powerful tool to coerce skeptical lawmakers to endorse massive multi-trillion dollar spending packages. Lawmakers are incentivized to look the other way and disregard the fiscal responsibility planks of their campaign platforms when their districts get a cut of the l**t.

The Appropriations Committee has little time to craft each of the twelve funding bills for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Congress did not finish the current fiscal year’s bill until late March, almost six months past the original deadline.

MY COMMENT: This is what happens when you have disfunctional leadership in charge!

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/04/22/former-fiscal-conservative-mike-johnson-considering-scheme-to-expand-earmarks/

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats t... (show quote)

Both parties love earmarks and both parties need their clocks cleaned.

Justice101

ACP45 wrote:

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats to conservatives on government funding, warrantless spying on Americans, and Ukraine aid, is reportedly setting his sights on expanding earmarks.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Johnson’s handpicked choice to take over the House Appropriations Committee after Rep. Kay Granger’s (R-TX) resignation in March, wants to “unlock the possibility of more earmarks,” Politico reports.

The outlet says Cole wants to expand the use of earmarks, specifically in the massive Labor-HHS-Education funding bill — the largest non-defense funding bill — a move that could unlock hundreds of millions in earmarks. The House did not allow earmarks in the funding bill in 2023.

Cole, in making clear his opinion, said Johnson would be the decider. “Wh**ever the speaker comes back with is what I’ll be supporting,” Cole said. ....

Johnson’s move also comes during widespread speculation regarding promises he may have made to Democrats to keep him safe if he brought Ukraine funding to the floor.

With Johnson running the show, Democrats are getting all the spoils of the majority without any of the responsibility.

Johnson made history by using Democrats to pass a procedural rule to bring Ukraine aid to the floor. More Democrats supported that rule than Republicans, meaning Democrats, despite being in the minority, set the agenda of the House floor.

House Republicans banned the practice of earmarking in 2011 after the Republican Tea Party takeover. The practice had long become associated with wasteful pork barrel spending, most exemplified by Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere.”

In practice, earmarks give leadership a powerful tool to coerce skeptical lawmakers to endorse massive multi-trillion dollar spending packages. Lawmakers are incentivized to look the other way and disregard the fiscal responsibility planks of their campaign platforms when their districts get a cut of the l**t.

The Appropriations Committee has little time to craft each of the twelve funding bills for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Congress did not finish the current fiscal year’s bill until late March, almost six months past the original deadline.

MY COMMENT: This is what happens when you have disfunctional leadership in charge!

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/04/22/former-fiscal-conservative-mike-johnson-considering-scheme-to-expand-earmarks/

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats t... (show quote)

Speaker Johnson is turning out to be the DemocRats' best friend. He obviously needs their support with the razor thin majority of the Republicans who can't coalesce like the other side does.

DAV

ACP45 wrote:

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats to conservatives on government funding, warrantless spying on Americans, and Ukraine aid, is reportedly setting his sights on expanding earmarks.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Johnson’s handpicked choice to take over the House Appropriations Committee after Rep. Kay Granger’s (R-TX) resignation in March, wants to “unlock the possibility of more earmarks,” Politico reports.

The outlet says Cole wants to expand the use of earmarks, specifically in the massive Labor-HHS-Education funding bill — the largest non-defense funding bill — a move that could unlock hundreds of millions in earmarks. The House did not allow earmarks in the funding bill in 2023.

Cole, in making clear his opinion, said Johnson would be the decider. “Wh**ever the speaker comes back with is what I’ll be supporting,” Cole said. ....

Johnson’s move also comes during widespread speculation regarding promises he may have made to Democrats to keep him safe if he brought Ukraine funding to the floor.

With Johnson running the show, Democrats are getting all the spoils of the majority without any of the responsibility.

Johnson made history by using Democrats to pass a procedural rule to bring Ukraine aid to the floor. More Democrats supported that rule than Republicans, meaning Democrats, despite being in the minority, set the agenda of the House floor.

House Republicans banned the practice of earmarking in 2011 after the Republican Tea Party takeover. The practice had long become associated with wasteful pork barrel spending, most exemplified by Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere.”

In practice, earmarks give leadership a powerful tool to coerce skeptical lawmakers to endorse massive multi-trillion dollar spending packages. Lawmakers are incentivized to look the other way and disregard the fiscal responsibility planks of their campaign platforms when their districts get a cut of the l**t.

The Appropriations Committee has little time to craft each of the twelve funding bills for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Congress did not finish the current fiscal year’s bill until late March, almost six months past the original deadline.

MY COMMENT: This is what happens when you have disfunctional leadership in charge!

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/04/22/former-fiscal-conservative-mike-johnson-considering-scheme-to-expand-earmarks/

"Johnson, after delivering crushing defeats t... (show quote)

It's ALL ABOUT MONEY.

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

Justice101 wrote:

Speaker Johnson is turning out to be the DemocRats' best friend. He obviously needs their support with the razor thin majority of the Republicans who can't coalesce like the other side does.

Exactly so.

"The House of Representatives on Saturday passed a more than $60 billion bill to provide military and economic aid to Ukraine.

A solid majority of Republicans v**ed against the bill, which passed by a 311-112 margin. 101 Republicans v**ed for it, and one Republican, Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, v**ed "present."

It was my understanding that there was an agreement among House Republicans that the Speaker would not move legislation that the majority opposed. Either I was wrong in that assumption, or the Speaker broke his agreement with his members.

Justice101

ACP45 wrote:

Exactly so. br br "The House of Representati... (show quote)

I would agree that the Speaker broke his agreement with his members. That's the reason we are seeing members of the Conservative caucus bringing up the Vacate the Chair v**e. However, that would be devastating to the Republican party for the upcoming e******n IMO.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Justice101 wrote:

I would agree that the Speaker broke his agreement with his members. That's the reason we are seeing members of the Conservative caucus bringing up the Vacate the Chair v**e. However, that would be devastating to the Republican party for the upcoming e******n IMO.

I agree. The speaker is in a horrible position with only a one v**e margin. Without the House, Senate, and Presidency nothing will change. The Senate has more RINO's percentage wise than the House.

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

JFlorio wrote:

I agree. The speaker is in a horrible position with only a one v**e margin. Without the House, Senate, and Presidency nothing will change. The Senate has more RINO's percentage wise than the House.

So, are you saying that it is better to have a Republican Speaker of the House, simply because he calls himself a Republican, even thought he follows the script of Democrats? Why should the public v**e "Republican" when there is no discernible difference? Does that not destroy the Republican brand?

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

ACP45 wrote:

So, are you saying that it is better to have a Republican Speaker of the House, simply because he calls himself a Republican, even thought he follows the script of Democrats? Why should the public v**e "Republican" when there is no discernible difference? Does that not destroy the Republican brand?

All he's done isn't bad. I don't disagree that he betrayed his base. Ousting him will look worse, cause more chaos, and cede even more power to anti-American Democrats. There are more republicans in congress who'd like to fund this Ukraine Russia War than those against. I say oust him after the e******n. Who would replace him that could get the v**es? Jordan? I wish. Not gonna happen.

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

JFlorio wrote:

All he's done isn't bad. I don't disagree that he betrayed his base. Ousting him will look worse, cause more chaos, and cede even more power to anti-American Democrats. There are more republicans in congress who'd like to fund this Ukraine Russia War than those against. I say oust him after the e******n. Who would replace him that could get the v**es? Jordan? I wish. Not gonna happen.

That makes sense. Another consideration, albeit, a remote one, is that the Speaker of the House is third in line of succession to the Presidency. Should the dummy in chief, and the cackling one somehow meet their maker, I would h**e to see Jeffries ascend to the presidency.