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Subscribe to RSSFour House Republicans have been stripped of their committee seats after it was determined by the Republican conference that they were "not team players," a GOP leadership aide told NBC News.
The decision made Monday during a meeting of the Republican Steering Committee strips Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Walter Jones (R-NC) of their seats on the Financial Services Committee, and Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI) and Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) of their seats on the House Budget Committee.
The decision to take the committee seats away from Schweikert, Amash and Huelskamp has transformed into a mini-battle between conservatives and the Republican leadership establishment, with Schweikert's office saying his removal was a result of his "voting based on principle."
"This morning Congressman Schweikert learned there was a price to be paid for voting based on principle. That price was the removal from the House Financial Services Committee," Schweikert's Communications Director Rachel Semmel told NBC News in a statement, "We are obviously disappointed that Leadership chose to take this course, but Rep. Schweikert remains committed to fighting for the conservative principles that brought him here."
Reps Amash and Huelskamp caught flak from Republican leadership after they voted against the Republican budget during a vote to move the bill from the Budget Committee to a full vote of the House. As a result the bill made it through committee by only one vote.
When the Republican budget was voted on by the full House, Amash, Huelskamp and Jones were among a small group of Republicans who voted against it, saying it did not go far enough to cut the federal deficit.
House Republican leadership aides say the assertion by Schweikert's office that the move is a reflection of his voting record is "absurd."
"These guys are clearly not team players. This isn't about ideology; this is about how you treat the people on your team," a GOP leadership aide told NBC News, "Paul Ryan is one of the most conservative-principled members of our conference, and he kept his committee assignment."
Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), responded by saying, "The Steering Committee makes decisions based on a range of factors."
Schweikert is known for ruffling feathers within the Republican conference. In July, Schweikert was removed from the GOP "Whip team," which is responsible for gathering votes to pass bills, because he voted against a bill he was telling members to vote for, according to a Politico report.
The fight has spilled outside of Capitol Hill, with the conservative group Club for Growth calling the move "a consequence of their principled stands on behalf of pro-growth policies, often bringing them in conflict with the leadership of their own party."
"Congressmen Schweikert, Huelskamp, and Amash are now free of the last remnants of establishment leverage against them," Club for Growth President Chris Chocola said in a statement. "We expect that these three defenders of economic freedom will become even bolder in their efforts to defend the taxpayers against the big spenders in both parties."
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I hope this is an indicator that the GOP are finally going to get serious about our country and how they can serve it best. If they don't I'm sure we will see a lot of new faces in congress after the next elections.
I hope this is an indicator that the GOP are finally going to get serious about our country and how they can serve it best. If they don't I'm sure we will see a lot of new faces in congress after the next elections.
It seems to this observer that the fear of the Tea Party's, "My way or you are history," is the driving force behind this inane political wrangle. Point in case: Eliminate dissent within the party...dissent is one of the freedoms the original teapartiers embraced and utilized to illustrate their devotion to American values. The Tea Partiers of today cannot be compared to the noble, committed, and respected Tea Partiers of yore who worked toward the enabling of human values for all. Don't let this baseless power source short circuit the citizenry of the United States and The Grand Old Party. The Wealth of American economics is not in the wealth of individuals. They would not be wealthy if it were not for the workers and middle American sense of industry. Even as they die, their companies forge forward utilizing the backs of the men and women upon whose backs these companies were birthed. The Fords, the Penneys, the Trumps, The Romneys ..., ...will fade from the scene, but the industries they have helped to create will continue to showcase the value and tenacity of American workers.
Freedom of thought is not acceptable by these people
Hate to say it, but it sounds like the Republican party's approach of "you will do as we tell your or else" continues on. I think there are a few people in the party who are logical and rational, but the T.P. takeover unfortunately still rules-"either you think exactly as we want you to-or else". That is not good for their party and most importantly-our great Country/People.
Committee chairmanships are 'gifts' to keep members in tow. Ask Romney, he knows about freebies
Maybe they should make Republicans a "Right To Vote" Party. Then members would be free to express their views on issues without fear of being stripped of their positions. Sounds lame when applied to Republicans for not marching in lockstep with the leadership, but it's "good for the state/country" when the same logic is dumped on unions to kiss the collective butts of big business and bigger government. Putting a name on something that's the complete opposite of its function is still able to fool some people. The Republican party is still the master of this bait and switch game. I hope the deposed members and their fellow Republicans who actually have the guts and morals they espouse, break with the leadership and begin voting like grown ups. You shouldn't be punished for doing your job as you see fit, which is what they were elected to do in the first place. Sad to see this once proud party brought down by these self-serving demi-gods.