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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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So, 4 Tea Party kiddies in the House got sent to their room without their supper..
GOOD!!
There is nothing worse on the planet than a welfared up teabagger whining about guvment spending and controlled healthcare...think medicare, SS, medcaid, tricare and guvment pensions...they think they earned their beenies and the rest of us are a bunch of socialists for paying for it...welfare queens indeed
Duh..of course Paul Ryan got to keep his seat!!! I love how the aide said that, as if proving a point...
And so the cannibalism begins -- they are starting to eat their own.
This is an example of the "Lord of the Flies" principle. The Republicans are turning on each other rather than dealing with realities.
There are several more that need to go too. These extremists don't work for the country they are ideologues that have no concept of the big picture. The support from the Club for Growth just proves that they are Congressional terrorists. That Gomer Representative from Texas needs to get out too and get some psychological treatment and medication.
"Bonehead Boehner" is a either a "Closet Communist" or worse a "Stalinist." He has his new diaper strapped on, and he has been crying for days. After he has stopped his massive temper tantrums. Now he is running around his GOP/Tea Begger "House Of Hoodlum's" with his "Stalinist Whip." Now every morning the Tea Begger "Zombies" love to Goose Step in the basement, and burn all books written by minorities. The Tea Beggers then develop lists who do not belong to their House message of 'obstructionism,' and 'distruction.' In the basement of the GOP/Tea Begger "House Of Hoodlum's." The Tea Beggers have the Torture Chamber set up by "Chump-Change-Cheney. Where Water Boarding of those who speak up will be 'sunk.' In one of many quietrooms. "Crazy Cantor" is still dancing around with rotten tea bags hanging off his ears. His job is to enforce the 'distruction' of all those who believe in Freedom Of Speech, Freedom Of Choice, and Freedom of Expression. "Bonehead Boehner" has made it clear! All Tea Beggers must fall in line, obey, or they with "Politically Die!"
Conservatives are now hysterical enough that they are eating their own. I have seen liberals do the same thing.
The GOP needs to get rid of the Tea Baggers before they destroy their own party.
It looks as if Beohner is firing the first major shot in the effort for Republicans to try to take their party back from the extremists that have cost them dearly in the last two elections. Yes, the Tea Party helped them win back the House, but it cost them any chance they had of winning the Senate or the presidency. This action says that Beohner appears to realize that gridlock doesn't work for Republicans and he'll do what it takes to prevent another two years of the same. It will be interesting to see if that philosophy carries over into negotiation with the Democrats over the fiscal cliff.
Children and childish at play.
YES FOLKS! This is proof that these REPUKES create and sign into LAWS, BILLS that are not OF the PEOPLE, For the PEOPLE, By the PEOPLE.
They are voting LAWS for their own PARTY what is BEST for THEM and only THEM. That means they are writing LAWS that protect the CRONIES and the TOP of any CAPITAL COMMUNIST.
WOW! this CULTURE in our GOVERNMENT is NO LONGER a DEMOCRATIC HOUSE is PATHETIC.
not to mention a lot of them don't even read them.
The Republican party is a joke. Won't be long they will be history. Forever more years!!!
Issa still has his hind end firmly planted, need to remove that McCarthyite off-shoot then I'll believe there is hope for GOPer's. However, removing the 4 maybe a sign of things to come, one can only hope there are more changes in the wind.
Dick Armey resigned from Freedom Works and apparently not an amicable departure, what is that all about?
Surprised Steve Forbes has not disassociated himself with FW. Dick left because they lost, they were only in it for the potential personal notoriety not because they really believed in what FW stood for. They were surprised to find out that there were not enough people around willing to drink their Kool Aid.
wow.. a genuine Krelim-style GOPer purge.
And the tiny GOP tent gets even smaller.. and more irrelevant. Bravo.
These guys went against "big daddy" and suffered the "consequences" -- they've had their toys taken away and are now banished from the kingdom . . . no gold stars for them!!! lol
This Teabooblican tabloid just keeps getting more and more absurd (and entertaining) . . . I do believe we're seeing the beginning of the much anticipated imposion . . . they're like a knitted sweater with a lose thread and it's beginning to unravel. Can't tell you how warm it makes me feel inside to watch these bloviating idiots destroy themselves from within . . . you can't make this stuff up!
I used to care about American politics. Not anymore. Reading the crap in the forums is just a form of entertainment up until the point that my head hurts.
I used to think the US was a special place. Not anymore. China is more free enterprise than the US has become.
China has massive corruption. So does the US.
China has ghost cities and bogus accounting. The US has waste and accounting that might as well be bogus since nobody pays attention to it.
China has massive pollution and the US doesn't even know what chemicals are being used to frack the gas wells....and I'll bet that all that fracking is going to destabilize something that nobody saw below the earth's surface and a real poop storm is going to come of it.
In China, the government herds the sheeple; same as the US.
In China, the government controls the Internet; in the US, it's on the way to all Americans.
In China, there are cameras on every street corner and building....just like the US.
In China, there's a national ID card and they can't even wipe their A** without one....coming to the USA soon.
In China, people get dissapeared whenever the government wants 'em disappeared....same thing just came to the US with indefinite detention.
What do I like about Chinese politics. NOTHING....exactly....I hear NOTHING out of them. I don't have to listen to their S***. They just shut the door, duke it out, open the door and say, this is the new leader and this is what we're gonna do...whether you like it or not. We're the boss.
Do I like 'em? No. They're F****** up.....just like the US.
In the US, you think you have a choice. You don't and your'e too stupid to know it.
I came back to the US. S***! Fat people. Everywhere. Fat, stupid people who can't seem to get their lives together. I never noticed until I was gone for a while.
40% of the world's population is watching you act like a bunch of 6 year olds. They laugh at you like you're a bunch of self absorbed, mud-wrestling whores.
You really should get outside the USA for about a year and see what it looks like from the outside in....but 33% of you will need to by a second seat on an airplane.
And a dirty little secret....if you get a job outside the US and stay out for a year.....YA DON'T HAVE TO PAY US TAX ON YOUR INCOME. IRS Pub 54.
Oh...and the Chinese....they've already started backing off of financing the spending spree through purchases of treasuries.
They're laughing at you on the blogs. They have the money and you are broke....and they want you to start paying THEIR money back.
Then please pack your bags and move to China, you sound like a french person living here. Leave, please leave now and good by.
Its called exclusion of Income, talk to congress about tax code. If one can prove that working and living in a foreign country then that tax payer is entitled to that exclusion, you have to prove that your employer is not picking up all your living expenses, i.e., rent etc., we have been there and done that. Getting the exclusion is not as easy as you claim. You are also entitled to certain daily expenses you incur by foreign travel, based on Federal employees exclusions, based on country/city working and length of time, more than 24 hours, entries and exits from the US, need to be able to prove that. Its more complicated than you make it out to be.
Travel
You are totally insane. You think this country is at its worst today then you better read your history books, you are clueless. This country, despite our problems is still a great country. If you think there is any better then move there else shut up and participate in a positive way.
Good for them. now if rest of clowns on both sides of the asile would vote what they beleive in instead of being party pupets then this country would be better off. I am sick in tired of the two party system running this country. The house and senate memebers are a bunch of wussies that only follow thier masters.
..ready for the Tea Party and GOP to implode upon each other...and both become irrelevant in doing so!!...will be the best thing to happen to the country in decades...
Ho Ho Ho
Boner has nowhere to go
Boner Check Mate
Grover isn't that a Muppet? Along with the rest of the puppets!!
Grover the Monster
Nah, you're giving him too much credit. Nasty Grover, the Grubby Little Troll who crawled out from under a rotting elephant ----- and found The Republicker Party and the Kochs they lick!
This is so typical of the gophers; either their way or the highway; don't dare try to represent those you voted to put you in office, do not dare think of what is best for the country, the American worker, the economy, just shut your mouth, do what you are told by some behind the scenes thug. RIP GOP: you have done yourself in and you have only your out-of-touch-lap dog to the wealthy party leader to blame. Anyone who votes GOP has to be brain dead.
Grover looks like he is sporting a huge migraine