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A pair of House Republicans stripped of their plum committee assignments lashed out Tuesday at the GOP leadership, suggesting they were punished for insisting on fealty to conservative principles.
NBC's Mark Murray reports House Speaker John Boehner has removed four House GOP committee chairmen in what's being described as a 'power move' against members who weren't 'team players.'
Reps. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., and Justin Amash, R-Mich., huddled with conservatives after the Republican Steering Committee removed them from their seats on the House Budget Committee.
"It's petty, it's vindictive and if you have any conservative principle, you'll be punished," Huelskamp said at a briefing for conservatives at the Heritage Foundation.
Huelskamp and Amash, along with Reps. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and Walter Jones, R-N.C., lost their seats on the budget panel and House Financial Services Committee after the GOP conference determined they were "not team players," in the words of one Republican aide.
That action has prompted a minor outcry among conservatives, who fear that lawmakers who cross the GOP leadership will be punished for their transgressions. That fear coincides with mounting concern on the right that Republican leaders will cut a "fiscal cliff" deal with President Barack Obama that results in higher taxes, through either increased rates or eliminated deductions.
Amash and Huelskamp said that they learned of losing their spots on those committees by reading reports in the media; they said that no Republican leaders had notified them of the changes.
"I've received not a single call from anyone in leadership, not a single email," Amash said. "I've been not told about what committees I will be on."
The Michigan congressman, who distinguished himself as one of the more libertarian-minded Republican congressmen during his first term in the House, suggested that his independence on issues (including supporting cuts to defense spending) had led GOP leaders to look to "silence" him.
Huelskamp said the suspected a video he produced last week re-affirming his support for a pledge vowing to never raise taxes contributed to his loss of the committee spot. The Kansas conservative furthermore said he feared Republicans might cave on the issue of taxes.
"I think there's going to be an attempt to pass a tax increase through the U.S. House, in exchange for what?" he asked.
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OK - show of hands for those who objected to having their taxes cut. Those who raise theirs I call liers. I do agree there needs to be a combination of some tax increases but on the other hand, spending never gets cut enough. There is so much waste in government. Budget process needs to be revised because it encourages wasteful spending with a "if you don't use it, you lose it" mentality. Seen it first hand many times.
As for the stimulas, it may have been good for some but, I've seen projects done simply because the money was there - not because it needed to be done. I saw a portion of a highway get scraped up and repaved for no reason.
On another note, I strongly support term limits for all. When I hear someone like John Kerry being in the Senate for nearly 3 decades, I get pissed. How has public service become a career? Campaigning cut down to 2 months.
Well dandy if your state is wasting money on things that in YOUR opinion don't need to be done then you need to take that up with your governor and state officials. You do know there is a difference between state governments and the federal government don't you?
"A pair of House Republicans stripped of their plum committee assignments lashed out Tuesday at the GOP leadership, suggesting they were punished for insisting on fealty to conservative principles."
Bull! Like I said they're both ALEC stooges. I don't mind them being Conservative, I do mind that they belong to ALEC. Being a Legislator and being a member of ALEC is like getting through college on Cliff-notes. Call'em up and buy a bill!
If you are going to run for a legislative post you ought to be smart enough to either write a bill or have a staff be able to write one at your direction that will specifically target your constituents needs, not some cookie cutter nonsense that won't meet that criteria.
The top tax rate in this country from 1930 to 1960 was 90%. The Republicans have been chipping away at it ever since and here we are. Of course raising taxes on the top tier won't resolve our problem overnight, but then it took 50 years to get to the mess we're in. With the 2 tax cuts I was old enough to "enjoy" (Reagan and Bush) I got $25 more per pay period and $50 more per pay period respectively. Not much help.
"I think there's going to be an attempt to pass a tax increase through the U.S. House, in exchange for what?" he asked." Well, hmm, let me see Congressman Kansas? Try this on for size - in exchange for DOING THE FREAKIN' JOB THAT THE VOTERS HIRED YOU TO DO??!! I refer to that old concept called representation of the people? Ever heard of it??!!
Top tax rate in US from 1930 to 1960 was 90% and the Republicans have been chipping away at it for their few friends ever since citing the "trickle down effect". It's tricked down alright - to India and China. Thanks Ronnie and George.
The top tax rate in the U.S from 1940 to 1960 was 90%. That was probably too high, but Republicans have been chipping away at it ever since citing the BS "trickle down effect" as their logical explanation like the super rich are all so generous. It tricked down alright - to India and China.
It took 50 years to get into this mess and it won't be resolved quickly, but the first logical step is to get the money we need from the US citizens who have it. I make $75K/year and I'd be willing to part with a little more of it if it means preventing bridges from falling in rivers and continuing to make sure the least of us in a democracy are not hungry or cold. I'd think someone making $500K or more would feel the pinch a little less than me.
So Boehner does actually have a backbone hidden away in there somewhere. Who would have thought that there was actually a republican that heard the message sent loud and clear by the American people on November 6. Maybe there is still some intelligent life hiding out there in the lost republican wasteland.
Aren't they just cute when they start to"eat" their own lol!
The Republican Party is crumbling and crumbling with every single passing day.No future of any kind for this group of unpatriotic individuals that all they care is protect the money of the rich people and despise the hard working class of our country.
The Tea Party and their representatives in the legislature are dead wrong on some of these issues. Signing a pledge to an unelected individual like Grover Norquist is ridiculous. The oath of office takes precedent. Being a politician isn't a matter of personal honor but of pragmatism. Politics isn't a John Wayne movie or a high school football game, and only an adolescent mind would think so.
At the same time, there's little profit in calling names like "Rethuglicans" or laughing at their internal conflicts. The country was built on a constructive dialog between conservatives and liberals. Our salvation lies in restoring that dialog.
The pathetic mewling of the Tea Party in it's final moments is music to my ears.
None of this matters anymore, the country is finished under Obama and the Democrats. They want financial collapse so they can re-make this country in Obummer's image. Elections have consequences!
you're a fool
Suddenly the House Republicans who turned away from Norquist and Boehner feel like drug distributors on the streets of any large city in America. If they do exactly what the drug dealers want them to do, all is well. When they get crosswise with the drug dealers, well, they are toast. If the ousted Republicans want to have some fun, they should announce that they are switching to the Democratic Party, which could mean that Boehner would no longer be in control of the House. Should we be discussing the War on the House, rather than the War on Drugs?
Let me see now, the "conservative" end of the party feels the heat and they are unhappy. Awwww....poor babies. They are, by far, the most repulsive and divisive portion of the party, the zealots who want to cram the Bible down our collective throats in the schools and government despite the fact the Founding Fathers were adamantly opposed to just that based on the religiously-based mayhem in Europe over the centuries prior to the founding of the country. The group that feels women's bodies should be the personal property of the state when it comes to procreation or the lack thereof? The group that defies all laws of physics and mathematics in insisting that only the Bible reveals the past history of mankind? This holier-than-thou trash heap organization who's most well-known representatives in the religious community all get exposed convicted adulterers, tax-evaders and con-men?
May they all be marginalized into non-existance, PLEASE!
How can anyone vote for these people? During the elections, they scream about "what the American people want ". Once we tell them what we want, they ignore it. They have to adhere to their "principles" , which have absolutely nothing to do with what they were just told the American people want.
Face it, Republicans only care about the rich and powerful and protecting their interests. Could not care less about the American people.
The meltdown continues. Keep that popcorn machine cranked up and refill the cooler.
This is the way leadership in Congress has controlled their party for decades. It's about time to get back to some of this and stop having the inmates run the asylum.
The GOP want to silence the libertarian leaning members. That sounds familiar, what happened the last time they did that?
Can anyone tell me why a raising of the marginal rate, say one thousands dollars for millionaires is different from one thousand dollars from the same millionaires raised via the closing of loopholes? Why does the economy care what method the government uses to collect the one thousand dollars? Why will one affect jobs and the other will not? Boehner does not make sense.
LL
The economy doesn't care, Master, but some of us might. Whether or not there would be a big difference depends on which loopholes are closed. Mortgage payments are deductible and are disproportionately paid by the less well off. (The wealthy pay cash and avoid interest.) And if they eliminate deductions for charity, it weakens or eliminates a lot of organizations, including universities, hospitals, conservation groups, and the Salvation Army. Taxes burden only the person paying the tax, but closing some loopholes and not others might damage the public welfare.
"That action has prompted a minor outcry among conservatives, who fear that lawmakers who cross the GOP leadership will be punished for their transgressions."
Do they mean like when anyone who opposed them during Bush's tenure was dumped on? Such patriotic politicians that renamed French fries to Freedom fries, Freedom Toast? Don't like it much when they get hit do they?
this is great - what a love fest the republi-con party has become...
so many losers, so little time.
The GOP leadership is kicking the Tea Party nutjobs to the curb. It's the only hope for survival of the GOP.
Now if Eric Cantor and Lyin Ryan can just be told to shut up and sit down!
Did you all think that after all the crazy antics of conservative republicans and the outregous remarks made by many of them would not eventually catch up to all Republicans. The people of the country have already told you want they want and do not want after your candicate lost. Maybe Boehner is letting a little of it sink in which mean heads roll, more specifically 4 so far.
Let the voice of the people be heard through their elected representatives - or some such silly nonsense from 1776, that both parties of billionaire sponsors and lobbyists have forgotten or just ignore!!!
The only answer to our forever, same two parties for themselves government system, lies in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence! Who cares which party the latest despot "Emperor" and his henchmen come from? The outcome with despots is always the same. Just different "spoils" recipients. At the least we need a parliamentary government that depends on multiple parties and is easily recalled.
I see the furture coming faster that before now that western Kansas has lost her voice in Washington politics. The Farm bill will cut aid/services to family famers to pay for the city dwelling food stamp people. Granted some need the help. Farmers quit growing crops, food becomes scarse and prices go up. then what do we do? Do we then tax those on welfare? More than likely, liberal democrats and Obama will next go after the Veteran Benefits because that is one group in America who actually earned their benefits and every one knows we can not have that in a nation of freeloaders.
You are a complete fool if you think this country gets it's food from local Kansas farmers. Farmers are paid to NOT grow crops. That needs to stop immediately. I'd wager that every single "family farm" in this country could go away and we'd not even notice.