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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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All the FREELOADERS voted for NObama
And Nazis voted Republican
HMS-487867===Yes, Yes has a point and you have gone overboard. The Nazi Party was killed off in WWII. Don't demonize these political games both the Democrats and the Republicans we should blame for all of this. More than likely you voted for Obama and you want to pay more in taxes. Good for you, Ihope that when you that shrinking payroll check you will think differently.
I keep hearing this If you raise taxes your pay checks will stop! "Bull!" No one in business wil stop doing any business they can do period! Lower taxes does not create jobs. Taxes have been low for twelve years now where are these jobs? Creating jobs overseas does not count!
you honestly believe that? SERIOUSLY??? RED STATES take more in federal money and have poorer people than blue states, also are less educated
Dear YesYes - You're calling me a freeloader. Does that mean that you have never in your life accepted any kind of assistance from anyone or any entity for any reason? Get over it-the Repubs/Baggers lost the election. Move on or move somewhere else. It is so typical of your ilk to continue crying in your beer instead of making the best of a situation over which you have no control. (Except to leave, that is...)
the real threat to our democracy is the republican party
So the move to socialism continues onward!
McC-1976726=== I don't know how you came up with that analogy. The Republican Party has done a better job than the Democrats. Just remember after the first of he year your taxes will be going up no mater what happens in this fiscal cliff deal that was agreed to by Democrats and Republicans a year are so back in Obama's first term. Maybe you can read a little more before you start typing.
rethugs are not right on a single issue not one there is not one issue where the republican plan is actually a good one.
Boehner did the right thing. These guys are some of the extremists that don't represent anyone but their own extreme ideologies. They were elected to work for the good of all. When they oppose everything and want to take things to greater extremes than Ryan they don't represent anyone. Many of the Tea Party nuts don't have a clue. Negotiate to them means "do it their way". Kick about 40 of them out and get some sanity
Marginalizing the extreme elements of both sides of the parties is a good thing, only in the center will we solve our problems.
DG-646000==One of Obama's ideas included inhis package was to give the right to an open checkbook. That means you believe that Obama should have an open checkbook that doesn't need Congressional approval to raise the spending ceiling at any time he wants? Now that is a joke!! I want Obama out of my life and out of this country if possible. He already holds the CEO position when it comes to Obama-Care.
The people that were removed, from their committies, more than likely didn't do their jobs could have been as required by the leadership. So don't wonder about this to much anyone can get fired.
Oh, quite the contrary, DG ~ they represent the uber-conservatives like Limbaugh and his acolytes. If you remember, his analogy (which is deemed gospel by most GOPers) is that Republicans lost because they were 'not conservative enough.' While Republicans in the House eat their own, Limbaugh is taking on cannibalistic tendencies in verbally devouring any within the ranks who might have moderate tendencies.
Kudos to you DG!
More evidence that Republicans are a party of fascists
HMS-487867===You got that assbackwards.
I agree, Smoky. Fascists are the Republican party. Thanks for clearing that up.
Jim, GOP idiots believe that socialism and fascism are both left wing ideologies. Save your breathe!
Go along to get along.
A: In exchange for bringing the economy back from the republican made recession. You're welcome.
So you want to give Obama a open checkbook because that is what he wants. The young and the foolish.
First, I've been around long enough to know that Carter was a well-intentioned but ineffective, Reagan invented plausible deniability and was the father of political polarization, "read my lips" you're fired, republicans were upset that they weren't getting BJ's from their interns, WMD's and "Victory" are embarrassing lies, Obama is smarter and a better negotiator than any politician, ever, and long enough to know, by republican example, that democrats are more fiscally and socially responsible than republicans.
Now, an open checkbook, not. Tax rates are definite not open.
I voted for Reagan the very first time I was old enough to vote. I can now never forgive him for bringing the Evangelical morons into Conservative movement. They high-jacked the GOP and have eliminated ALL Conservative ideology. Goldwater is spinning in his grave.
gpotts - Reagan will go down in history as one of the worst presidents we've ever had. Although Nancy and the GOP party bosses have seen to it that we will never know with certainty, it is clear that his Alzheimer's began to heavily influence his decisions much earlier than anyone thought. His manic "deregulate everything" credo contributed mightily to the economic disaster of 2008. Just think, without Ronnie in our past, perhaps that could have been averted? Just theorizing...
I love it when repubs eat each other. :)
What's the lesson learned here?
If you don't grovel at Grover Norquist feet, you will be punished!
So Grover was elected by who? It's nice that republicans finally admit that big money lobbyist's totally run their party.
And doing the right thing like extending the tax cuts for 98% of us, they have to get something in return? WTH? No Republicans do your jobs and start working FOR the American people, instead of against the President and the American people! Slimey low life idiots!
Mr President hold firm, don't give in to the TP extremist's that have taken over the GOP.....
hummbird-3359530==You should be glad that at least the House can stop the mad man in the White House. Other than that your taxes would have gone through the roof. Wait until after the first of the year, your taxes are going regardless of what happens between now and the January 1, 2013. Get that second job to help yourself and the country.
The most Patriotic thing you can do is pay your taxes.
The country would be better off if the sequester does take place and the Bush tax cuts do expire! All the capital gains taxes will reset! This alone could help the country recover better. Getting those tax cuts back could prove to be a heavy lift, it could be years before they go down this low again! Does anyone know how much revenue would be collected, if they do reset? The defense spending would go down by 18% It seems like going over the fiscal cliff could be just what the country needs to get back on the right track again! Later , they could work on fixing Medicare: and SS; It would probable cause a slow down, but the recovery would be much stronger when it does happen, It sounds like it might be the only way to get to where we need to be!
dale-763548==Agreed! I would love to go over the cliff and hit bottom. I think by doing this we can stop all of these new spending plans Obama wants. Both Parties voted and approved what will happen to this country if nothing is done by January1, 2013.
This is great news if you want congress to work and solve problems, House Speaker has a impossible task with Republican Congressmen willing to damage our country because of unwillingness to work with Democrats. Having both parties work together will make for a better bill for savings as well as spending to get to a fiscally balanced bill.
square dude===Kinda hard to work with someone that doesn't want to compromise. Obama is the one obsessed with taxing the rich and not the rest of the logical people in this country. Obama's only plan is to tax he rich and he had nothing else to offer. He offered nothing more in his last campaign. Tax the rich and all of our problems will go away, in Obama's little mind. I would to see Obama just go away.
Amash is the elected representative from my district, however, he doesn't even come close to representing the views of the majority of his constituents. He recently struggled a bit to be re-elected in a severely gerrymandered district. Anyone who states that they will never raise taxes is an idiot. That's sort of like holding your breath and saying that you're never going to breathe again or saying that you're never going to go to war, no matter what. Short-sighted and dim-witted.
JC your point about gerrymandered districts is a good one, when districts are made up to be given to either party then these congressmen dont have to take central positions to win their districts. Only when districts are competitive will both parties nominate people who wont take extreme positions.
Alaska girl, as a conservative Republican, let me say that I'll take Hillary in a heartbeat over the nutcase that's in the White House now.
craigcs I have to agree, I believe Hillary would be a better person to get deals done, was reading that Kennedy wasn't able to get a lot of his bills thru but Johnson did because he had a talent of making deals where Kennedy didnt.
"Your Crazy" ! Your statement is a desperate attempt to change the playing field , only in your mind, because your side is not winning in this debate on the fiscal cliff talks! You need to realise that the conservative party is falling apart at the seams. If they do not start working for the middle class they will eventually disappear all together!
Remember the story of Chicken Little? " The SKY Is Falling The Sky Is Falling"? "Well" The sky is falling and we need to cut a deal before its to late! And the crazy conservatives, needs to wake up and do what the people clearly, stated they wanted done , when they elected Obama for A second term!
dale...the GOP have convinced themselves that election was not the WILL of the people. Even though all of the money spent, fraud, corruption, lies, and ignorance came from right, people of U.S. saw that and overwhelmingly voted for the best candidate, they still do not get it. I wish the President would just ignore the other side, like Dubya, and just do the right thing. Do what he was elected to do and crush the idiots that get in his way LBJ style!
craigs- Just how is OUR President a nutcase? I think you and all Americans can SEE who the nutcases are and
they all have a R after their name... This from someone who voted for Bush twice! LOL
I 2nd that!
Even my father, who was a Lt. Col. Ret., couldn't bear the burden of the likes of Sarah Palin and company. That speaks volumes to me. Republicans please note: You have discovered the recipe for failure. No need to repeat it.
There is Conservative and then there is Far Right Wing Extremist nut jobs. The members he stripped were the latter and Boehner still needs to De-Teabag the House. The Teabaggers have been the worst thing to happen to Republicans since FDR.
We're Teapublicans damn it! Either play with the team, or get eaten by the team... it's up to you.
The American people be damned.
CHOMP, CHOMP, pass the mustard, CHOMP CHOMP, more mustard. That is what is happening, the GOP is eating their own. Hail to the tea baggers for causing an uproar within their own party.
But the sad part of it all, while they are doing that, the American people are losing. The GOP is too busy screwing with each other and are not working to help the country. And that is what they are getting paid to do. But with the lobbist money, why do we continue to pay any of them?
Grover Norquist can have his glasses broken and play an arrogant version of "Piggy" as the boys with spears come for him.
et tu Brutus?
The GOP has allowed their party to be taken over by far right extremists that has pushed them out of the mainstream. They continue to move from what the majority of American's believe. The fact that they are holding the fiscal cliff discussions up because they refuse to raise tax rates on the wealthiest individuals is case and point. This further highlights that they do not understand that the majority of American's do not fall into that upper salary tier. You cannot represent the few at the top and forget about everyone else. As they continue to follow down that path, they will continue to lose elections and power. Adapt or die.
obsessed==The Republican Leadership didn't think these guys were doing a good job for the Party, so they got fired. That's not hard to do, people get fired all of the time across this country. If these Representatives have been pulled off a committee it was for a reason. Besides it's really none of our business, it's the Republican Party's business.
how much of a right wing loon do you have to be to be taken out by your own party of right wing loons?
Ahh... The Circular Firing Squad.
Sucks to find out that you were supposed to bring your own gun when the leadership issues the call "Hey everybody, time to circle up!"
Making everyone vote in unison is very powerful but it also is winnowing the party down.
Allowing representatives to think for themselves is less powerful but it brings more/better ideas to the table.
"I belong to no organized political party, I'm a Democrat". (WR)
I would like to see the taxes raised on the 2% or 3% which ever and then have Obama tell us how he's going to turn 80-90 million into 1.1 trillion.... this ought to be good..... Mr. President put my money where your mouth is......
You guys prove once again, math is lost on you! You should have stayed awake during your free, socialist, education. You might have picked up a little in civics and math class.
You guys prove once again, math is lost on you! You should have stayed awake during your free, socialist, education. You might have picked up a little in civics and math class.
First of all who is "you guys" and second please explain the rest? I'm assuming you have a different mathematical system to Explain away Mr. Obama's incompetence....
Did they expect loyalty? GOP have shown that they are willing to swear allegience to anybody for power. Boehner would sell his kids into pornography for 2 votes.
Boehner might be wrong but he's not dumb. He's well aware of the emerging power struggle that will threaten the GOP and he will slit the throats of his own children to save himself. This is just starting to get fun and may prove to be a very exciting and fulfilling 12 years.
Almost everyone posting here (not the paid trolls) realize that the GOP is in trouble. They have let the fringe crowd (tea baggers) take over, along with the religious right wing nut jobs. Right now today, their latest GOP saint, Reagan, would not be allowed to join them.
Which in the long run is fine. They are screwing it up so the "fiscal cliff" does happen. No matter what, the average American realizes what the GOP has done. And that is ruin the economy when Bush (not all his fault) was President, and now by taking us over the cliff.
And that will bring us to 2014 elections. The same smart mouth, lying SOB's running for re-election, or first time, will see defeat if they belong to the GOP. And heaven help us if the D's get complete control of govt, but that is going to happen. Reason for that, the GOP will not change their ways. Their party of old white men will continue the war on women, insult every minority group, and continue their other old failed policies that got us into this mess.
Then comes the 2016 election. Will the GOP stay the same? If so, bye bye GOP, you will have another 4 yrs of whinning, and get no cheese at all, unless it's from under cheese from your closet people. So the GOP has a choice, actually several choices to make, sure hope they make the correct ones.
Next it will be Hillary till 2024. So go for it GOP!