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Conservative Partnership Institute
John:


Good afternoon from Capitol Hill.

On Friday, the House and Senate left town for a two week recess – but not without a little (okay, a lot) of drama.

Both chambers muscled through a $1.2 trillion “minibus” appropriations bill ([link removed]) to fund the rest of Fiscal Year 2024, which ends at the end of September. House Speaker Mike Johnson once again used the suspension calendar to move the bill which blocked any amendments from being offered. The bill lost the support of a majority of the Republican majority, passing 286 to 134 ([link removed]) with more Democrats voting for it than Republicans. Rep. Chip Roy has a graphic ([link removed]) which may explain why.

It wasn’t just conservatives revolting, however. Just prior to the bill’s consideration, Congressman Robert Aderholt, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education announced ([link removed]) that he would be voting against the combined legislation. “This is not the bill that my subcommittee produced and supported. The Senate has taken liberties with their Congressionally Directed Spending requests [earmarks] that would never stand in the House,” Aderholt wrote.

It’s a remarkable statement – and vote – from an appropriations cardinal whose support for this package would be virtually guaranteed in ordinary circumstances. Aderholt went on to couch the substance of his objection in the inclusion of earmarks that fund facilities providing late term abortions and new social services for the millions of migrants crossing into the country illegally. You can read his statement – and the list of earmarks he mentions – here. ([link removed]) All told, the bill itself contained over 1,400 earmarks.

Yet despite its obvious flaws, the bill faced the same type of support in the Senate, passing by a vote of 74 to 24 ([link removed]) with 25 Republicans voting in support. However, through the efforts of conservative senators, Democrats were forced to go on record opposing efforts to fix the unprecedented crisis at the border and other key issues. Conservative senators – largely opposed by their own leadership, who supported the bill – worked together to secure votes on the following amendments:
* Sen. Mike Lee: Prohibit the administration from flying illegal immigrants around the country using the CBP One app ([link removed]) as their sole form of identification, rejected 45 to 51 ([link removed]) .

* Sen. Rand Paul: Cut 5 percent ([link removed]) from the bill’s spending, with DOD and money for securing the border exempted, rejected 34 to 63 ([link removed]) .

* Sen. Ted Cruz: Prohibit the Biden administration from issuing waivers giving Iran access to billions ([link removed]) in escrowed accounts, rejected 51 to 47 ([link removed]) on a motion to table, or kill, the amendment.

* Sen. Tommy Tuberville: Bar federal funding ([link removed]) for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education that permit biological males to participate in womens’ and girls’ sports, rejected 51 to 47 ([link removed]) on a motion to table, or kill, the amendment.

* Sen. Ron Johnson: Ban federal funding from going to sanctuary cities, rejected 51 to 47 ([link removed]) on a motion to table, or kill, the amendment.

* Sen. Bill Hagerty: Bar taxpayer money ([link removed]) from being used to transport illegal migrants across the United States, rejected 47 to 51 ([link removed]) .

* Sen. Eric Schmitt: Prohibit the federal government from labeling the speech of Americans as disinformation ([link removed]) , misinformation, or to coerce online platforms to suppress speech, rejected 47 to 51 ([link removed]) .

* Sen. Ted Budd: Pass the Laken Riley Act ([link removed]) , rejected 47 to 51 ([link removed]) .

That these policies, in the end, were not added to the bill and half the Senate Republican conference supported the legislation anyway reflects the deep division within the conference.

But the fun doesn’t stop. Congress has now passed its FY2024 appropriations bills almost five months into the 2024 fiscal year, which means they’re already behind in considering the appropriations bills for FY2025, which begins October 1. The funding issues aren’t resolved; they’re merely on a temporary hiatus.

In the meantime, reporting suggests ([link removed]) Speaker Mike Johnson may move to consider funding for the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine when the House returns. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has already filed ([link removed]) a Motion to Vacate the Speaker but has not yet moved to consider it.

The Latest From Around The Conservative Movement
* The Supreme Court makes a mockery of free speech ([link removed])

* I joined American Cornerstone Institute’s Matt Whitacker to discuss tech and TikTok ([link removed])

* Mike Lee moves to block expansion of Senate leadership staff ([link removed])

* The soft tyranny of the smartphone ([link removed])

One More Thing…

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in FDA vs Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a case centering on the FDA’s loosening of restrictions around the medical abortion drug mifepristone. Erin Hawley, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, writes more about the case here. ([link removed])
Sincerely,
Rachel Bovard
Vice President of Programs

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