BACK TO THE SWAMP (AT LAST)
This Friday, the House came back to DC to vote on two particularly terrible pieces of legislation: a constitutionally-dubious plan to allow the House to engage in “proxy voting,” and a coronavirus “relief package” that gives money to illegal aliens, frees criminals, and crushes small businesses with burdensome regulations. While it’s good to get back to work, I am concerned that these two bills will harm the institution of Congress and the American people.
The first piece of legislation, H.Res.965, upends two centuries of tradition by allowing voting in the House to take place “by proxy” — in other words, letting someone else cast a vote on your behalf. This misguided proposal allows a Representative to vote on behalf of as many as ten other Members of Congress, meaning that a bill could pass with around twenty votes.
Members of Congress should not be encouraged to be absent from their jobs. This bill is a slap in the face to representative democracy, and raises serious constitutional concerns. Although I voted against it (along with 184 of my Republican colleagues, 3 Democrats, and an Independent), this disturbing change to House rules passed 217-189.
The second bill we voted on was even worse. The “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act” (the “HEROES Act”) was described as a “coronavirus relief package,” but it is actually nothing more than a ‘wish list’ of priorities for radical Democrats. This fundamentally unserious legislation offers stimulus payments to illegal aliens, frees dangerous criminals nationwide, nationalizes our election system, and even goes so far as to prevent the creation of any work requirements for welfare — a common-sense proposal supported by a majority of Americans.
It is revealing that a Republican “Motion to Recommit” (basically a last-minute amendment), which changed the bill so that illegal aliens would not receive stimulus payments, was defeated 198-209.
The so-called “HEROES Act” makes clear that Democrats’ real “heroes” are lobbyists, special-interest groups, and illegal aliens — not the American people.
I voted against this disastrous bill (along with almost every Republican and several Democrats), and although it passed 208-199, it is extremely unlikely that the Senate will act on it. I sincerely hope that future coronavirus relief legislation will be free of the ludicrous partisanship of the “HEROES Act.”
UNEMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
My staff and I have received many questions about unemployment. Below are some helpful resources:
- Please visit here to file an unemployment claim.
- Please visit here for a video tutorial on applying for reemployment assistance.
- Please visit here for a COVID-19 Reemployment Resource Guide.
COUNTY INFORMATION
Click on your county for the most up-to-date information on closures in Escambia, Okaloosa, Holmes, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties:
MILITARY UPDATES
All of our local military installations are regularly updating their websites with information about base access (and more) due to the pandemic.
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Fox News — May 14, 2020
Gaetz says Flynn unmasking presents ‘political Chinese finger trap’ for Biden
“House Judiciary Committee member Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told Hannity Wednesday that new revelations about the unmasking of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn have put former Vice President Joe Biden into a ‘political Chinese finger trap’ as he seeks to win the White House in November.”
Breitbart — May 13, 2020
House Judiciary Republicans Launch Inquiry Into Use of Chinese Drones To Enforce Social Distancing in the U.S.
“As early as 2017, government investigative agencies began warning about the use of DJI drones providing the Chinese government with U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement data, according to the letter.”
The National Pulse — May 12, 2020
Rep. Matt Gaetz Launches New Podcast, Slams Obamagate, China, & Gowdy
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a close ally of the President and ‘rising star of the Trumpian right’, launched his very own podcast, “Hot Takes with Matt Gaetz.” In the inaugural episode, Gaetz breaks down Obamagate, criticizes China and the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s handling of the virus, and updates his listeners on “President Trump’s Congressional War Council.”
Daily Caller — May 9, 2020
Rep. Matt Gaetz: ‘Failure Of Our Republican Leadership’ Not To Aggressively Push Back Against The FBI On Russia Collusion
“Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that the Republican leadership did not aggressively push back against the FBI and others as they pursued their Russia collusion conspiracy against Michael Flynn and President Donald Trump.”
WHAT WE’RE READING
Goldman Sachs — May 2020
Drones Reporting for Work
Red State — May 14, 2020
It Sure Looks Like Obama Official Samantha Power Lied Under Oath
Foreign Affairs — May 12, 2020
Sweden’s Coronavirus Strategy Will Soon Be the World’s
Townhall — May 15, 2020
China Threatens GOP Lawmakers. Their Responses Are Perfect.
Washington Examiner — May 15, 2020
Lawsuit blaming Fox News for coronavirus is a threat to press freedom
Just The News — May 14, 2020
The line between lawful unmasking and political spying — and what comes next
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