Party Over Principle: John Boehner Boots Conservatives off Budget Committee

The New American ^ | 04 December 2012 | Joe Wolverton, II, J.D.

[VitacoreVision]

The Republican House Steering Committee header by Speaker of the House John Boehner kicked two of the most conservative representatives off the House Budget Committee.

Party Over Principle: Boehner Boots Conservatives off Budget Committee


The New American
04 December 2012


In a speech to the House of Representatives in January 2011, then newly-elected Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) vowed that he would “renew focus on the Constitution.” Then, on Tuesday, Boehner demonstrated his lack of fidelity to that promise by politically ostracizing two of the most staunch constitutionalists in the House.

Representatives Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) and Justin Amash (R-Mich.) were booted from the Budget Committee — likely a result of the two congressmen’s record of opposing the Speaker on key fiscal issues. Last year, for example, Huelskamp and Amash voted against raising the debt ceiling and are adamantly opposed to any tax increases.

And earlier this year, Huelskamp and Amash cast the only House Budget Committee votes against Paul Ryan's budget plan that was the darling of Republicans, including Boehner.

For his part, self-described “conservative” John Boehner not only voted to increase the federal debt limit, but has now embraced tax hikes as a means of avoiding falling off the “fiscal cliff.”

Huelskamp released a statement following Boehner’s decision to remove him from the House Budget Committee:

It is little wonder why Congress has a 16 percent approval rating: Americans send principled representatives to change Washington and get punished in return.

The GOP leadership might think they have silenced conservatives, but removing me and others from key committees only confirms our conservative convictions. This is clearly a vindictive move, and a sure sign that the GOP Establishment cannot handle disagreement.

Huelskamp added that he “is not ashamed” of his staunch conservative stance on the issues.

Amash described Boehner’s action as a “slap in the face” to the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. “For a party that’s trying to expand its base and make sure it reaches out to young people and new groups, I think it’s pretty outrageous,” Amash said during a speech at the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday.

He added that he has yet to receive official notification from Speaker Boehner of the revocation of his Budget Committee membership.

The exile of Amash and Huelskamp to a libertarian Elba was made Monday during a Steering Committee meeting. According to sources cited by Roll Call, members of the Steering Committee “reviewed a spreadsheet listing each GOP lawmaker and how often he or she had voted with leadership.” Given Amash’s and Huelskamp’s record, it is likely their names ranked at the top of Boehner’s hit list.

Boehner heads the 34-member Steering Committee that includes members of House leadership, committee chairs, and other lawmakers selected from different regions of the country. After meeting last week, the group recommended Paul Ryan be returned to his seat as Budget Committee chairman.

It is easy to see, then, why Boehner could not allow Huelskamp and Amash to sit on a committee whose chairman they alone had the courage to oppose. Once again, the GOP demonstrates that when it comes to leadership decisions, party is given priority over principle.

Two other conservative lawmakers also received committee assignment pink slips on Tuesday: Representatives David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) were kicked off the Financial Services Committee.

Again, a source told Roll Call that Schweikert was removed because his “votes were not in lockstep with leadership.” One could argue that lockstep with the leadership by so many Republicans is marching us away from the Constitution and right off the fiscal cliff.

Boehner appears to be purging his party’s caucus in advance of negotiations with President Obama over plans to keep from plunging into economic ruin. Congressmen on the right who refuse to demonstrate blind loyalty to Boehner will be sacrificed on the altar of bipartisanship and power consolidation.

One GOP lobbyist told Roll Call, “This is a move that the whip team has been advocating for some time. They are using all of the tools at their disposal.”

In an attempt to deflect the criticism aimed at his boss, Boehner spokesman Michael Steele told The New American that “the Steering Committee makes decisions based on a range of factors.”

Judging by Boehner’s choice of targets, one of those factors is the failure of conservative Republicans to put loyalty to party above loyalty to their oath of office to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”


SOURCE:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/13826-party-over-principle-boehner-boots-conservatives-off-budget-committee

[Gene Eric]

If you insist, but enabling the govt to kill off nascent human life is not technically libertarian, that’s Leftism/statism.

[what's up]

Libertarians tend to take the leftist stance on abortion. Also gay marriage.

[Graewoulf]

‘’When one is up to his a**hole in Alligators, it is oft’ times difficult to remember that the original intent was to drain the swamp.”

So here we are in America, ‘soft on Communism’ as we were warned about 60 years ago, and wondering why, who, how,what, when, and where did we get on this wrong track Communist swamp buggy?

Thus, it is well that we review where are by pondering the, [slightly modified], words of historical wisdom from the flagpage of a VERY wise FReeper as follows:

“The Ten Planks of Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto,
(and How Statists Implement Them):

1.) Abolition of private property rights, (via high property taxes, restrictive zoning laws, “fair housing” edicts, environmental and “wetlands” regulations, UN Agenda 21, etc.).

2.) Institution of a heavily graduated income tax, (by calling it “taxing the rich”).

3.) Abolition of all rights of inheritance, (through a confiscatory estate tax on “the rich”).

4.) Confiscation of the property of enemies of the state, (through lawless application of asset forfeiture and eminent domain).

5.) Centralization of credit into the hands of the state, (Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, TARP, FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, federal takeover of student loans, etc.).

6.) Centralization of the means of communication and transportation into the hands of the state, (FCC, DOT, FEMA, NTSB, FAA, etc.).

7.) Consolidation and subjugation of all major industries to central government control, (FDA, EPA, OSHA, ICC, HUD, NLRB, EEOC, DOE, TSA, Medi’care’. Medic’aid’, Obama’care’, etc.).

8.) Mandatory labor union membership, (”card check” to bypass employee consent, automatic withholding of union dues, forced unionization of health care workers, teachers, police, firefighters, etc.).

9.) Equitable redistribution of all wealth, (TANF, SSI, EITC, SNAP, etc.).

10.) State controlled, but “Free” public education, (and food, housing, health care, cell phones, Internet access, etc.).

[BlessingsofLiberty]

“For example, one of them would not vote to deprive Planned Parenthood of funding.”

Do you have a link for that? Which one was it that supported Planned Parenthood funding?

thanks in advance

[VitacoreVision]

Justin Amash votes 'present' on amendment to halt funding to Planned Parenthood
February 21, 2011

-----

Justin Amash's statement:

As a pro-life conservative, I have cosponsored and supported several important bills to protect the life of the unborn, including Rep. Mike Pence's H R 217 to defund abortion providers. Today, I voted "present" on Amendment 11 to H R 1 because, while I oppose abortion funding, the language, as drafted, violates my conservative approach to legislating.

Legislation that names a specific private organization to defund (rather than all organizations that engage in a particular activity) is improper and arguably unconstitutional. Moreover, the legislation is easily thwarted because the organization may simply change its name.

As a conservative, and as the Representative for the people of Michigan’s Third District, I cannot vote "yes" on legislation that does not take the process of legislating seriously. A responsible amendment—one that I would fully support—would defund all abortion providers. That is why I support Mike Pence’s H R 217, which cuts off all federal funds to any organization that performs an abortion—including Planned Parenthood.

[VitacoreVision]

Justin Amash:

UPDATE: Note that Amendment 11 did not eliminate any line-item appropriation to Planned Parenthood; otherwise, I would have voted "yes." There is no mention of Planned Parenthood in the continuing resolution being amended (H R 1), any budget, or any law enacted under the previous two Congresses.

[Timber Rattler]

It's being discovered that these members appear to be Paul-ites.

So what...? Paul's right on individual liberty, fiscal policy, and debt. You have a problem with that?

[what's up]

Paul was against Reagan in the 80's. He's a crank, not a politician who really wants to get something done.

He also voted against the Iraq War, and against the Ryan budget.

That's what I have a problem with.

[tdscpa]

Boner kicks a tea party conservative from the center of the wheat production area of the country off the Agriculture committee? (My Cong. Dist.)

2014 election target: Purge GOP pussies from House and Senate. Only 100% Tea Party!

[tdscpa]

Do you have some reasonable support for your totally erroneous post?

Huelskamp is not a paulite or libertarian.

You are full of crap.