House conservatives mount last-ditch push to sink defense authorization bill

The Hill ^ | Dec 14 | The Hill

[RandFan]

Hard-line conservative Republicans in the House are mounting a last-ditch effort against the annual defense authorization bill that is set for a final vote this week.

They object to its exclusion of culture war measures and inclusion of a short-term extension of controversial warrantless surveillance powers in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

“To be very clear, if Republicans vote for this, they’re voting for a bill that will continue abortion tourism, will continue transgender surgery funding, will continue diversity-equity-inclusion funding … and you’re voting to extend FISA,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said. “Good luck going selling that to voters.”

Conservatives had packed the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with right-wing social priorities, including measures blocking a Pentagon policy that offers paid leave and travel reimbursement to members who travel to get abortions; blocking funding for gender-affirming medical care for transgender service members; and blocking funding for drag shows.

But the bicameral compromise version of the bill that emerged after negotiation with the Senate dropped those measures.

The House Armed Services Committee’s Republican leadership has argued that the NDAA compromise includes several measures to end “wokeness” in the military — including one that prohibits funds from being used to teach “critical race theory” and another prohibiting adverse action against service members because they refused a COVID-19 vaccine.

But those are not good enough for the conservatives, with Roy compiling and sharing on social media a list of measures that were not included in the NDAA.

Beyond the dispute over the socially conservative measures, the bill adds a four-month extension authorization of Section 702 of FISA — which allows for warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad but sometimes sweeps up communications of Americans — past its current end-of-year expiration to April.

[RandFan]

Lovely bill isn't it.

I doubt they can sink it though.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Hopefully they’ll hang tough and sink it. What the hell are they “defending” with it? Gay flags on all military buildings?

[Boogieman]

No, it will pass, because all of the Democrats will vote for it, and at least some of the Assistant Democrats will also vote for it.

[RandFan]

That’s what I think but here’s the thing:

They need 2/3rds for this so a lot of Rethuglicans will have to vote for it in addition to all Dems. Fun.

They’ll still get enough. Maddening.

[Liz]

......inclusion of a short-term extension of controversial warrantless
surveillance powers in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)........

means

“....voting for a bill that will continue abortion tourism, will continue transgender surgery funding, will continue diversity-equity-inclusion funding … and you’re thinking you’re voting just to extend FISA,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said.

“Good luck selling that to voters.”

[momincombatboots]

Kabuki. Count how many times you see this by the house traitors: “the House Recedes”.
In fact we should collaborate on this phrase since Obama.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

One observes — as with so much Congress does — that “defense” means 1) defense, 2) offense and 3) marketing of weapons systems to many other nations. There was a time when we were a little more honest about words, and ours was a War Department. Still is, and that department gets to spend more than the next six or seven “war departments” around the world combined. Because money makes the world go ‘round. Eisenhower was so correct. And so generally forgotten these days.

[Lurker]

“but sometimes sweeps up communications of Americans.”

Sometimes? Clapper or Brennan admitted to Congress that its millions of Americans.

L

[Liz]

......inclusion of a short-term extension of controversial warrantless
surveillance powers in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)........

means

“....voting for a bill that will continue abortion tourism, will continue transgender surgery funding, will continue diversity-equity-inclusion funding … and you’re thinking you’re voting just to extend FISA,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said.

---

Call Congress NOW
(202) 224-3121
Tell them your state and zip, they’ll connect you.

MESSAGE Tell them you want FISA 702 stripped from the NDAA.

[dfwgator]

There was a time when we were a little more honest about words, and ours was a War Department.

^^^^^^^^^^

Before “Shell Shock” became “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”.

[Boogieman]

Of course they’ll get enough, because the Assistant Democrats are deathly afraid that the Democrats will say “Republicans are blocking funding for the military. Vets can’t get medical treatment because of those nasty Republicans!!!!” just like they are always scared to be blamed for government shutdowns.

It doesn’t matter if they actually have good principles, when they have no balls to stand on those principles.

[Pajamajan]

Disgusting that they won’t fight, and let the rats get away with everything.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Only Speaker Johnson can stop the bill. If it isn’t calendared, it can’t hit the floor for a vote. If it gets to the floor, only 4 RINOs are needed for passage.

[RandFan]

They need 2/3rds so more GOP traitors needed. They will find enough

[RandFan]

They’re suspending the rules so need the 2/3rds I believe

And yeah, the Speaker is complicit here too.

The whole thing stinks

[gibsonguy]

The conservatives want to remove funding in a defense bill for drag shows, genital mutilation surgery and abortions and the little rats at The Hill call it a far right wing proposal.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "There was a time when we were a little more honest about words, and ours was a War Department. ^^^^^^^^^^ Before “Shell Shock” became “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”.

An excellent observation.

And before sodomy became gay.

[dfwgator]

Carlin explains it all....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSp8IyaKCs0

[RandFan]

All non-germane to the bill you’re right.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Totally accurate. The Chomsky-an "manufacturing of consent" and the Sunstein game of "nudging" has been ALL about tricking words into not alarming when alarms should ring loudly.

Carlin was a jewel. Didn't always agree, but always appreciated his work.