Image Credit: house.gov & NATO / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
On Saturday, U.S. lawmakers passed a bill to temporarily keep the federal government up and running until Congress can pass proper government funding bills for the next fiscal year.
In order to get the stopgap funding bill passed, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), brokered a deal with Democrat lawmakers on what he has called “a clean funding bill.”
This decision to include $16 billion in disaster relief funding for Ukraine as part of the stopgap bill, would not seem to do Speaker McCarthy many favors with other House Republicans and has already cost him the support of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) who has stated that he is going to try and remove McCarthy from his leadership.
Even though the legislation faced opposition from some of the more conservative members of the House, it passed in the U.S. House of Representatives with a 335-91 vote and then in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 88-9.
But how exactly did Tennessee’s Congressional Delegation vote on the stopgap bill?
Both of Tennessee’s U.S. Senate Members, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R) and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R), voted against the legislation.
“During negotiations around a Continuing Resolution,” wrote Sen. Hagerty in a social media post, “I made very clear that I wouldn’t support any short-term funding bill that didn’t include serious border-security measures to help put an end to the Biden Border crisis, & I’m keeping that commitment.”
U.S. Representatives from Tennessee who voted against the legislation include:
• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville)
• Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-South Pittsburg)
• Rep. Mark Green (R-Clarksville)
• Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Kingsport)
• Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Columbia)
• Rep. John Rose (R-Cookeville)
Just the day before he committed to a no vote on the stopgap bill Rep. Ogles announced that he requested his salary be withheld in the case of a government shutdown.
“We need to get our fiscal House in order, secure our border,” he wrote, “and put in the work to pass all 12 appropriations bills like we told the American people we would.”
U.S. Representatives from Tennessee who voted in favor of the legislation include:
• Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis)
• Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Ooltewah)
• Rep. David Kustoff (R-Germantown)
“Government shutdowns always cost taxpayers more money and harm our country,” Rep. Fleischmann wrote on his social media. “That’s why I voted to keep the government open for 45 more days to give Congress time to continue passing conservative, fiscally responsible bills to fund the government.”
President Joe Biden signed the stopgap bill late Saturday night, delaying a shutdown of the federal government through November 17th, 2023. Lawmakers have until then to pass 12 long-term funding bills or implement a second temporary measure to avoid a shutdown.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
5 Responses
My understanding is that the Dems wanted a shutdown so they could blame the Repubs. True? Isn’t that why the guy pulled the fire alarm? If that’s true, then it’s probably good to avoid a shutdown because IF we lose the House we’re in big trouble. Repubs MUST be smart and think about the impact of their actions on votes.
Bravo to the representatives that had the courage to vote no to this insanity.
Another 16 billion to Ukraine is criminal when we can’t even allocate 5 billion for our own border security.
And then there’s the spineless cowardly Cohen and 2 republican RINO’s.
U.S. Representatives from Tennessee who voted against the legislation include:
• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville)
• Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-South Pittsburg)
• Rep. Mark Green (R-Clarksville)
• Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Kingsport)
• Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Columbia)
• Rep. John Rose (R-Cookeville)
Obvious who’s in lucifer’s perpetual war machine’s pocket and who ain’t.
I’m watching both our Senators and Rep ( Diane Harshbarger ) very closely to make sure they stay in line with the Anti-Communist Agenda and stop the financially irresponsible spending of the Communist Party and the other RINOS . WE HAVE to have huge cuts in spending to remain a functioning and viable nation . We are in huge financial trouble right now .
This time around I offer a big thank you to Senator Blackburn , Senator Haggerty, and Representative Harshbarger on their NO support vote that traitor McCarthy brokered with the Fraudulently Elected ” President ” China Joe Biden .
We must stay focused and get the RINOS in line with conservative and patriotic values by holding them accountable for siding with the Marxists each and every time they pull these stunts like McCarthy did .
This is the first time in my life I’ve seen a counter attack and it makes me hopeful , although we are so far in the hole now it will take a miracle to dig our way out ..
Those that side with the Marxist “Demon Rat” party must go the way of traitor McCarthy , a big kick in the butt and out the door with all of them .
Thank you Senators Blackburn and Haggerty along with Representative Harshbarger . I will always remember this historic occasion .
What part of “No more funds to Ukraine” don’t they understand?
Stop the funding of this warmongers money maker and get to a balanced budget.
I’m glad that McCarthy is gone. He’s a rino and no one can convince me different.
Thank you to those who voted against the bill and hopefully we can get a true Conservative in to move us forward in the right direction.