Congress is responsible for funding government activities. The biggest discretionary item is the defense budget. The military is funded by the National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA]. When different parties control the two Houses of Congress, there must be a compromise to pass the NDAA. And it seems that new Speaker Mike Johnson (R) — despite his MAGA credentials and religious fervor — has reached an agreement with Senate leader Chuck Schumer (D).
Predictably, this expression of adult comity has incensed MT Greene. This permanently outraged political delinquent expressed her umbrage in a Twitter video. She said:
“The whole NDAA deal was made between Speaker Johnson, Chuck Schumer, and the HAS [House Armed Services] Committee. And people like me we didn’t get to participate.
We were appointed to participate to make sure no money for abortion, no money for trans, for members like me standing up for Americans who are sick and tired of funding the Ukraine war, we had taken the 300 million out of the defense bill. Well, let me tell you what the final product is and the deal that was made.
That funding is there for abortion travel. The policy is still in place for trans and the military and everything that goes with it. Democrat [sic] trans policy, Democrat [sic] abortion policy, 300 million for Ukraine is back in the NDAA.”
Greene’s ego will not let her admit she is merely one of 435 Representatives (0.23%) — and that is how much her opinion is worth. As for “people like me” — I’ll take that to mean Republican, although God only knows what she means — the majority of the House Armed Services Committee is on her team. And as Elise Stefanik, Matt Gaetz, Ronny Jackson, and Nancy Mace are on the Committee, the MAGA crazies are well represented.
Further, Committees are how Congress does business — and has done so for 234 years. So Greene can whine all she wants, but then she gets to cast one vote.
Greene talks about “we” being “appointed.” Who are the we? And who appointed her? If she means “elected,” she should consider that 170,162 Georgians in GA 14 voted for her. They represent less than 1/10 of 1% of American adults. Even 88,189 people in that ruby-red district voted for someone else. So she can take her national pretensions and shove them.
She had more to say, as always. In a written introduction to her videoed screed, she said:
“OUTRAGEOUS: Leadership is asking members of the NDAA “conference” to sign the 3000+ page conference report which is being released behind closed doors without even getting time to read it!
Speaker Johnson worked with Chuck Schumer to cut a deal that removes all abortion and trans surgery prohibitions we passed under Speaker McCarthy.”
The idea that Greene would read something is laughable. That is what Congresspeople hire underlings to do. Besides, she already seems to know what is in it, so I have no idea how reading it would change her mind. And, once again, Greene fails to understand that in a divided Congress the other side gets some ‘stuff’ too. Note: she is miffed that her play to be Speaker McCarthy’s right-hand woman ran into a ditch.
She continues:
“It also would pass a CLEAN FISA extension. Not to mention, more of your taxpayer dollars sent to Ukraine to fund the proxy war. No member of the NDAA conference had any influence on this process. It was done in secret meetings with no input from conferees. Now, we’re supposed to just grin and take it with no say in the final bill.”
Once more time, she displays her ignorance of how Congress works. Any member can propose a bill. But it is the relevant committee that writes the text. That is part of their job. And if she does not like the finished product, she can vote no. And she can lobby other Representatives to join her. But that sort of organized opposition is above her talent level.
She continues:
“Is the GOP really going to fund abortion vacations and trans surgeries, fund the Ukraine war, all with a CLEAN FISA extension under Speaker Johnson? This was a total sell-out of conservative principles and a huge win for Democrats. Congratulations to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you should all be excited to vote for this!”
I do not know what is in the bill, but I am sure that it is not “a total sell-out of conservative principles.” And I am also sure the Democrats had to swallow some bitter pills.
Greene ends by sticking the landing:
“I’m a HELL NO!”
Me too.
