Incoming Home Oversight Chairman: ‘Crucial’ to Cease Omnibus Spending Invoice

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the incoming chairman of the Home Oversight and Reform Committee, is urging his Senate counterparts to reject the $1.85 trillion omnibus spending invoice in an effort to strengthen GOP’s oversight authority for the following Congress.

Comer will ascend to chairman of the highly effective Home committee Jan. 3 with a variety of investigations deliberate. Earlier than he’s even in a position to get began, nevertheless, Senate Republicans who help the omnibus spending invoice may strip Comer of necessary leverage—the facility of the purse.

With 20 Republican senators already voting Tuesday on a procedural movement to advance the invoice, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., seems to have sufficient GOP help to get the invoice performed this week.

That hasn’t stopped Comer and different Home Republicans from warning in regards to the penalties.

“It’s crucial that we cease the large omnibus in order that Republicans can use our majority energy subsequent Congress to conduct oversight of the federal authorities, maintain the Biden Administration accountable, and enact good authorities reforms,” Comer instructed The Each day Sign in a press release.

Withholding cash from the Biden administration is one device Home Republicans can use to train efficient oversight—notably if federal companies and authorities officers are uncooperative or not forthcoming with info within the new yr.

“The first methodology that Congress can use to carry federal companies accountable is through appropriations,” mentioned Paul Winfree, former funds coverage director for President Donald Trump and a distinguished fellow at The Heritage Basis. “They shouldn’t be appropriating till they’ve discovered simply how you can use their oversight powers.” (The Each day Sign is the multimedia information group of The Heritage Basis.)

Passage of the omnibus spending invoice would insulate the Biden administration from a spending struggle for the following yr. The invoice making its approach by means of the Senate funds the president’s agenda from by means of Sept. 30, 2023.

>>> No Shock: Republicans Received’t Maintain Biden Accountable

Comer was first elected to Congress in 2016 and served as rating member on the Home Oversight and Reform Committee whereas Democrats had the bulk. He’ll ascend to the highest spot as soon as the 118th Congress begins in lower than two weeks.

He’s amongst a vocal group of Home Republicans who’re warning about implications of passing the large spending invoice through the present lame-duck Congress moderately than ready till subsequent yr when Republicans have management of the Home.

“It’s no shock that Democrats are racing to make use of their waning days of energy to drive by means of trillions of {dollars} in new spending and a bunch of unhealthy insurance policies that can weaken our nation,” Comer instructed The Each day Sign. “Democrats’ unhinged, inflation-inducing spending binge during the last two years brought about 40-year excessive inflation that’s harming the pocketbooks of People and has allowed rampant authorities waste.”

Along with Comer, 13 Home Republicans are promising to oppose and stymie the legislative priorities of any Republican senator who votes in favor of the omnibus spending invoice this week. They’ve the help of doubtless incoming Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as properly.

>>> Warning Shot: Home Conservatives Threaten Revenge If GOP Senators Vote for Pelosi-Schumer Spending Invoice

Schumer already has the help of Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. They have been among the many 20 Senate Republicans who voted to maneuver ahead on the invoice Tuesday.

Earlier this yr, Home Republicans outlined an bold oversight agenda. It consists of an investigation of Homeland Safety Alejandro Mayorkas’ failures resulting in the border disaster, the federal government’s collusion with Massive Tech to censor speech, the origins of COVID-19, Hunter Biden’s corrupt enterprise dealings, the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, politicization of the FBI, the administration’s promotion of vital race concept, and plenty of different matters.

By voting for the $1.7 trillion spending invoice, Senate Republicans would strip their Home counterparts of the leverage they want on all these investigations and extra by giving Biden and Democrats precisely what they need—cash to proceed on, unaffected, for an additional yr.

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