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Time is running out for Congress to pass spending legislation to fund the government, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing opposition from his caucus, as well as some floating calls for his ousting.- House conservatives are demanding policy concessions be included during the appropriations process, some are floating McCarthy’s removal and political experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation they view the speaker as in a “weak” position, despite launching an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
- “I don’t think that opening an inquiry is going to help, I don’t think keeping the government open is going to help to quell these calls for a motion to vacate,” Josh Huder, senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute, told the DCNF.
With a possible government shutdown just weeks away, House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy is once again fielding challenges among his caucus to pass spending bills as well as looming calls for his ousting.
Congress has until Sept. 30 to either pass 12 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to fund the government, but House conservatives’ demands have put McCarthy in a “weak” position, political experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Some McCarthy detractors have threatened the speaker with a motion to vacate if he doesn’t follow through on policy promises, and the experts don’t see any potential spending concessions, or even the recent launch of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, as enough to stave off those calls.
“He’s in a sort of an impossible position. And that’s why we’re at where we’re at. We can’t pass spending bills. We can’t get the [continuing resolution] across the table because the political realities of the Republican Party make it so that he doesn’t really have the authority to put anything on the floor, much less strike a deal with anyone,” Josh Huder, senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute, told the DCNF. “He made a bunch of promises that he just could not deliver the votes for, and so now he’s kind of what his back against the wall.”
McCarthy secured the gavel in January on the 15th vote after agreeing to a rules package to add House Freedom Caucus (HFC) members to the Rules Committee, cap spending at Fiscal Year 2022 levels and establish a single-member motion to vacate the speaker, allowing just one unsatisfied representative to call a vote on his removal. During debt ceiling negotiations, McCarthy led the House in passing the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which enabled the government to acquire unlimited debt through Jan. 1, 2025, freeze non-defense discretionary spending at Fiscal Year 2022 levels, claw back unspent COVID-19 stimulus funds and other provisions.
The HFC released a list of demands on Aug. 12 that must be included in the spending bills to gain the members’ support, including the Secure the Border Act, addressing the “weaponization” of the DOJ and terminating the Pentagon’s “woke policies.” The Caucus won’t support a continuing resolution or appropriations that provide “any blank check for Ukraine.”
“You had [McCarthy’s] own conference almost come to blows on the floor of the House over the last few holdouts,” Jeremy Mayer, associate professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, told the DCNF. “McCarthy isn’t just weak because his margin is narrow … and he’s not just weak because his party is divided. But the combination of how divided his caucus is, and how narrow the margin is, as well as the fact that there is a Freedom Caucus that doesn’t care about things that have kept other fringe movements among the Democrats, Republicans in line. Like they don’t care about a shutdown.”
Huder and Mayer insisted McCarthy does not have the votes to deliver on the provisions that the HFC is demanding, and both fear a government shutdown is likely.
Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale, one of the 20 McCarthy holdouts from his speakership bid, slammed the speaker for his handling of the spending fight and hinted at the vulnerability of his leadership position in a statement to the DCNF.
“I am extremely disappointed in the Speaker’s lack of leadership. The appropriations bills should ALL have been completed by the end of June, allowing ample time for analysis and input from Congress and the general public,” Rosendale told the DCNF in a statement. “Whether it is planned or negligence, Speaker McCarthy has put the House on a path towards passing a CR and or an omnibus, which will no doubt cost the taxpayers $7 trillion a year, adding $2 trillion a year to the national debt.
“This is unacceptable to Montanans, and if McCarthy chooses to solicit support from Democrats to pass any such provisions, as he did with the debt ceiling package, which had more Democrat support than Republican, his allegiance will be clear, and his position will surely be in jeopardy,” Rosendale added.
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Texas Rep. Chip Roy criticized McCarthy and Republican leadership for being “afraid” of a government shutdown during an interview with Glenn Beck Thursday, which his team pointed the DCNF toward upon request for comment.
“We have to use the power of the purse to force change. So we are trying to force Kevin and the leadership of the Republican Conference to understand that now is the time to force Biden to come to the table,” said Roy.
After several House Republicans, like Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, pushed McCarthy to launch an impeachment inquiry into Biden, the speaker officially announced the move Tuesday.
“This was an attempt to throw a bone to the pack of wolves that were after McCarthy and after a shutdown, and the problem is that bone they already expected. They believe it’s theirs,” Mayer of the impeachment inquiry. “It didn’t seem to work, it just made them hungrier for more.”
Gaetz has been vocal about ousting McCarthy, and the speaker’s move to launch an impeachment inquiry has not quelled his sentiment.
“Impeachment is not some get-out-of-jail-free card for Kevin McCarthy on the motion to vacate,” Gaetz wrote in a tweet a spokesperson pointed the DCNF toward upon request for comment. “This is about the Biden administration’s policy choices that the American people abhor. A vote for a continuing resolution is a vote for continuing election interference from Jack Smith, the Green New Deal, and inflationary spending.”
Huder believes it’s not a question of if there will be a motion to vacate, but a matter of when, he told the DCNF.
“I almost don’t think it matters if there’s a formal move to vacate him because he’s so weak right now, he’s barely speaker. It is not a leadership position,” said Mayer.
McCarthy reportedly challenged those threatening a call for his removal, and told his colleagues in a closed door meeting on Thursday to “file the f***ing motion.”
“I don’t think that opening an inquiry is going to help, I don’t think keeping the government open is going to help to quell these calls for a motion to vacate,” said Huder. “At the end of the day, though, the motion to vacate is not going to remove him from the speakership, but it would damage his political capital and political sway within the chamber.”
Some prominent Republicans have since voiced support of McCarthy amid the spending fight, impeachment inquiry and calls for his ousting.
“I support Speaker McCarthy. He’s the right man for the job,” House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio told the DCNF in a statement.
“There are over 200 of us who are prepared to vote for McCarthy not just fifteen times, but fifty. McCarthy has nothing to worry about,” Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, an ally of the speaker, told the DCNF in a statement.
Colorado Rep. Ken Buck isn’t calling for the speaker’s removal, and is focused on funding the government.
“Congressman Buck’s priority is to pass a continuing resolution and avoid a government shutdown. He does want to keep spending levels to the previously-agreed to 2022 levels,” Victoria Marshall, spokesperson for Buck, told the DCNF.
The House Freedom Caucus didn’t immediately respond to the DCNF’s requests for comment.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
