I’m So Old I Remember When The GOP Promised They Wouldn’t Attempt A National Abortion Ban

It Was Just About States’ Rights (Like The Civil War)

Of course, the extremists among the House Republicans— a clear majority— are trying to ban abortions nationally. Step one is to ban mail delivery of abortion pills. They have no chance of getting that through the Senate let alone getting it signed by Biden. But it’s a messaging bill, good for their far right base. But, terrible for the few more mainstream Republicans left in Congress who have to appeal to independent and swing voters. This will give you an idea about how independent voters feel about this kind of thing:

Worse, the GOP is trying to force this extreme measure through as part of a Department of Agriculture funding bill that absolutely must pass. About a dozen Republicans have told McCarthy that if he doesn’t stand up to the extremists and remove it from the bill, they’ll vote NO, killing it.

Most of the opponents are anti-choice conservatives who need to persuade swing voters that they’re not extremists-- or they won't be reelected. One of the most likely Republicans to be defeated is upstate New York con-man, Mike Lawler, who is almost sure to be replaced next year by Mondaire Jones. Lawler told Politico that “To me, some of these issues that are being dealt with should be dealt with at the state level. And that’s it. Some states allow it to be mailed, some don't. That should be a decision that the states make.”

Politico also reported that the group is being led by McCarthy loyalists in blue districts David Valadao (CA) and Marc Molinaro (NY). Both represent districts with important agricultural sectors and Molinaro himself is on the Agriculture Committee. Other members of the committee who could find themselves in trouble if it passes include freshmen Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR), John Duarte (CA), Zach Nunn (IA), Monica De La Cruz (TX), Derrick Van Orden (WI) and Max Miller (OH) plus Brad Finstad (MN) and Don Bacon (NE).

Meredith Lee Hill and Sarah Ferris reported that “Several senior GOP lawmakers and aides are privately skeptical that the full House can approve that spending bill before Friday afternoon, when the House is set to leave for August recess. (They’re more optimistic that a separate spending bill, which funds the Veterans Affairs Department and military construction, can pass. GOP leaders, though, are still whipping it intensely.) McCarthy and his top lieutenants are pressing GOP members to back the bills, in order to avoid the Democratic-majority Senate pushing their own omnibus funding package to avert a looming government shutdown on Oct. 1… Republicans will still have to take tough votes in the bill funding agriculture programs. House Appropriations Republicans already approved, as part of the bill, steep cuts to nutrition programs, including for low-income moms and babies.”

Freedom Caucus members are also demanding new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that serves 41 million low-income Americans. But, as Politico first reported, the House parliamentarian has ruled out their leading amendment to do so, which is being pushed by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL). GOP leaders keeping the measure out of the final bill would be a positive step for [mainstream conservative] Republicans, who have publicly warned against new SNAP restrictions following the debt limit fight.

But Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry (R-PA), asked if he’s still pushing for the SNAP work requirements to be in the final appropriations bill through another procedural move, replied: “Absolutely.”

Can these extremists get away with forcing this— and other crazy provisions— into these bills? Of course they can. They have the weakest speaker in history that they can push around with impunity. And… Club for Growth is backing them with cash. I don’t know if Club for Growth’s announcement that they had raised a $20 million warchest to protect the new neo-Nazi caucus, THE TWENTY-- Die Zwanzig-- specifically, but it certainly many of the same characters. Club for Growth says they’ve raised the money to protect the 20 who opposed McCarthy’s speakership bid:

• Eli Crane (AZ)

• Andy Biggs (AZ)

• Paul Gosar (AZ)

• Lauren Boebert (CO)

• Matt Gaetz (FL)

• Anna Paulina Luna (FL)

• Byron Donalds (FL)

• Andrew Clyde (GA)

• Mary Miller (IL)

• Andy Harris (MD)

• Matt Rosendale (MT)

• Dan Bishop (NC)

• Josh Brecheen (OK)

• Scott Perry (PA)

• Ralph Norman (SC)

• Andy Ogles (TN)

• Keith Self (TX)

• Chip Roy 9tx0

• Michael Cloud (TX)

• Bob Good (VA)

The far right nut who heads Club for Growth, Indiana former congressman David McIntosh: “Making our financial commitment public may serve as an effective deterrent to some potential challengers,” he wrote. “Moderate donors and candidates seeking to settle scores should save their money, because we are prepared to win at all costs.”

The Club’s memo appears intended to spook any McCarthy allies plotting against those who voted against his speaker bid. McIntosh noted that his group helped elect 17 of the 20 members and praised them for their work “to advance conservative priorities and establish a more transparent and accountable legislative process in the House during the Speaker negotiations in January.”

So far, hardly any members of the group have attracted primary challengers who have managed to raise any serious money.

But primary challenges have been top of mind for the Club, which agreed to support McCarthy’s speakership in exchange for a truce with his largest super PAC. That group, the Congressional Leadership Fund, vowed to refrain from spending in open-seat primaries in deep red districts— something it did only rarely anyway. And it already does not spend against Republican incumbents.

In the memo, the Club also noted that it would also help the three members of the 20 who could be most at risk from Democrats in a general election: Boebert, Luna and Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.). Boebert’s 2022 challenger, Adam Frisch, is running again after nearly besting her last fall. He announced raising a whopping $2.6 million in the second quarter of this year.