Politics

Does This Look Like a Party Serious About Spending Cuts?

Of course not

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As noted on Reason 24/7, several conservatives in the House have been removed from seats on the House Budget and House Financial Services Committees. From Roll Call:

Reps. David Schweikert of Arizona and Walter Jones of North Carolina were booted from the Financial Services Committee. Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan and Tim Huelskamp of Kansas were removed from the Budget Committee.

According to a source, Schweikert was told that he was ousted in part because his "votes were not in lockstep with leadership."

…All of the lawmakers other than Jones were rebellious right-wingers. Huelskamp and Amash, for instance, both voted against the budget proposed by Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin in committee and on the floor, because it did not cut spending fast enough. They also voted against the current continuing resolution that is funding the government through the end of March.

In addition to voting against the last continuing resolution of the budget-less fiscal year 2012, Amash, Huelskamp, Jones and Schweikert all voted against the Budget Control Act last summer that raised the debt ceiling and help set the scene of the upcoming fiscal cliff.