Jason Chaffetz on Life

Political pundits between the beltways were somewhat shocked to hear that five term Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT 3rd) had decided not to run for another term.  Chaffetz had gained prominence becoming the House Government Reform Committee Chair, and had quixotically threw his hat in the ring in October 2015 when former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH 8th) was ousted from the Speaker's chair, What was more jarring was the fact that Chaffetz suggested that he might not finish out his term. 

Since the fifty year old Rep. Chaffetz is politically youthful and ambitious, some have suggested that he is making this move to earn some good money for his family before launching a gubernatorial campaign in Utah in 2020.  Others have worried that deep state intelligence agencies have something on him.  After all, the Secret Service leaked embarrassing employment information which Obama Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson had to apologize for in 2015 

Chaffets: FBI Handed Out Immunity Like Candy

Representative Jason Chaffets (R-UT 3rd), the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, expressed exasperation at trying to bring justice to the Clinton Email case. The news that Hillary Clinton's 25 year aide-de-camp Cheryl Mills allowed access to her computers only if federal investigators gave her immunity.  Chaffets quipped that immunity was being handed out like candy. 

Bryan Pagliano, the IT "expert" who Hillary turned to in order to dispose of her unwanted State Department emails, was granted immunity but refused to testify before Congress despite being subpoenaed. Immunity deals were also proffered to Clinton aide Heather Samuelson and then State Department Information Resource Management Director John Bethel.

Although it is little solace from those suffering from too many sweets, Uncle Sam ought to remember that too many candies rots the teeth, like the respect for the rule of law. 

Senatorial Sasse-iness (sic) on Choice for Speaker

Freshman Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) generated a social media storm as he chimed in on choices for the Speaker of House chair which will be open at the end of October.

It was unclear if Senator Sasse was tweeting tongue in cheek or it was serious Sasse-iness (sic) when he suggested electing American Enterprise Institute President Arthur Brooks for Speaker or if his choice epitomized the qualities of vision, hard work, resolve and wit which Sasse believes is key to be an effective Speaker.

Prior to his social media sharing, Sasse hoped that the Speaker's election would be a transformational debate on the direction of the country, as opposed a discussion as to whether conservatives could be placated.



Sasse did not express any favoritism towards the three announced Speaker candidates: Majority Leader Rep.  Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 23rd) who Speaker Boehner favors; Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL 8th) who first defeated Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL 8th now 9th and running for Senate) and House Government Reform Chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT 3rd).

[L] Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 23) [C] Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL 8th) [R] Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT 3rd)

When pressed about what Nebraskan voters thought about the Speaker's race, Sasse candidly quipped:  "You can't really go anywhere in Nebraska where anyone cases about that question. They don't care.  They think Congress sucks."

The House Republican caucus will meet on Thursday October 8th to vote for Speaker.  Rep. McCarthy insists that he has 200 votes for Speaker.  But the anonymity for votes in the Caucus might not yield as much support as the Majority Leader expects.

And if no candidate reaches 218 votes (or a majority if members vote "present" or miss the vote)  when the full House considers the measure, then an interim speaker takes over, which may be the Majority Leader. There is a concern that the two dozen Freedom Caucus members may vote in bloc and block McCarthy from winning.

It is interesting that the GOP Caucus has put off other votes on leadership, like a Majority Leader vote in case Mr. McCarthy is poised to ascend to the Speakership, until the day before current Speaker Boehner resigns. This might allow a candidate who has a plurality but not a majority time to garner more votes.  The timing also may put pressure on members not to invite chaos in the House.

Perhaps then Arthur Brooks in the big chair might not seem like such an outlandish idea.

h/t: Politico

Trey Gowdy on Arrogance and Infanticide

Cecile Richards, the President of Planned Parenthood of America, was testifying before Chairman Jason Chaffetz's (R-UT 3rd) House Oversight and Governmental Reform Committee about the over $500 million which the private organization receives from the Federal Government.

While Ms. Richards lacks the sarcastic zingers of her mother Gov. Ann Richards (D-TX), she gave smarmy testimony to chary conservative Congressmen in the wake of the Center for Medical Progress expose videos about Planned Parenthood selling baby parts for profit.  

The exchange with Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC 4th) shows the slow and methodical method of a prosecutor to build a foundation for a point and then box the witness into an uncomfortable corner.  Some have observed that Gowdy wiped the smile right off Ms. Richards face by the end of his five minutes of questioning.