Washington, DC - The Club for Growth today announced that it would not make the debt limit proposal offered by the House Republican Leadership a “Key Vote” on its annual congressional scorecard. Club for Growth President Chris Chocola also issued the following statement: 

“The Club for Growth will not oppose tomorrow’s vote on the debt ceiling,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Club for Growth will, on the other hand, strongly oppose any efforts during the upcoming debate over the continuing resolution and sequester that fail to arrest out-of-control spending and put sensible limits on the growth of government.” 

Washington, DC - The Club for Growth today praised the efforts of fiscal conservatives, led by Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), to offset disaster appropriations for Hurricane Sandy with an across-the-board spending cut to discretionary spending. The amendment was co-sponsored by Reps. McClintock (R-CA), Duncan (R-SC), and Lummis (R-WY): 

“Congressman Mulvaney and his allies deserve praise for their efforts to provide an offset to the billions of dollars worth of unpaid-for spending on Sandy relief,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “Eventually, we will have to separate the things we want from our government from the things we need. And for things we decide we need, we will have to figure out a way to pay for them. We urge fiscal conservatives like Mulvaney, Duncan, McClintock, and Lummis to continue their fight to halt America’s steady decline into a debt crisis.”

Washington, DC - The Club for Growth PAC congratulated Congressman Tim Scott (R-SC) on his selection to replace Senator Jim DeMint, who is leaving to head the Heritage Foundation. The Club’s PAC endorsed and strongly supported Congressman Scott in his primary race in 2010, helping him win a run-off against the son of former U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond: 

“Governor Haley has made a great choice to replace a great Senator. Her pick is truly a fantastic one for fiscal conservatives. The Club for Growth PAC congratulates Congressman Scott on his selection – we couldn’t be happier for him,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “Congressman Scott is a fighter for limited government and pro-growth policies in Washington and we can’t wait to see him in the Senate.” 

Congressman Scott has a lifetime 92% rating on the Club for Growth’s congressional scorecard.

Washington, DC - The Club for Growth today issued the following statement in response to a report in the Washington Post that Speaker John Boehner offered to raise the debt ceiling as part of his ongoing negotiations with President Barack Obama over the so-called “fiscal cliff”: 

“First Speaker Boehner offered to raise tax rates after promising not to, and now he’s offering to raise the debt ceiling. Raising tax rates is anti-growth and raising the debt ceiling is pro-government growth – and this is the Republican position?” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola.  “Raising the debt ceiling would give away one of the best tools the Republicans have in their arsenal to force real reform. The debt ceiling is the only mechanism in law that can restrain spending and hitting it forces Washington to confront its spending problem. Raising the debt limit again simply kicks the can down the road. Instead of raising the debt ceiling, the Republicans should use it to force President Obama and the Democrats to accept structural reforms to entitlements, which are the drivers of our debt.” 

“Our nation can’t afford to keep its addiction to spending another year. Ignoring our spending problem is to ignore reality,” added Chocola.

Washington, DC - The Club for Growth today issued the following statement in reaction to news that United States Senator Jim DeMint is resigning from the Senate to run the Heritage Foundation: 

“Senator DeMint has done more to advance the cause of freedom and liberty in Congress than anyone else since his election,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “Senator DeMint is a champion of economic freedom, a defender of free markets, and one of the strongest allies the Club for Growth has had in the United States Senate. We wish him nothing but the best in his new role at Heritage.”

Obviously, many of you have been getting different, and often confusing, explanations as to why the GOP Steering Committee kicked fiscally conservative Congressmen Justin Amash, David Schweikert, and Tim Huelskamp off of their previous committee assignments. As a helpful reference, here is the spin pushed by House GOP leadership in the last 48 hours, in chronological order:
 

It had nothing to do with their ideology, we swear!

A look at House GOP Spin on their purge of fiscal conservatives 

“A House leadership aide said the Steering Committee reached its decision after reviewing a matrix that included, among other factors, their voting records. The moves, the leadership aide said, could be fairly described as fallout from their House votes.” (National Journal, 12/3/12) 

“According to a source, Schweikert was told that he was ousted in part because his ‘votes were not in lockstep with leadership.’” (Roll Call, 12/3/12) 

"Changes are made for a variety of reasons, most often at the request of committee chairs.” (US News and World Report, 12/4/12) 

“Huelskamp and Amash, along with Reps. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and Walter Jones, R-N.C., lost their seats on the budget panel and House Financial Services Committee after the GOP conference determined they were "not team players," in the words of one Republican aide.” (NBC News, 12/4/12) 

“And Schweikert engendered significant anger amongst elements of leadership during his reelection bid against fellow Republican Ben Quayle. He is also widely considered by leadership to be the source of an embarrassing story this summer about Republican members’ drunken swimming session in the Sea of Galilee.” (BuzzFeed.com, 12/5/12) 

“Boehner addressed the firestorm over the removal of four lawmakers from plum committee assignments at the weekly GOP conference meeting. According to Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), one of the lawmakers denied a spot on his current committee in the next Congress, Boehner "did note that 'we [leadership] have punished four members,' he claimed that it had nothing to do with their conservative ideology, but had to do with their voting patterns." (The Hill, 12/5/12)

Washington, DC - The Club for Growth PAC today called on the House GOP Steering Committee to release the list of votes it used to determine how Republican members of Congress received their committee assignments. 

According to The Hill, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) was told by Speaker John Boehner that removing fiscally conservative members of Congress from their committee assignments, “had nothing to do with their conservative ideology, but had to do with their voting patterns." 

“Conservatives want to know if the Republican leadership is more interested in helping their cronies and friends or in advancing conservative policy on the Hill,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Club for Growth frequently ranks members of Congress based on their commitment to economic freedom, and we post all of the votes we use on our website for the world to see. The House Republican Steering Committee should do the same.” 

“The Club for Growth PAC stands ready to make sure that Republican primary voters are also watching the voting patterns of the big government crowd in the House GOP,” added Chocola.

Washington, DC - The Club for Growth today praised the conservative voting records of Congressmen David Schweikert (R-AZ), Justin Amash (R-MI) and Tim Huelskamp (R-KS). All three members of Congress were removed from their committee assignments as a consequence of their principled stands on behalf of pro-growth policies, often bringing them in conflict with the leadership of their own party. 

According to the National Journal, the House Republican Steering Committee, which determines what Republicans serve on what committees, considered each of these lawmaker’s voting records: “A House leadership aide said the Steering Committee reached its decision after reviewing a matrix that included, among other factors, their voting records. The moves, the leadership aide said, could be fairly described as fallout from their House votes.” 

Congressmen Amash and Huelskamp have lifetime 100% ratings on the Club for Growth Congressional Scorecard. Congressman Schweikert has a 93%. All three were supported by the Club for Growth PAC in their first elections to the House. 

“Congressmen Schweikert, Huelskamp, and Amash are now free of the last remnants of establishment leverage against them. We expect that these three defenders of economic freedom will become even bolder in their efforts to defend the taxpayers against the big spenders in both parties,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The dirty little secret in Congress is that while refusing to kowtow to the wishes of party leaders can sometimes cost you some perks in Washington, the taxpayers back home are grateful. Schweikert, Huelskamp, and Amash are following in the honorable footsteps of Jeff Flake, Pat Toomey, Tom Coburn, and Jim DeMint, all of whom consistently championed limited-government principles in the House - often in the face of pressure from party leaders - and are now doing so in the Senate. Schweikert, Huelskamp, and Amash have bright futures in the Republican Party, and the Club for Growth PAC looks forward to supporting them, just as we did Flake, Toomey, Coburn, and DeMint.”

The GOP Establishment says “Yes”, but Recent History says “No”
Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: “The problem is that Congresswoman Capito’s record looks a whole lot like the establishment candidates who lost this year.” 

Washington, DC - Today, Club for Growth PAC President Chris Chocola issued the following statement on news that Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito is running for the U.S. Senate in West Virginia: 

“This year, the Republican establishment cheered the U.S. Senate candidacies of Congressmen Denny Rehberg and Rick Berg and former Congresswoman Heather Wilson.  All three had the ‘right’ resumes, and all three had no ‘divisive’ primaries. Yet all three lost in races that were thought to be winnable,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “These three supposedly ‘electable’ Republican candidates also had something else in common: consistent support for bailouts, debt increases, earmarks, and massive expansions of big-government spending programs.” 

“Today, along comes Rep. Shelley Moore Capito. Her candidacy will undoubtedly be cheered by the GOP establishment, and dire warnings will be issued against any ‘divisive’ primary challenges, lest other candidates hurt Capito’s chances of winning,” continued Chocola. “The problem is that Congresswoman Capito’s record looks a whole lot like the establishment candidates who lost this year. Congresswoman Capito has a long record of support of bailouts, pork, and bigger government. She voted to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for massive expansions of government-run health insurance, giveaways to big labor, and repeatedly voted to continue funding for wasteful earmarks like an Exploratorium in San Francisco and an Aquarium in South Carolina. That’s not the formula for GOP success in U.S. Senate races.” 

“The way back for the Republican Party is the way of Jeff Flake, Ted Cruz, Pat Toomey, Marco Rubio, Ron Johnson, Rand Paul, and Mike Lee.  All were supported by the Club for Growth PAC and grassroots Republicans. All are consistent supporters of limited government principles. All were winners because they could clearly articulate the pro-growth economic message. They are the future of the Republican Party,” concluded Chocola. 

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito’s Anti-Growth Record Includes:
·        Has never voted for a conservative Republican Study Committee Budget (RCV #68, 2001; RCV #79, 2003, RCV #90, 2004; RCV #83, 2005; RCV #156, 2006; RCV #211, 2007; RCV #140, 2008; RCV #189, 2009, RCV #275, 2011)
·        Voted for SCHIP, the massive expansion of government-run health insurance five times, including once in 2007 when she was one of just five Republicans to do so. (RCV #787, 2007; RCV #906, 2007; RCV #1009, 2007; RCV #16, 2009; RCV #50, 2009)
·        Voted for “Cash for Clunkers” (RCV #314, 2009; RCV #682, 2009)
·        Voted for the $300 billion bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (RCV #519, 2008)
·        Voted for the Auto Bailout (RCV #690, 2008)
·        Voted for No Child Left Behind (RCV #497, 2001)
·        Voted for the August 2011 deal that raised the  debt limit by trillions of dollars (RCV #690, 2011)
·        Repeatedly voted against blocking “Davis-Bacon” wage requirements (RCV #488, 2007; RCV #807, 2007; RCV #15, 2008; RCV #561, 2008; RCV #122, 2009; RCV #144, 2011; RCV #395, 2011; RCV #414, 2011; RCV #585, 2011)
·        Repeatedly voted for wasteful earmark spending like the Bronx Council for the Arts (RCV #335, 2006), an American Ballet Theatre (RCV #668, 2007), an Exploratorium in San Francisco (RCV #664, 2007), an Aquarium in South Carolina (RCV #669, 2007), and Grape genetics research (RCV #810, 2007)
·        Voted for McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform (RCV #34, 2002) 

Washington, DC - Tonight, the Club for Growth PAC congratulated former Congressman Matt Salmon on his victory in Arizona’s 5^th Congressional District. The Club for Growth PAC bundled approximately $135,000 to Salmon’s campaign. 

“The Club for Growth PAC congratulates Congressman-elect Matt Salmon on his return to Congress,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Club’s PAC endorsed Matt because he has a record of fighting to limit government and pass pro-growth policies, and we are confident he will continue that fight when he returns to Congress next year.”