The Cartel Tactic of the Packaged Vote
The packaged vote provides cover for Members who are able to claim the "had" to vote for a bad amendment, because it was the only way to pass the "good" one.
This is a guest article from Michelle Martin, State Director of Florida for Citizens for Renewing America.
This article updates you on TWO issues: The FISA vote (passed) and the Ukraine/Israeli funding bill (coming up).
FISA
House Republicans voted in FAVOR of allowing warrantless surveillance on American Citizens just like me and you. Let's not believe the gaslighting that this was an issue of "national security." I’ll believe they care about national security when they stop funding the invasion at the border.
House Republicans were told that from 2021-2022, the FBI conducted 3 million searches on Americans without probable cause. They also knew that the FBI violated their own rules 278 THOUSAND times last year as they were conducting their searches. Yet, House Members voted to continue to fund FISA without protecting Americans from warrantless spying—in direct violation of the 4th Amendment. Just a reminder: Members of Congress voted to EXEMPT themselves from that same illegal surveillance.
Do you know how your member voted? MY member, Vern Buchanan, betrayed his constituents, protecting himself but not us from the weaponized FBI.
Watch the video if you have the stomach for it.
UKRAINE/ISRAEL FUNDING VOTE
Speaker Johnson is putting something forward that is fundamentally dishonest, and I wanted to walk you through it so you can explain to your friends what's really happening.
WATCH VIDEO AS RUSS VOUGHT EXPLAINS
Mike Johnson is trying to make us believe that funding for Ukraine and Israel are going to be voted on separately. This isn't accurate. Here's why ...
Before bills ever get to the floor, they first go through the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee determines the "rules" for how Members will vote on a bill (single vote/package vote, etc).
Once the Rules Committee determines how the bill will be voted on, their decision is sent to the floor for a procedural vote. This has become sort of a rubber stamp, but it's actually an opportunity for Members to voice a concern or disagreement (should they have the courage).
Once the procedural vote passes, the House will vote on the actual bill.
There is a vote for a procedural bill this week that would accept the terms presented by the Rules Committee, ie: funding for Ukraine will be packaged in a single vote with funding Israel.
If they pass the procedural vote without sending it back to the Rules Committee, then the bill will go to the House Floor as a SINGLE VOTE BILL. That means ... it doesn't matter if a the majority of US Citizens want to stop sending money to Ukraine. The Members will be “forced” to pass it in order to fund Israel.
We are in this position for two reasons:
Mike Johnson is caving on his commitment to the American people. Remember when he said he will not fund Ukraine without securing our border?
There is a belief in DC that procedural votes are not policy votes. This myth has endured for three decades and the Cartel loves it. Members actually like it, too, because it allows them to claim no responsibility when they vote for packaged deals. This is why you hear Members say, "I had to vote for [insert very bad thing here; ex: Ukraine Funding or Warrantless Surveillance], because I couldn't say no to [insert good thing here; ex: support for Israel and National Security.] They act powerless, but THEY HAVE LEVERAGE during the process/procedural vote.
Think of this sort of like the formality surrounding Roberts Rules of Order--a bit fussy, but the process allows multiple places for people to object, dialogue, revise, etc.
If the procedural rule passes this week, then funding for Ukraine and Israel will be sent to the House as a single vote.
Packaging it like this is a TACTIC. This is happening by design.
We have been able to delay funding for Ukraine for over a year, because the American people have had it with sending money to secure Ukraine's border but not our own.
Mike Johnson and House Leadership are using the fact that Israel was attacked to dislodge more Ukraine funding by deploying the “packaged vote” tactic.
Members who CLAIM they do not/will not give more funding to Ukraine, must VOTE AGAINST THE RULE that would bring the packaged bill to a house vote.
NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL
Members keep hiding behind the excuse that they have no power. But they do.
Members can stop this bad bill right now—this week—by voting NO on the procedural vote and insisting Ukraine and Israel are presented as independent votes.
The “packaged vote” tactic is a critical concept to understand so that when your Rep says he had to vote to fund Ukraine because he couldn't deny support to Israel, you can have a more honest and robust conversation with him. Did he use the procedural vote to stop the packaged deal so he wouldn’t find himself in that position?
Let's become a government of, by, and for the people. The first step is in understanding how Government works.
Next Steps:
Find out how your member voted on the FISA bill and contact the office with a thank you or with a response that reflects your reaction
Contact your Member of Congress and tell him/her to vote no on the procedural bill, because you want a separate vote for the funding for Israel.
Michelle Martin is the State Director of Florida for Citizens Renewing America. You can reach her at michelle@citizensrenewingamerica.com