On Tuesday, we noted that there would be many important spending cutting amendment offered on the floor to the Commerce, Justice, and Science bill (H.R. 5326).  Well, a number of conservatives offered amendments to cut or eliminate wasteful, harmful, and unconstitutional programs.  Most notably, we focused on Mike Pompeo’s amendment to eliminate the stimulus program – Economic Development Administration.   The House defeated most of them, and in doing so, turned away about $4 billion more in spending cuts.  See how many of them were supported by your member of Congress.  Remember that those who are unwilling to eliminate these relatively small programs and agencies are not likely to have the guts to enact entitlement reform.

On Wednesday, Senator Thune told Politico:  “It’s the environment we’re living in right now. There are lots of folks who are watching every member’s voting records; you’re not only going to be attacked by your opponent on the Democrat side, but there are obviously Republicans out there who may not like when you’ve been around a few years and you got a lot of votes.”

Thune is correct.  We are spotlighting voting records, and it is clearly working.  Although most of the spending cut amendment failed this week, most of them garnered support from more than half the conference.

Here are the results from some of the key amendments:

• Pompeo Amendment to abolish the Economic Development Administration [roll call #207]
• Broun amendment that would cut 3% from salaries and expenses accounts covered in the bill and direct $874.6 million to the bill’s spending reduction account. [Roll call #203]
• McClintock amendment that would cut $277.8 million from wasteful and protectionist programs in the International Trade Administration.  [Roll call #204]
• Scalise amendment that would reduce funding for Economic Development Administration salaries and expenses by $7.5 million and also reduce funding for the Commerce Department’s management account by $10.7 million. The amendment would direct $18.2 million to the spending reduction account. [roll call #206]
• Quayle amendment that would cut $21 million provided for industrial technology services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). [roll call #208]
• Harris amendment that would cut $542,000 from global warming programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [roll call #209] Passed
• Broun amendment that cut $15 million  for expenses associated with the restoration of Pacific salmon populations [roll call #211]
• Grimm amendment that would increase funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program by $126 million.  This is another federal intrusion into law enforcement that has not shown successful results.  [roll call #214] Passed
• Flake amendment that would cut $1.2 billion from the National Science Foundation. [roll call #217]
• Scott, R-Ga., amendment to abolish Legal Services Corp.[roll call #219]
• Broun amendment that would cut 12.2% from the entire bill. [roll call #222]

Cross-posted from The Madison Project