Shenanigans from the Speaker and House leaders took the vote for the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, to the House floor instead of going through the Rules Committee. The conference report was considered under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority (Rules Committee only needs one-third). The bipartisan package easily cleared that threshold on a 310-118 vote. The bill was considered under suspension of the rules because House leaders were concerned they would not have majority backing for a rule to govern debate, given the opposition of those conservatives and of Democrats, who normally vote against GOP rules.
The bill authorized a record $886 billion in annual military spending. Separate from the appropriations bills that set government spending levels, the NDAA authorizes everything from pay raises for the troops – this year’s will be 5.2% – to purchases of ships, ammunition and aircraft as well as policies such as measures to “help” Ukraine and pushback against China in the Indo-Pacific.
The fiscal 2024 NDAA also includes a four-month extension of a disputed domestic surveillance authority, giving lawmakers more time to either reform or keep the program, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). To put this in perspective this was meant to be used against terrorists, in fact it has been used 250,000 times against Americans without a warrant. It by-passes a basic Constitutional right.
Listen as Glenn talk to Rep. Thomas Massie who tells of the Stasi tricks used to lean on the Republicans who voted for FISA. AAAnd then listen to him explode.
.@RepThomasMassie tells me that 147 Republicans voted in favor of the unconstitutional FISA extension because they were told if it didn't pass, the government couldn't spy on terrorists. If you're in Congress, and if you fell into that trap, you're not smart enough to be in DC. pic.twitter.com/uDlBU1ZOHf
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) December 15, 2023