House Rep. Greg Steube on why he voted against ending the shutdown

Key Concepts

• Government Shutdown: A situation where federal government operations cease due to a failure to pass appropriations bills.
• Health Care Subsidies: Financial assistance provided to individuals to help them afford health insurance.
• Phone Records Subpoena: A legal order compelling the production of phone records.
• Special Counsel: An attorney appointed to investigate a particular matter, often involving high-ranking officials.
• Appropriations Bill: A legislative bill that authorizes government spending.
• Cause of Action: A legal claim that allows a party to sue another party.
• Affirmative Defenses: Legal arguments that, if proven, can defeat a plaintiff's claim.
• Discharge Petition: A procedural tool in the House of Representatives to bring a bill to the floor for a vote, bypassing committee.
• Stock Trading Ban for Members of Congress: A proposed regulation to prohibit lawmakers from trading individual stocks.

Government Reopening and Controversial Senate Provision

The federal government reopened today after a 43-day shutdown, the longest in US history, following President Trump signing a funding bill. This shutdown significantly impacted millions of Americans. A key point of contention is that Democrats were unable to secure an extension of health care subsidies, leading to frustration over a perceived healthcare crisis. One representative described the situation as "a betrayal of working people who are seeing their health insurance premiums rise double and triple."

A significant and controversial provision included in the funding bill allows senators to sue the government for up to $500,000 if their phone records are investigated without notification. This provision arose after eight Republican senators had their phone records subpoenaed by Special Counsel Jack Smith during his investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Uproar Over Senate Provision

The inclusion of this provision sparked an uproar, with some lawmakers accusing it of being "snuck into the funding bill." Congressman Greg Stweie (R-FL) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) were among the two House Republicans who voted against the funding bill. Congressman Stweie stated, "I could not in good conscience support a resolution that creates a self-indulgent legal provision for certain senators to enrich themselves by suing the Justice Department using taxpayer dollars."

Congressman Stweie's Perspective

Congressman Stweie elaborated on his opposition, highlighting that the provision was discovered late, just before the vote. He noted that while some members of the Rules Committee, like Austin Scott and Chip Roy, had concerns, the Speaker's office did not pursue removing it. Stweie emphasized his inability to vote for a bill that creates a specific legal avenue for eight or nine senators to sue the Department of Justice, with limited defenses for the DOJ and a guaranteed $500,000 per transaction in taxpayer funds. He described this as "the swampiest thing they've ever heard" and "frustrating" for a member of Congress to see senators enriching themselves.

Lindsey Graham's Stance and Stweie's Reaction

Senator Lindsey Graham, whose phone data was accessed by Jack Smith, stated his intention to sue under the new provision, aiming to make such actions "so painful no one ever does this again." Congressman Stweie reacted by saying he would not vote to give Senator Graham half a million dollars. He believes Graham is free to sue under current law but that creating a specific legal cause of action with guaranteed damages and limited DOJ defenses is inappropriate.

Speaker Johnson's Proposed Solution and Stweie's Skepticism

Speaker Johnson has indicated a plan to hold a vote to remove the provision. However, Congressman Stweie expressed skepticism about its feasibility. He clarified that the provision cannot be removed from the bill already signed into law. Instead, Speaker Johnson intends to introduce a standalone bill to repeal the section. Stweie doubts the Senate leadership, which he claims "jammed" the House with the package, would bring such a bill to the floor for a vote, especially needing 60 votes. He believes Senator Thune, as Senate President, would need to make that decision, and given the Senate's role in inserting the language, it's unlikely they would then vote to remove it.

Motivation Behind the Provision

Stweie believes the provision was inserted to enable specific senators to sue the DOJ for damages. He reiterates his disapproval of such language being included in an appropriations bill, especially when the House was given a simple "yes or no" vote. He felt forced to choose between supporting a bill that could enrich senators or voting against government funding.

Jeffrey Epstein Files Resolution

The House is slated to vote on a resolution to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein as early as next week. Congressman Stweie plans to vote "yes" and anticipates that 40 to 50 Republicans will join him. He stated that his district and the White House have expressed a desire for transparency.

White House Pushback and Stweie's Stance on Victims

Regarding potential pushback from the White House, Stweie mentioned he did not sign the discharge petition because he felt it did not go far enough to protect the victims. He hopes that if the bill passes to the Senate, the language will be reviewed to ensure victim protection. He has not received direct pressure from the administration regarding his stance.

White House Opposition to Full Release

Stweie believes it is a mistake for the White House to oppose the full release of the Epstein files, given the transparency of the current administration. He supports allowing the American people to see everything, provided it protects victims' identities. While some victims have requested full release, Stweie emphasizes the right of anonymous victims to remain protected.

Stock Trading Ban for Members of Congress

The House will also hold a hearing on a stock trading ban for members of Congress next week. Congressman Stweie has long supported this initiative and personally avoids individual stock investments, opting for mutual funds and 401ks. He believes a ban would be broadly supported by both Republicans and Democrats and would improve public perception of Congress.

Conclusion

The summary covers the reopening of the government after a lengthy shutdown, highlighting the controversial provision allowing senators to sue the DOJ for phone record investigations. It details Congressman Stweie's strong opposition to this provision, his reasoning, and his skepticism about its removal. The summary also touches upon the upcoming vote on the Jeffrey Epstein files and Congressman Stweie's support for a stock trading ban for members of Congress.