In the News
By JACOB HOLMES
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $1.7 trillion spending bill on Friday to avoid a government shutdown, over the protest of most of Alabama’s representation.
Only Democrat Rep. Terri Sewell voted in favor of the bill, while every Republican representative opposed it as the vote mostly fell along party lines.
By Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.com
Several U.S. House members from Alabama on Friday slammed the $1.7 trillion spending bill that passed the lower chamber and awaits the president’s signature for what they claimed was full of waste and misplaced priorities.
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) was re-elected by his colleagues Tuesday to serve a third term as chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee (RPC).
Established in 1949, the RPC serves House Republicans in an advisory capacity on legislative proposals and to develop policy strategy. The committee also provides information to the House Republican Conferences on conservative policy solutions.
In a statement following his re-election as the committee’s 18th chairman, Palmer said this is “a pivotal time,” given the outstanding issues facing American families.
Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama is the House Republican Policy Committee Chairman. He joined Judy Woodruff to discuss his party's top priorities after the election.
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Judy Woodruff:
And now, for a Republican's perspective, we're joined by Representative Gary Palmer of Alabama. He's also the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee.
Congressman Palmer, welcome to the "NewsHour." Thank you for being here on this election night.
As next weeks midterm elections draw near, many Republicans in Congress are beginning to lay out their plans if the GOP gains majority control in the U.S. House and Senate.
While the top issues mentioned by the Republican leadership are inflation, crime, education, and energy, one Alabama member of Congress is calling for more of a focus on the burdensome regulations, which he believes hamper the growth of the U.S. economy.
Should the Republicans retake the U.S. House of Representatives in next week's midterm elections, they will still have to deal with a Nancy Pelosi-led House through the end of the year.
Among the items a potential lame-duck Congress will have to tackle is funding the government when the current continuing resolution expires on December 3.
That is a concern for U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.
The American Energy Alliance (AEA) released its “American Energy Scorecard” this week, which rates members of Congress and Senate based on their record of supporting energy production.
According to the scorecard, six members of the congressional delegation scored 100%, while one scored 0%.
Averting a government shutdown with hours to spare, Congress gave approval to a short-term funding package Friday that will continue federal operations until Dec. 16.
The stop-gap measure passed the U.S. House of Representatives 230-201; the Senate advanced the bill in a 72-25 vote Thursday.
Alabama’s congressional delegation voted 7-2 against the legislation.
Democratic leaders in the Senate unveiled a stop-gap funding bill this week to avoid a potential government shutdown Saturday.
The continuing resolution will keep spending at current levels and fund the government through Dec. 16. The bill passed a procedural vote on Tuesday and is making its way through the Senate.
In order to avoid a government shutdown the U.S. House of Representatives will also have to vote for the spending bill by the end of the month.