House GOP Republicans, including the offices of firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), told the Washington Examiner that Republicans would back using the government’s annual spending bill as a method to remove funding for the Department of Homeland Security’s new disinformation board, which the GOP sees as a vessel to censor Conservative speech.
Some Republicans even said they would be ready to shut down the government if Democrats opposed.
“We should use the power of the purse to stop this disinformation craziness that the Biden Administration is doing,” Republican Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) told the Washington Examiner.
WATCH: 1940'S FOOTAGE OF THE TALLEST MAN TO EVER LIVE
“But we should use that power for other things too, like securing the border, because the Democrats need us for certain things like keeping the government open, and we should use that leverage to get what we want,” Bishop said.
WATCH: THIS IS A TEACHER! LISTEN TO HIM ADVOCATE FOR MORE RACISM
Bishop said that congressional Republicans should be “far more aggressive” about using the government spending package negotiations to achieve their policy goals, such as closing the disinformation board and urged other Republicans to shut down the government.
TURKISH PRESIDENT'S DANGEROUS GAME: HOW HIS SUPPORT FOR HAMAS IS TESTING NATO'S LIMITS
Last week, Homeland Security announced the creation of the board to coordinate the federal government’s activities to counter disinformation, with an immediate focus on foreign threats like unauthorized migration to the United States and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
ISRAELI MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF STEPS DOWN FOLLOWING MAJOR OCTOBER 7 FAILURE
The board will be administered by Nina Jankowicz, a former disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center and adviser to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, who has a history of controversial and misleading statements.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: MICHIGAN GRANDMA ALLEGEDLY ORCHESTRATES SCHOOLYARD ATTACK
The conception of disinformation has become a heated debate. Liberals say disinformation, meaning false information spread slowly and covertly, threatens democracy. Conservatives say that the danger of disinformation is mistakenly used as a cover to suppress them.
TRAGIC TURN: FORMER PHILADELPHIA COP MAKES SHOCKING CONFESSION
Republicans are worried that the board could be used to limit free speech and are ready to take aggressive measures to shut it down.
“We’re open to removing the funding for this board in any way necessary, including the appropriations and government funding process, because this board is tyrannical,” said Ben Stout, Boebert’s communications director. “We’re willing to go to the mattresses over this.”
FROM WHITE HOUSE TO PRISON: OBAMA ADVISER FACES HORRIFIC CHILD SEX CRIME CHARGES
Boebert introduced a bill, the Protecting Free Speech Act, to end the disinformation board and ban any federal funds from being used to carry out the activities of any other entity that is substantially equal.
The legislation has quickly gained the support of over 60 House GOP members, including nearly all of the House Republican leadership, including Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
