Yesterday we posted on twenty Republicans who voted with Democrats to keep from censuring Adam Schiff over his lies related to the phony Russia collusion hoax.
Well as it turns out the issue was the fine that would have been imposed on Schiff that was the issue via his congressional salary. Many Republicans took issue with that, including Thomas Massie:
Allowing a majority of Congress to take $16 million (92 years of pay) from any member of Congress is shortsighted.
Can we not imagine a time when this precedent would be used against conservatives?
Fortunately it failed.
I’m told a Constitutional version will be offered now.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 14, 2023
Jenna Ellis also weighed in on this yesterday:
It’s explicitly unconstitutional to impose fines on congressional wages.
The censure should have been a motion to expel or other form of “punishment,”which is within the authority of Congress, per Article 1, Sec 5.
— Jenna Ellis 🐊🇺🇸 (@JennaEllisEsq) June 15, 2023
The bill has now been fixed and it will get another go. The author of the bill is Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina:
If a simple majority of the House can lay claim to $16 million from one member of Congress, our Republic is doomed if Democrats ever get the majority back.
Glad to see the author of the censure resolution is removing this provision from the resolution and going to try again.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 15, 2023
Thank you for removing the part that several of us thought was unwise and/or unconstitutional. Many of us are looking forward to voting for your better version. https://t.co/4rVQvUxWkv
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 14, 2023
I’m not sure when it will be voted on again, but we’ll be sure and bring that to you once it happens.