Because Of Leader McConnell And A Majority Of The Senate Preserving The Filibuster, Partisan Democrat Priorities Were Kept Out Of The Appropriations Bill

Leader McConnell: ‘The Filibuster Is About More Than What Gets Blocked; It Shapes Almost Everything The Senate Does Pass’

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “The filibuster is not just about what bills are blocked. It is the sole feature that gives millions of Americans any voice at all in all the legislation that does pass whenever there is one-party control. Annual appropriations. Government funding bills. The NDAA. Rescue packages like the CARES Act. For decades, both Senators and citizens have been able to take for granted that everybody gets a voice, even when we don’t have divided government. If this unique feature of the Senate is blown up, millions and millions of Americans’ voices will cease to be heard in this chamber.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 1/10/2022)

LEADER McCONNELL: “There’s so much emphasis on the most extreme bills that either party might pass with a simple majority. People forget that the Senate’s 60-vote threshold is the only reason that any routine, must-pass legislation is bipartisan except during divided government. Big funding deals. Appropriations bills. Farm bills. Highway bills. The NDAA. The Senate’s 60-vote threshold backstops all of it. It’s not just about controversial items; it’s about everything we do.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 3/16/2021)

• LEADER McCONNELL: “Sometimes the effect of the filibuster is to block bills outright…. But as President Biden argued decades ago, the filibuster is about more than what gets blocked. It shapes almost everything the Senate does pass. It gives all kinds of citizens and all kinds of states a meaningful voice in nearly everything we do.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 1/11/2022)

Thanks To The Leverage Provided By The 60-Vote Threshold, This Year’s Government Funding Legislation Preserves Long-Standing Commonsense Policy Riders And Leaves Out Democrats’ Poison Pills

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS: “The Omnibus package is built on a framework that preserves long-standing legacy riders and rejects partisan poison pills. Importantly, the package protects life – preserving the Hyde family of amendments and beating back Democrat attempts to finance abortion with taxpayer dollars. It rejects radical environmental and climate policies, flat-funds the IRS, and preserves restrictions on the closure of Guantanamo Bay.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

“Other ‘wins’ GOP lawmakers touted include retaining the so-called Hyde amendment language, which blocks federal funding for abortion in most cases; rejecting ‘radical environmental and climate policies’; and flat-funding the IRS. Republicans have repeatedly lambasted the $80 billion, 10-year increase Democrats granted the tax collection agency in this year's partisan budget reconciliation law.” (Roll Call, 12/20/2022)

Protects The Hyde Amendment And Other Pro-Life Policy Riders

“Maintains all long-standing pro-life provisions, including the Hyde and Hyde-Weldon Amendments, and does NOT include any new language on Title X-Family Planning or prohibiting religious freedom for faith-based foster care providers.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Protects 2^nd Amendment Rights And Rejects Gun-Related Poison Pills

“Retains all legacy riders on firearms and the 2nd Amendment, and rejects gun-related poison pills that would infringe on Americans’ 2nd Amendment rights.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Flat-Funds The IRS

“Cuts IRS funding compared to the FY22 enacted level and rejects a significant increase proposed in the President’s budget request – for the first time in a decade.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

• “Congressional Republicans succeeded in slashing funding for the Internal Revenue Service … Senate Republicans forced Democrats and the White House to cut more than $275 million from the IRS over the next year. GOP lawmakers demanded the cut, arguing that the IRS is already slated to receive additional money over the next decade thanks to Biden's recently passed $739 billion Inflation Reduction Act.” (Fox News, 12/20/2022)

Rejects Radical Green New Deal Poison Pills And Protects American Energy Production

“Rejects the Biden Administration’s $50 million request for climate change projects.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

“Rejects provisions that would have impeded oil and gas activities on public lands.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

“Includes long-standing legacy riders regarding the sage grouse, regulation of lead in fishing tackle and ammunition, regulation of greenhouse gases, and carbon neutrality.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Keeps Dangerous Terrorists Locked Up At The Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility

“Restores language prohibiting the transfer of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the United States.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

“Preserves two Guantanamo provisions: one that prevents funds being made available to construct a new facility to house detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and another to prevent closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Rejects Democrat Plans That Would Impede Immigration Enforcement

“Rejects the Biden Administration’s attempt to slash ICE detention capacity by 30 percent, and instead provides $379.5 million above the request to maintain 34,000 detention beds. Rejects the Biden Administration’s $375 million request to fund the Asylum Officer Rule.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Provides No New Funding For Biden’s Illegal Student Debt Cancelation

“Provides no new funding for the implementation of the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness plan.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Rejects Democrats’ Attempts To Defund The Police

“Invests in programs that protect public safety, national security, and the administration of justice – including strong support for state and local law enforcement – and resoundingly rejects the radical left’s defund-the-police agenda.” (Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Release, 12/20/2022)

Rejects Extra COVID Spending

“Biden had wanted $9 billion to help combat the Covid pandemic and address emerging needs, but Republicans never wanted to provide any extra cash.” (“What’s In And What’s Out Of Congress’ $1.7T Spending Bill,” Politico, 12/20/2022)