Dem
51
GOP
49
"Follow the money," the famous political axiom about corruption, was first uttered in the film All the President's Men. We would suggest that a corollary might be in order: "Follow the lack of money."
As approximately 100% of readers know at this point, House Republicans have created a new subcommittee on the "weaponization of the government" under the leadership of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). This is their response to the 1/6 Select Committee, and the promise is that it will be just as visible and just as thorough. However, Kara Voght of Rolling Stone noticed something interesting. While the 1/6 Committee spent $18 million (or $9 million per year), the new subcommittee currently has an annual budget of only $2 million.
Jordan says he might ask for more, and he might be telling the truth (though you never know with him). However, as it currently stands, it suggests that House Republicans either don't have a plan for conducting a wide-ranging investigation, or don't have any intent to conduct a wide-ranging investigation, or both. That would suggest, in turn, that the only purpose here is grandstanding, since bloviating in committee hearings is cheap. That would not be shocking, since pretty much everyone outside the Freedom Caucus (and maybe the people within) thought this was the point here. Anyhow, the low budget is not definitive, but it certainly is another data point worth noting. (Z)