Scalise After the Rules Vote: 'Washington Has Been Broken' and the 87,000 IRS Agents (January 10, 2023)

The day after the new Republican majority adopted its rules, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the fight had been worth it. “You saw last night, we’ve passed the Rules Package,” Scalise said at a House Republican leadership news conference on Jan. 10, 2023, according to his office [1].

“And that’s really at the heart of what the rules changes addressed last night that passed ultimately, overwhelmingly, by our members because Washington has been broken,” he said. “I don’t think you have to do a poll to know people across the country have recognized that Washington’s broken.” [1]

The video above shows Scalise’s remarks on Jan. 10, 2023. Quotes are from Scalise’s office, the Clerk of the House and GovInfo [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].

”Of Course, We Are”

Scalise said reporters had doubted the vote. “I know a number of members of the press were asking me yesterday morning, even, you know, ‘Are you going to pass the Rules Package?’ And we said, ‘Of course, we are’ because the Rules Package is a culmination of member meetings [and] negotiations that have been going on for months, frankly,” he said [1].

The House adopted H.Res. 5, the rules for the new Congress, on Jan. 9, 2023, by 220 to 213. Republicans voted 220 to 1, and Democrats 0 to 212 [2].

”Repeal Those 87,000 IRS Agents”

The first bill went after the IRS. “We said the first bill we’re going to take up is the bill to repeal those 87,000 IRS agents,” Scalise said. “Every Republican voted for it. Every Democrat voted against it.” [1]

The Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, H.R. 23, passed 221 to 210 [3].

“Think about this: Yesterday, every Democrat went on record saying that they want to more than double the size of the IRS to go after people like the hardworking families, the single mom who’s working two shifts at a restaurant,” Scalise said [1].

“Frankly, what we need is more Border Patrol agents securing America’s border, not IRS agents going after hardworking families in America,” Scalise said [1].

”More Than the [Number of] People in the State of New Mexico”

Scalise blamed Democrats for prices and the border. “For two years, you’ve seen devastating inflation as a result of their reckless spending,” he said [1]. On the border, he said: “An open border that has not only led to millions of people coming into our country illegally, last year alone, the number of people that came here illegally [is] more than the [number of] people in the state of New Mexico.” [1]

“More than 100,000 of our young people died last year because of the fentanyl coming across our southern border. And what was Washington doing to address those problems? Not a thing,” Scalise said [1].

”It’s Murder”

Scalise previewed a vote on babies born alive after abortions. “In fact, every Republican was a co-sponsor of this bill last Congress, and [former Speaker] Pelosi wouldn’t bring it up to a vote, and in our first full week, we’re going to actually bring that bill up for a vote,” he said [1].

“[Congresswoman] Ann Wagner’s bill that says if a baby’s born alive, outside the womb, in some states, they actually are allowing that baby to be killed and calling it abortion. It’s murder. And yet, it’s legal in some states,” Scalise said. “Even people that identify as pro-choice think that that’s disgusting, and immoral and shouldn’t be allowed in America, and yet it is.” [1]

“That Church Committee”

He previewed two new panels. “You’re going to see us today set up the Select Subcommittee on China to finally confront the challenge that is one of the greatest threats to our nation,” Scalise said [1].

The House created the select committee on the Chinese Communist Party that day, 365 to 65. All 219 Republicans voting backed it, joined by 146 Democrats [4].

“We’re going to set up that Church Committee to look at some of these federal agencies that are weaponizing government to go after families across this country based on their political views,” Scalise said [1]. The weaponization subcommittee was approved 221 to 211 [5].

By the Numbers

220-213: the vote adopting the House rules [2].
221-210: the vote to repeal the IRS expansion [3].
365-65: the vote creating the China select committee [4].
221-211: the vote creating the weaponization subcommittee [5].
220-210: the vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act [6].

What Happened Next

The Born-Alive bill passed. “We’re going to pass the Born-Alive Act,” Scalise said [1]. The next day, Jan. 11, 2023, the House passed H.R. 26, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, 220 to 210 [6].

Some IRS money was clawed back. In June 2023, the Fiscal Responsibility Act rescinded “$1,389,525,000” of the Internal Revenue Service money from the Inflation Reduction Act [7].

For Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s first speech, see HYGO News’ page on Jan. 7, 2023. For the GOP leadership’s next big week, see the page on Jan. 31, 2023.