Jacob Ogles
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and a dozen other Republicans have voted to block a budget deal from reaching the floor.
The spending package, negotiated by new Speaker Mike Johnson, would avert a government shutdown. But the vote this week prohibits any motion on bills not already scheduled for the floor.
Luna, a St. Petersburg Republican, defended the vote and said spending levels negotiated by the Republican Speaker with the Democratic Senate and White House remain too high.
She asserted it was more in line with the spending by the Democratic House under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi before Republicans won the House in 2022. Notably, Luna flipped a seat Republican that had previously been held by former Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist.
“The spending deal is a nonstarter,” Luna said. “This deal makes Pelosi’s spending deal look conservative. There are zero policy wins for the American people when our country is stepping over the point of no return. Renegotiate the deal or the floor will remain closed.”
Other Florida Republicans have criticized the spending deal, but Luna was the only Republican in Florida’s congressional delegation to vote against consideration of the deal. The procedural vote on the floor failed 203-216, as every Democrat in the House also voted against consideration.
Already, a Democrat challenging Luna criticized her for the vote.
“Anna Paulina Luna just voted to paralyze the House,” Whitney Fox, a Democrat running in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, posted on X. “Pinellas is facing sky-high costs, extreme weather and families are more unsure of their futures than ever. We need action, not chaos. We need a commonsense congresswoman who can deliver on the things that matter most.”
Luna has been critical of high spending in Congress.
She notably was also among Republicans who initially voted against installing Speaker Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, but ultimately agreed to a rules package negotiated by conservatives last January and supported giving McCarthy the gavel. She was out on maternity leave when McCarthy was removed.
7 comments
PeterH
January 11, 2024 at 10:33 am
It’s been a horrible week for House Republicans after yesterday’s Hunter Biden chaos and now Johnson’s fragile relationship with his own Party’s right wing flank. It’s just another indicator of Republicans inability to govern!
Tony the Greek
January 11, 2024 at 10:43 am
Is that profile picture from her OnlyFans account?
Tom
January 11, 2024 at 11:08 am
The last House session was apparently the most unproductive in decades. It would appear that they are not even capable of basic Governing. The Speaker is desperately trying to actually pass something to prove that R’s are worth voting for in November but the lunatic fringe is having nothing to do with it. The D’s will probably vote with Johnson and get it through but what a mess they’ve become. Oh well … who doesn’t like watching a good train wreck?
The Dude
January 11, 2024 at 11:11 am
Demo’s just keep writing checks with big IOU’s. Biden will be dead in a few years anyway, so he could care less about the abundance of debt he continues to rack up.
My Take
January 11, 2024 at 11:20 am
“Spacy” Luna has more important things to do. Flying saucers to catch.
Dont Say FLA
January 11, 2024 at 12:52 pm
These folks refuse like Dems and normal G0Ps to touch the golden cow and 80pct of the USA budget, military spending.
Unless they take on the golden cow, could they please hush tfu and pass spending for stuff government does that actually benefits some citizens and not just rich glass holes that own military contracting firms?
Soundcloud Downloader
January 15, 2024 at 5:06 am
I’m very surprised about this incident, last week was very bad, I hope the future will be more stable.
Comments are closed.