Arguments from Republicans in favor of the omnibus spending package passed by Congress last week are almost all tied together by a common theme: “our military needs this.” The $700 billion appropriated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1625, for defense spending is argued to be crucial for the security of our country. This mantra resonated loudly among the 145 Republican representatives and 25 Republican senators who cast a “yea” vote for the omnibus last Thursday.

While the Republican House Rules Committee moratorium on earmarks implemented in 2010 is still in place (despite the potential for bringing back earmarks rearing its ugly head not more than a few months ago), $900 million for one special project -- the Gateway Project -- was included in a House appropriations bill, H.R. 3354, just last year. Gateway is a $29.5 billion project for an Amtrak bridge and tunnel upgrade between Newark and New York City, that both states want federal dollars to pay for.

FreedomWorks recognizes Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) as our member of the month for March. Rep. McClintock represents California’s 4th Congressional District, encompassing California’s historic gold country and Sierra Nevada. Following his participation in state politics both as a member of the California State Assembly and the California State Senate, Rep. McClintock was elected to U.S. Congress in 2008.

“The hardest part about deregulating was that the government had forgotten how to do it,” Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney explained in his interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday. The interview focused around three areas: deregulatory successes, the president’s budget, and the effects of December’s historic tax reform legislation. Of significant note in his remarks were the broad scope of unparalleled wins the administration has delivered in the deregulation effort.

Responsible spending is not something Congress has proven itself to be good at, under Republican or under Democratic leadership. The Bipartisan Budget Act, the absolutely atrocious cap-busting deal proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R- Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) which busts the Budget Control Act caps by more than twice what the previous two deals combined did, proves this.

FreedomWorks is proud to announce that our bill of the month for February 2018 is the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act, H.R. 3739, sponsored by Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.).

“And at the U.S. Department of Education, Common Core is dead.” This is music to the ears of advocates for federalism, school choice, and, frankly, for student success everywhere. These words came directly from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos last week at a conference in DC titled “Bush-Obama School Reform: Lessons Learned,” held by the free-enterprise think tank American Enterprise Institute.

FreedomWorks recognizes Rep. Jason Lewis (R-Minn.) as Member of the Month for January. Representing Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district, Rep. Lewis was elected in November 2016 to succeed now-retired Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), who had held the seat since 2003.