Senator Kennedy on Rescissions Package: Republicans Should 'Hide Our Head in a Bag' if It Fails

The Rescissions Package Battle

• 🎯 The Senate is set to vote on a rescissions package aimed at clawing back approximately $9 billion in federal spending, a bill previously approved by the House.
• 💡 The package targets $7.9 billion in cuts to USAID and foreign assistance, and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS).

Concerns Over Senate Support

• 📉 Senator John Kennedy expressed discouragement after a meeting, describing it as "organized grabass" with "a lot of whining" regarding the bill.
• ⚠️ Kennedy highlighted that the $9 billion in proposed cuts represent only one-tenth of 1% of the federal budget.
• 💰 He criticized the proposed cuts, which include funds for "male prostitutes in Haiti" and "condoms in Zambia," as "spending porn."
• 🗣️ Kennedy stated that if every Republican does not vote for this bill, they should "hide our head in a bag" due to the embarrassment.

Compromises and Bribes

• 🧐 The Senate's proposal was reduced by $400 million from the White House and House's original ask, reportedly to appease one senator.
• 🐷 Kennedy voiced frustration with the practice of paying "bribes" to senators to secure votes for what he considers the "right thing."
• 🚫 He declared he would not support the bill if further compromises or bribes are needed to pass it.

What the Vote Will Reveal

• 📊 The upcoming vote will reveal who truly supports reducing federal spending and who is willing to back "spending porn."
• 🔍 Kennedy emphasized that actions speak louder than words, and the vote will show what people truly believe.