House Republicans Defeat Rep. Ruben Gallego’s “Cliven Bundy Amendment” to the FY 2017 Department of the Interior Appropriations Bill
Washington, DC – Today, in the latest display of Republican dysfunction in the House, a vote on Rep. Ruben Gallego’s amendment to end taxpayer subsidization of ranchers, like Cliven Bundy, who engage in illegal grazing was defeated after the House GOP leadership held open the roll call and convinced Members to change their votes. This follows an earlier incident in which Speaker Ryan similarly held open a vote on LGBT protections for government contractors and 7 House Republicans switched their votes from “Aye” to “No.”
Rep. Ruben Gallego’s amendment would have affirmed that grazing permits and leases should not be issued to individuals with unpaid grazing fees in contravention of BLM regulations. The amendment was intended to highlight the burden on American taxpayers of some ranchers including Cliven Bundy, who for over 20 years has refused to pay more than $1 million in grazing fees owed to the federal government for illegally grazing his cattle on public lands. While continuing to violate the law, he put the lives of local and federal officials at stake during a dangerous standoff, for which he was indicted by a grand jury on charges, including threatening and assaulting federal law enforcement officers.
A video of Rep. Gallego’s remarks upon introduction of the amendment can be found here. In his statement, Congressman Gallego noted the, “…double standard in Republican support for ranchers who refuse to pay their fair share and Republican criticism of Americans who refuse to accept injustice in their communities.”
Rep. Gallego released the following statement:
“After a week of praise for law enforcement and after years of talk about restoring “regular order” to the House of Representatives, Speaker Ryan and the Republican leadership showed their true colors this afternoon.
“My Republican colleagues decided to stand up for Cliven Bundy instead of for the American taxpayers he has been ripping off for decades or for the federal law enforcement officers whose lives he has repeatedly threatened.
“I’m also frustrated that once again a vote was held open as the GOP leadership furiously twisted arms on the House floor. The American people are watching and they don’t like what they see.”
##