Besides being senators, socialist Bernie Sanders and Republican John Cornyn share something in common: both are working against the appointment of a conservative budget hawk to the Office of Management and Budget.
Russ Vought is President Trump’s nominee to serve as the deputy director of OMB. The OMB in general, and the position specifically, play a critical role in the development of White House budget proposals. The OMB is also responsible for holding federal agencies accountable for compliance with implementation of the president’s priorities and initiatives.
The far-left Sanders has attacked Russ Vought writing in defense of Christian values. John Cornyn’s rationale for opposing Vought is…?
So far, Cornyn’s office hasn’t responded to Texas Scorecard‘s requests for comment.
According to various news sources, Cornyn is preventing Vought’s appointment until he can get more cash for Texas shoved into the budget. No one is clear exactly how much money Cornyn wants. The news website Axios reports:
A senior conservative congressional aide texted Axios: “It is unfortunate Senator Cornyn is holding Russell Vought’s nomination hostage for more emergency funding for Texas. That a member of Republican leadership would block such an integral member of the president’s team at OMB is disturbing. Congress has already approved two tranches of emergency supplemental appropriations without corresponding offsets – both of which were supported by Senator Cornyn. Yet blocking an important nomination like the nominee for deputy director at OMB only breeds further disdain among the conservative movement and Senate leadership.
It appears Cornyn’s office isn’t pleased with people asking questions about Vought in particular, and his general obstructionism towards conservatives in general. Conservative commentator Amanda Carpenter reported this morning that she was blocked by Cornyn for “calling out stuff like” the Vought situation.
I would tweet at @JohnCornyn for blocking Russ Vought but he’s already blocked me. Hmm. Wonder why. For calling out stuff like this? Yep. pic.twitter.com/TfQ57RNouu
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) October 20, 2017
