Elections
House Rejects Censure Resolution Against Rep. Adam Schiff Over Trump-Russia Collusion Claims
The House of Representatives voted against a resolution on Wednesday that sought to censure and condemn Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, for his claims that former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, was defeated in a 225-196 vote, with 20 Republicans opposing it and two others voting “present” alongside five Democrats, according to reports from Fox News.
The resolution faced skepticism from some Republicans, including Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky, who expressed opposition to the idea of imposing a $16 million fine on Schiff, which was recommended in the resolution but not mandatory.
“Adam Schiff acted unethically but if a resolution to fine him $16 million comes to the floor I will vote to table it. (vote against it),” Massie said in a tweet.
Massie cited constitutional concerns regarding the proposed fine, mentioning potential violations of the 27th and 8th amendments. It remains unclear if House Republicans will attempt another resolution against Schiff without the mention of fines.
The failed resolution asserted that claims of Trump-Russia collusion were fabricated by Trump’s political enemies. It cited multiple investigations, including the Durham report, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, to argue that collusion did not exist despite Schiff’s stating the contrary publicly.
The resolution accused Schiff of deliberately deceiving his committee, Congress, and the American people by repeatedly disseminating false information, including reading unfounded allegations from the Steele dossier into the Congressional Record.
The resolution also criticized Schiff for composing a false memo justifying the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant application on Trump associate Carter Page, which the DOJ Inspector General later found to contain major mistakes and omissions.
It alleged that Schiff misused his position and access to sensitive information to initiate a fraudulently based investigation, leading to political gain and fundraising. The resolution highlighted that the investigation into collusion cost taxpayers $32 million.
Had the resolution passed, it would have formally censured and condemned Schiff’s actions, deeming them unfitting for an elected member of the House.
It would have required Schiff to stand in the well of the House while the resolution was read aloud and mandated an investigation into his alleged lies, misrepresentations, and abuses of sensitive information by the House Committee on Ethics.
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Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a longtime supporter of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is now acknowledging the unintended consequences of the healthcare legislation, particularly its impact on industry consolidation and rising healthcare prices.
Warren, who has been a vocal proponent of Obamacare, has recently had what the Wall Street Journal reported as an “epiphany” regarding the consequences of the healthcare law. In a letter addressed to the Health and Human Services Department inspector general, Warren, along with Senator Mike Braun of Indiana, expressed concerns about vertically-integrated healthcare companies potentially increasing prescription drug costs and evading federal regulations.
According to reports from Fox News, the bipartisan letter highlighted issues with the nation’s largest health insurers allegedly bypassing Obamacare’s medical loss ratio (MLR). According to Warren, these insurers, through vertical integration, have manipulated the system, leading to “sky-high prescription drug costs and excessive corporate profits.”
The senators detailed how conglomerates, like UnitedHealth Group, with ownership across various healthcare sectors, could inflate medical payments to pharmacies and, by realizing those payments on the pharmacy side, appear to comply with MLR requirements while retaining more profits.
Moreover, despite the Democrats’ argument that the MLR would benefit patients, it has incentivized insurers to merge with or acquire pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), retail and specialty pharmacies, and healthcare providers. This, in turn, has made healthcare spending less transparent, as insurers can allegedly shift profits to their affiliates by increasing reimbursements.
Warren, who has consistently voted against Obamacare repeal efforts, notably advocated for a “Medicare for All” proposal during her 2020 presidential campaign. Despite her prior support for the healthcare law, Warren’s recent concerns about its unintended consequences have raised questions about the long-term effects of Obamacare and its impact on the healthcare industry.
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