A Texas Tea Party just returned a Congressman’s recent $1,000 donation following his recent refusal to sign the ‘Mulvaney letter’ to defund Planned Parenthood.
Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), considered a strong pro-life conservative, did not sign the Mulvaney letter, prompting the Kaufman Tea Party to return the US House rep’s recent $1,000 donation to the grassroots group.
In the fight to defund Planned Parenthood, Hensarling supported several bills to end taxpayer-funded abortions. He signed two letters – one to outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner, requesting legislation to defund Planned Parenthood – and the other to US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, asking her office to investigate the the ongoing Planned Parenthood harvested aborted baby parts scandal, exposed by gruesome undercover videos.
Hensarling also co-sponsored Rep. Mick Mulvaney’s (R-SC) amendment that would have stripped all federal funding for Planned Parenthood from the continuing resolution (CR) to fund that government through December 11, 2015. In a statement released yesterday, Hensarling noted “Unfortunately, that amendment was not a part of the final CR.”
However, the Texas congressman stopped short of signing the Mulvaney letter, which committed signatories to not support any funding resolution, appropriations bill, omnibus package, continuing resolution, mandatory funding stream, “or otherwise” that contains funding for Planned Parenthood.
At the recent Kaufman Tea Party annual fundraiser, Hensarling attended and donated $1000 to the grassroots group. Although “extremely greatful” for the contribution, the group returned the donation over his inaction regarding the Mulvaney letter.
A Kaufman Tea Party press release stated, in part: “Congressman Hensarling is well aware of our expectation that he reject corrupt Republican leadership, and sign the Mulvaney letter. As of today, 37 courageous representatives have done exactly that, and more are expected–but Congressman Hensarling will not. In light of his inaction, our steering committee has decided to do the principled thing and return his $1000 donation.”
In this public political battle, the effort needed more Republicans to push the Mulvaney letter to build the necessary political support to lead to a successful outcome. Only 40 Republicans stood behind the letter, which could have used the muscle of the 151 Republicans who voted against the CR. Strategically, the effort needed more of a groundswell and Hensarling’s support would have been instrumental behind-the-scenes and publicly, which was why the Kaufman Tea Party was upset.
The group pointed out that they deal “in the currency of conservative principles, not political expediency,” adding that they encourage Hensarling and all other political officials to “take every opportunity to defend life.”
Follow Merrill Hope on Twitter @OutOfTheBoxMom.
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