‘We Have Been Sold Out’: Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles Slams Passage of Minibus Spending Bill

U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) slammed the passage of a “minibus” $1.2 trillion spending bill on Friday that would fund six of the 12 appropriations divisions for Fiscal Year 2024.

Moments before the House passed the bill by a 286-134 vote, Ogles, along with other members of the Freedom Caucus, held a press conference where he said the American people had been “sold out.”

“Some will say that the Republicans are in the majority in the House, but it’s clear that the Democrats own the speaker’s gavel because this bill is not a Republican piece of legislation,” Ogles said. “It’s keeping the border open. It’s funding transgender kits and proms in the northeast. It allows for gain of function research in China. Think about that for a minute. What the hell are we doing?”

“This is not a conservative piece of legislation. It’s not a Republican piece of legislation. And you know what? Leadership’s panicked because last night, they didn’t have the votes. I don’t know what they’re going to have to sell or what they’re going to have to trade to get there, but if this passes, know they sold you out. They sold us out. And I for one am pissed. This bill, if passed, will likely determine who controls the House of Representatives. This bill will most certainly determine who the next speaker is,” Ogles added.

Republicans may be in the majority but it’s clear that the Democrats own the Speaker's gavel. pic.twitter.com/rfdxNjDtfM

— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) March 22, 2024

Ogles was among five Tennessee U.S. representatives – Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), Mark Green (R-TN-07), and himself – who voted against the bill.

U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) and David Kustoff (R-TN-08) voted with the majority.

Congressman John Rose (R-TN-06) was not present for the vote; however, he released a statement from his office saying he would have voted against the package.

“Congressman Rose traveled back to Tennessee to be with his son, Guy, who underwent a pre-planned and successful surgery on both of his legs,” Rose’s spokesperson Dylan Jones said in a statement. “Had Congressman Rose been in attendance for the vote, he would have voted ‘NO.’ Rep. Rose has voted against every single Biden-Pelosi-Schumer ‘CR’ and each spending package ‘omnibus’ signed into law that didn’t cut federal spending in a meaningful and impactful way.”

pic.twitter.com/9drQYGnWhc

— Congressman John Rose (@RepJohnRose) March 22, 2024

Harshbarger cited the lack of funding for the southern border for her vote against the bill.

“Today, I voted AGAINST maintaining Washington’s status quo of reckless spending,” Harshbarger said. “Released in the dead of night, the $1.2 TRILLION omnibus continues to fund the invasion at our Southern Border and the Biden administration’s extreme agenda.”

Today, I voted AGAINST maintaining Washington’s status quo of reckless spending.

Released in the dead of night, the $1.2 TRILLION omnibus continues to fund the invasion at our Southern Border and the Biden administration’s extreme agenda.

— Rep. Diana Harshbarger (@RepHarshbarger) March 22, 2024

Green, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, also cited the bill’s lack of funding for the border, saying,” This is the worst border crisis in the history of our country, and this spending bill doesn’t do nearly enough to address it.”

This is the worst border crisis in the history of our country, and this spending bill doesn’t do nearly enough to address it. /2

— Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) March 22, 2024

Burchett also released a statement pointing out multiple sections of the bill he could not support.

“I voted against a $27 billion increase to our Defense Department that has never passed an audit,” Burchett said. “I voted against funding transgender surgeries in our military. I voted against a bill that sends $880 million to countries in the Middle East to secure their borders, but doesn’t spend a penny on building a border wall in the United States. I voted against sending $1 million to an organization that calls Israel an ‘Apartheid state.’ I voted against giving $400,000 to a group that secretly gives young kids ‘binding and tucking’ clothing without telling their parents.”

“I voted against spending $1.2 trillion on these things and more when we’re nearly $35 trillion in debt already. The answer is just no,” Burchett added.

After the bill passed the House, Georgia U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) filed a motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) from the position.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.