Republican Plan To Control Kamala Harris' Money Goes Down in Flames

A GOP-led plan to cut all funding for Vice President Kamala Harris' office failed on Wednesday, after a majority of House Republicans voted against it.

The measure was proposed by Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, who suggested an amendment to a major government funding bill, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. With the amendment proposed by Collins, none of the money included in the funding bill would have gone to Harris' office.

Collins' proposed amendment represents the latest effort by House Republicans to try to control President Joe Biden's administration through spending and funding cuts, which have become the subjects of fierce negotiations since the November midterms gave the GOP a slim majority in Congress.

"None of the funds made available by this act may be used for the salary or expenses of any officer or employee of the Office of the Vice President," read the amendment offered by Collins, which should have been inserted at the end of the funding bill.

According to the Georgia Republican, the amendment was a reaction to Harris' handling of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I'm sure you'll be shocked, but I just had to debate a Republican on the House floor who was defending funding the office of the vice president," Collins wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, testifying to the first arguments with fellow GOP lawmakers.

"I argued Kamala Harris sucks at securing our border and, therefore, shouldn't be paid. If my amendment passes, her office will be defunded," he added.

But the measure failed to pass the House on Wednesday in a 106 to 322 vote. Most Republicans actually voted against Collins' amendment, along with every Democrat in the House. Republicans including Collins, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and George Santos of New York voted in favor of the amendment.

Even if passed by the House, which is narrowly controlled by the GOP, the amendment would have had little chance of passing the Democrat-led Senate. It would have been even less likely for Biden to sign it into law, thwarting the power of his vice president and second-time running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

Newsweek contacted Collins' office and the White House for comment by email on Thursday.

Another amendment proposed by Greene calls for cutting the salary of IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel to just $1. Other cost-cutting proposals target the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the two Offices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Accessibility.