National

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) is excited about the additions of firebrand Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar and Lauren Boebert, telling Axios "it's probably the most exciting committee" in congressional history.

Why it matters: Comer admitted in an interview on Friday, before the revelation of classified documents at former VP Mike Pence's home, that the committee has earned a less-than-credible reputation, which he says he wants to amend. 

Progressive voices such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) currently sit on Oversight, Comer pointed out. 

This creates the potential for clashes, depending on Democrats' final committee assignments.

What they're saying: "I'm amused that the White House has been so critical, especially considering that the majority of the squad is on the House Oversight Committee on their side," Comer told Axios in a phone interview.

The White House chastised Republicans for the Oversight picks. 

"It appears that House Republicans have handed over the keys to the most extreme MAGA members of the Republican caucus," said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.

Between the lines: Comer told Axios he has already spoken with most of the members, and he's repeatedly said he wants the committee to be credible and substantive. 

"[W]e're not going to put anything on Oversight Committee stationary unless we have the facts to back it up," he said. 

What to watch: House Republicans will push to reform the National Archives, Comer told Axios, after both President Biden and former President Trump's classified document scandals.

Comer said NARA has not provided him briefings on the classified document situation with Biden or Trump — despite requesting both.

"I think we would all agree there's a problem with how documents leave the presidency and vice presidency and follow the ex presidents and vice presidents to the private sector," the chairman said.

He added the National Archives will have an opportunity to explain and defend itself, but, "One thing that you can rest assured, when all this is said and done, there's going to be a major effort to reform the National Archives."

On the potential for subpoenaing Hunter Biden, Comer said all options were on the table, but "right now, there's no reason to bring Joe Biden or Hunter Biden in front of the committee." 

"We're in the preliminary stages of getting our financial information that we've requested," Comer said.

"We've been communicating with several whistleblowers and former associates of Hunter Biden and once we get enough information to where we believe we can proceed with a hearing, then we'll certainly do that," he added.

The bottom line: Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have sent more letters to the Biden administration since 2021 than any other panel, Axios' Sophia Cai has reported.

Here comes the "most exciting committee" in Congress

"I'm amused that the White House has been so critical," Rep. Comer told Axios.

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., prepares for a television interview in the U.S. Capitol 

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.). Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Congress

Politics & Policy

The House Oversight Committee is launching its investigation into the Biden administration's handling of the southern border, with Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) inviting Border Patrol sector chiefs to testify the week of Feb. 6.

Why it matters: House Republicans are eager to highlight the record number of border crossings at the southern border and probe the Department of Homeland Security's policies and operations. 

The Oversight committee is one of three committees expected to dig into the border issue.

"Republicans will hold the Biden Administration accountable for this ongoing humanitarian, national security, and public health crisis that has turned every town into a border town," Comer said in a statement.

What to watch: Comer sent letters Thursday morning inviting chief Border Patrol agents Jason Owens, Gregory Bovino, Gloria Chavez and Patricia McGurk-Daniel to testify in a hearing the week of Feb. 6, according to a release and copies of the letters.

The agents oversee busy border sectors in Texas, Arizona and California.

Details: Comer also sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting a sweeping set of documents and internal communications "to understand DHS's policies, the costs of the emergency measures needed to respond to the worsening crisis, and the national security risks created by these policies," according to the letter.

The committee is asking for data, communications and documents related to migrant releases from DHS custody, the ending of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, the role of nongovernment organizations in releasing into the U.S. migrants who have illegally crossed the border, the impact of the border situation on Border Patrol morale, among other topics.

In the letter, Comer criticizes President Biden for waiting "until there was a Republican majority in the House" to visit the border.

He also accuses the administration of "lying to the American people" and calls a newly announced border policy for Nicaraguans, Haitians and Cubans an "unlawful abuse of the parole process."

The big picture: Record numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border have created humanitarian crises, logistical headaches and a political nightmare for Biden from nearly the start of his presidency.

There are no simple explanations for migration trends. Political unrest, natural disaster and economic instability throughout the Western Hemisphere often drive desperate people to leave their home countries to head toward the U.S. 

At the same time, the outdated and backlogged U.S. immigration system often ensures people will be able to live and work in the U.S. for years — even if they are unlikely to ultimately be granted asylum.

Republicans have focused on Biden's domestic policies and rhetoric on immigration, campaigning on "chaos at the border" and threatening an impeachment inquiry into Mayorkas.

House Oversight launches border investigation

House Republicans are eager to aggressively probe the record numbers of border crossings.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol

Rep. James Comer speaks during a news conference. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Immigration

The House Oversight Committee is launching its investigation into the Biden administration&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="handling of the southern border" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/13/biden-border-security-democrats" data-vars-content-id="75e9d66d-a2b9-41b7-83d3-731f136f04aa" data-vars-headline="House Oversight launches border investigation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/13/biden-border-security-democrats" target="_self">handling of the southern border</a>, with Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) inviting Border Patrol sector chiefs to testify the week of Feb. 6.Why it matters: House Republicans are eager to highlight the record number of border crossings at the southern border and probe the Department of Homeland Security&#x27;s policies and operations.

A raft of legislative promises that House Republican rebels secured in exchange for supporting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are quickly crumbling in the spotlight.

Why it matters: McCarthy's historic concessions to the fringe right gave Democrats a golden opportunity to paint Republicans as extreme. But the Freedom Caucus' influence when it comes to substantive policy has — at least so far — appeared to be more bark than bite.

Yes, but: It's still early, and the coveted spots conservatives won on the Rules Committees and other plum panels will ensure the rebels maintain influence for the rest of the term — including for the debt-ceiling fight, in which the far-right's demands will be felt most acutely.

What's happening: McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday that he opposes a Republican bill to abolish the IRS and replace all federal taxes with a 30% national sales tax — effectively killing the controversial legislation before the floor vote that he promised.

A border bill that would grant the secretary of Homeland Security the power to deny entry to any foreign citizen has been delayed after opposition from moderate Republicans, including Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).

Attacks from Democrats have prompted many House Republicans to publicly pledge they will not touch Medicare, Social Security or the defense budget as part of their plans to force sweeping spending cuts.

The expected vote to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee — which can only afford four GOP defections — is in serious jeopardy after several Republicans voiced opposition.

Even the single-member "motion to vacate the chair" threshold — viewed as the most important concession that rebels extracted — is politically complicated, as ousting McCarthy likely would require hard-right Republicans to team up with Democrats.

What we're hearing: Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told Axios he and other members of the "pragmatic" Main Street Caucus lobbied McCarthy to ensure the Fair Tax Act and border bill go through committee rather than straight to a floor vote — predicting the former will be killed and the latter improved.

The Freedom Caucus "wanted to ensure everything should go through regular order — why shouldn't their bills," Bacon said. "I raise [a] bulls**t flag on that." 

McCarthy's spokesman referred Axios to comments McCarthy made to reporters this afternoon: "You can't just throw something on the floor," the speaker said. "That's why the committee will be a better process."

Between the lines: Legislation championed by the most conservative rebels was never going to be palatable to a diverse and fractious GOP conference with a razor-thin majority. But the rhetorical risks for McCarthy still loom large.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference Wednesday bashing Republicans for the national sales tax proposal — despite the bill having no chance of passing.

“Everyone thought that Leader McCarthy would never go along with the MAGA Republicans as he ran for speaker," Schumer said when asked why he was highlighting the plan. "Don't underestimate the power over McCarthy of these extreme MAGA Republicans."

What to watch: If McCarthy weathers the early storm of attacks, he eventually will be able to turn his full focus to what was always Republicans' top priority in a divided Congress: investigations that damage President Biden.

House conservatives' big bargains meet harsh reality

A raft of legislative promises are quickly crumbling in the spotlight.

House Republicans

A raft of legislative promises that House Republican rebels secured in exchange for supporting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are quickly crumbling in the spotlight.Why it matters: McCarthy&#x27;s historic concessions to the fringe right gave Democrats a golden opportunity to paint Republicans as extreme. But the Freedom Caucus&#x27; influence when it comes to substantive policy has — at least so far — appeared to be more bark than bite.

Data: Center for Presidential Transition; Chart: Axios Visuals

It's taking longer for presidents to get their political appointees confirmed by the Senate, according to a report by the Center for Presidential Transition.

Driving the news: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has threatened to block Biden's nominees until the Senate Intelligence Committee receives the classified documents found at both President Biden and former President Trump's residences. 

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Commitee told CNN on Thursday that in doing so, Cotton "will undermine the national security of the United States." 

By the numbers: It has taken an average of nearly 145 days for Biden's political appointees to receive Senate confirmation — a jump from other recent presidents at this point in their terms.

What they're sayiing: "We need reasonable fixes to the way the Senate schedules and reviews these nominations – and we need to start by reducing the large number of positions requiring confirmation in the first place," Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service, told Axios in a statement.

Biden's nominees confirmed at slower rate than his predecessors'

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is now threatening to slow the process down even further.

It&#x27;s taking longer for presidents to get their political appointees confirmed by the Senate, according <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to a report by the Center for Presidential Transition" data-vars-click-url="https://presidentialtransition.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/01/Biden-year-2-comparison.pdf" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://presidentialtransition.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/01/Biden-year-2-comparison.pdf" target="_blank">to a report by the Center for Presidential Transition</a>.Driving the news: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has threatened to block Biden&#x27;s nominees until the Senate Intelligence Committee receives the classified documents found at both President Biden and former President Trump&#x27;s residences.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday appointed three hardline Republicans to the House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for legislation to be considered on the House floor.

Why it matters: The move fulfills a key concession McCarthy made to a group of 20 rebels in order to become House speaker this month, and it gives right-wingers considerable new influence over the legislative process.

Driving the news: McCarthy appointed five new members to the panel on top of its four current GOP members: 

The new members are Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.).

Norman and Roy are both Freedom Caucus members who were holdouts on McCarthy during the speaker election. 

Massie, who voted for McCarthy and is not a Freedom Caucus member, is known as a renegade with staunchly anti-establishment and libertarian views.

Between the lines: The Rules Committee is usually stacked with leadership loyalists and advances bills along party-line votes, but the addition of members who have proved willing to break with McCarthy creates the potential for extraordinary disunity.

If Democrats are given the four seats Republicans had last Congress, three Republican defections on any given vote could give them a majority.

That would give conservatives an effective veto on what comes to the floor, giving them not only influence on legislation and floor procedure, but leverage to enforce other elements of their agreement with McCarthy.

What they're saying: Roy told Axios in a statement, “Didn’t ask for it. But you can’t push for change [and] not saddle up if asked."

"Between our returning members and those joining the panel for the first time, each has an important role to play and brings valuable perspective," Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the chair of the panel, said in a statement.

"I look forward to working together to restore regular order, ensure thorough debate and ultimately advance real American priorities to the House floor."

What caught our eye: McCarthy also announced his new appointments to the House Intelligence Committee on Monday, as well as his picks for a newly created select committee focused on the U.S. strategic competition with China.

In a break from the trend of conservatives securing new spots on powerful committees, neither panel will have any Freedom Caucus members.

Instead, the appointments lean more moderate and include a decent number of swing district Republicans. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a critic of his party's far-right, is among the five new members of the Intelligence Committee.

GOP hardliners score spots on powerful House Rules Committee

McCarthy appointed Reps. Thomas Massie, Chip Roy and Ralph Norman to the Rules Committee.

Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), wearing a gray suit; white shirt; and purple tie, and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), wearing a blue suit; blue shirt and red tie, speak at an outdoor press conference.

Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday appointed three hardline Republicans to the House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for legislation to be considered on the House floor.Why it matters: The move fulfills a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="key concession McCarthy made" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/10/republicans-mccarthy-house-rules-addendum" data-vars-content-id="cf7ff9a8-6c05-49dd-8f6c-c343d22738ed" data-vars-headline="GOP hardliners score spots on powerful House Rules Committee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/10/republicans-mccarthy-house-rules-addendum" target="_self">key concession McCarthy made</a> to a group of 20 rebels in order to become House speaker this month, and it gives right-wingers considerable new influence over the legislative process.

Stef W. Kight

Stories

Biden's nominees confirmed at slower rate than his predecessors'

House conservatives' big bargains meet harsh reality

Here comes the "most exciting committee" in Congress

GOP hardliners score spots on powerful House Rules Committee

House Oversight launches border investigation