Exactly 25% of the House and Senate have moved into the hardcore conservative column, prompting leaders on the Right to push GOP members to challenge President Joe Biden and his liberal supporters more aggressively.
The latest CPAC ratings said that 25 senators and 109 House members have a conservative grade of 81% or better. In the Senate, most of the 25 — 19 — rate a 90%-100% conservative rating, and half on the House list — 54 — rate in the highest segment.
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That strong showing on conservatives in Congress prompted CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp to urge Republicans to take a hard line with the White House on this week’s debt limit talks and vote and look past the expected charge from Biden that the GOP position would lead to a government shutdown.
He told Secrets, “Republicans who are still traumatized by being blamed for the 1995 shutdown or other funding showdowns need to block out their past and focus on the energy of new conservative GOP members who want to fight to the death to stop wicked Biden policies.”
He added, “It’s time to hold on to the old beliefs but toss out the old failed tactics that had the GOP waving a white flag on ‘must pass’ funding questions like debt limit and appropriations.”
In the House, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has an 82% rating, putting him in the “conservative achievement” category. Many of his deputies are also on the list, giving him confidence that his debt limit plan will pass this week.
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In the Senate, half of the six-member GOP leadership team made the CPAC all-star list, though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s grade was 56%.
The ratings, now in the 52nd year, are based on several key votes in each Congress.
