You can't scare her.
Representative Lauren Boebert, an activist, sharply criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson's failed spending package, arguing that it would “hurt our country more times than a madman like Diddy.”
Boebert (R-Col.) was among 14 House Republicans who broke ranks and voted against Johnson's six-month stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown on Wednesday.
“This CR, this continuing resolution that we're voting on today, is going to hurt our country more times than a crazy Diddy,” Boebert vented on prison resident Steve Bannon's “War Room” podcast before the vote.
His comment about “a Diddy phenomenon” alludes to the allegations against disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was arrested Monday on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Combs allegedly forced drugged victims to have sex with male prostitutes during days-long orgies called “freak offs.”
He pleaded not guilty and his lawyers defended his innocence.
Boebert also called the ongoing dispute over government funding “chaos” and “madness.”
At the start of each new fiscal year, which is Oct. 1, Congress is required to fund the government or else risk a shutdown. A faction of House Republicans has a knack for rebelling against leaders' plans to fund the government because of frustrations with the process and deficits.
To allay those concerns and avoid a shutdown before the Nov. 5 election, Johnson (R-La.) sought to combine a stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, with the Protecting American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
The SAVE Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship to cast a ballot.
“The SAVE Act is a great bill that would protect our elections from illegal immigrants voting there and would require voter ID,” Boebert said in outlining her reasons for opposing the broader package.
In July, the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act with the support of five Democrats, but it arrived dead in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Former President Donald Trump has strongly supported the SAVE Act and urged Republicans to fight for it in the showdown over government funding. But Democrats called the SAVE Act a nonstarter.
Last year, a dispute over spending ahead of the current fiscal year sparked a GOP mutiny that culminated in the downfall of Johnson’s predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Congress only finished appropriations bills needed for fiscal year 2024 in March (the previous one is due in October).
By seeking an extension beyond the infamously critical Christmas period in Congress, Johnson appears to be betting on the possibility of Republicans winning the Senate and the White House, to strengthen his negotiating hand.
But in the end, the interim bill failed, failing in a 202-220 vote on Wednesday.
Boebert chose not to vote to impeach McCarthy, but has not been shy about criticizing House Republican leadership.
In June, she easily cruised to victory in the primary, prevailing in her decision to move from Colorado's 3rd to 4th Congressional District.
The Centennial Republican had eked out a victory by just under 500 votes in her last 2022 general election matchup against Democrat Adam Frisch following a recount. Frisch is running for reelection again.
After narrowly surviving her re-election bid in the 2022 midterms against Frisch, Boebert has faced multiple controversies.
Infamously, in September of last year, Boebert was caught on camera being groped during a screening of “Beetlejuice” in Denver, Colorado, with her then-boyfriend Quinn Gallagher.
Boebert and Gallagher were seen fooling around with each other and blowing a cloud of e-cigarette smoke into the air. They were eventually kicked out of the theater and Boebert later apologized.
She also later cut romantic ties with Gallagher, a Democrat.
