During a heated debate on the House floor, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced a bold amendment to reduce the salary of Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to one dollar. Tenney’s accusations against Granholm are serious, claiming multiple violations of the Hatch Act and lying under oath to Congress. This article examines the arguments presented by Tenney, as well as responses from Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN).
Tenney’s Accusations
Rep. Claudia Tenney began by outlining her reasons for the amendment, stating that since taking office in January 2021, Secretary Granholm has violated the Hatch Act multiple times. Tenney highlighted Granholm’s ownership of Proterra stock while President Biden promoted the company, and her husband’s ownership of Ford stock while Granholm promoted the company’s work with official resources. Tenney emphasized that these actions resulted in Granholm and her husband profiting millions from what she described as illegal transactions.
Lying Under Oath
The most critical accusation Tenney made was that Granholm lied under oath to Congress about not owning any individual stocks when, in fact, she did. Tenney supported her claims with references to various news sources, including Reuters and CNN, that reported on Granholm’s ethical violations and conflicts of interest. Tenney argued that such actions directly jeopardize national security by undermining the integrity of the Department of Energy.
Constitutional Concerns
In opposition, Rep. Marcy Kaptur from Ohio raised serious constitutional concerns about Tenney’s amendment. Kaptur argued that the amendment could amount to an unconstitutional bill of attainder, which is a legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial. Kaptur defended Granholm as a highly qualified and dedicated public servant and criticized the amendment as legislative theater with no chance of becoming law.
Power of the Purse
Tenney countered by asserting Congress’s power of the purse, stating that it has the authority to reduce Granholm’s salary under the Holman Rule. She reiterated that Granholm’s actions, including violating the Hatch Act, warranted such a measure. Tenney called for Granholm to resign or face the reduction in salary as a form of accountability for her actions.
Fleischmann’s Perspective
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee also spoke on the matter, expressing understanding for his colleagues’ frustrations with the executive branch. However, Fleischmann opposed the amendment, suggesting that reducing Granholm’s salary to one dollar would not solve the underlying problems and could create a more challenging environment for addressing these issues.
Legislative Implications
The debate on the House floor highlights a significant division over how to handle alleged misconduct by high-ranking officials. Tenney’s amendment, while unlikely to pass, underscores the tensions between legislative and executive branches over accountability and ethics. The arguments presented reveal differing perspectives on the appropriate measures to address such allegations.
Political Theater
The introduction of this amendment can be seen as part of a broader trend of using dramatic legislative actions to draw attention to perceived injustices. While such measures rarely pass, they serve to spotlight issues and force a public discussion on the actions of government officials. Whether this approach is effective or merely political grandstanding is a matter of debate.
“She Needs to Be Put in Prison”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “Arrest her and send her to trial and then PRISON!”
Another commenter added: “If she lied under oath then she needs to be put in prison and should be left there for life for what she has done to his country typical of the democrats protecting the criminals”
One person had an interesting question: “Is there anyone in this administration that isn’t a corrupt crook?”
Struggle for Accountability
Rep. Claudia Tenney’s demand to reduce Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s salary to one dollar has sparked a contentious debate in Congress. With accusations of lying under oath and multiple ethical violations, the amendment has brought significant attention to Granholm’s conduct. While the amendment faces substantial opposition and constitutional challenges, it highlights the ongoing struggle for accountability and transparency in government.
Ethical Violations
What do you think? How should Congress address allegations of ethical violations by high-ranking officials in the executive branch? What are the potential constitutional implications of reducing an official’s salary to one dollar? How effective is the power of the purse as a tool for legislative oversight?
Watch the entire video on Forbes Breaking News’ YouTube channel for more information here.
