Representative Bob Good (R-VA-05) said the House Freedom Caucus will work to oppose the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) crafted with leadership in Congress, which will reauthorize a controversial government surveillance law that House Republicans previously pulled due to backlash.
Good told John Fredericks, publisher of The Virginia Star, that he plans to rally Republicans against the proposed NDAA due to its inclusion of an extension for controversial government spying under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The current version of the bill, he explained, was created by Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
In his first appearance on “The John Fredericks Show” since assuming his leadership position over the House Freedom Caucus, Good told Fredericks that Republicans must “defeat the NDAA and the FISA extension that’s attached to it.”
Good explained that leadership is “bringing us a bill that more reflects the Democrat priorities, has taken out most of the good reforms,” and “worse,” will “attach a FISA extension.” He added that the extension will come with no conditions or reforms, and told Fredericks it is being attached to the NDAA because it “won’t pass” as standalone legislation. Leadership pulled two FISA extension bills on Tuesday due to fierce backlash.
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“We’re operating out of fear,” Good told Fredericks of House Republicans. “We’re afraid of FISA expiring because the intelligence community has gotten in the ear of House Republican leadership and said, ‘Hey, if FISA expires we’ll have these terrible terrorist attacks.'”
He explained that Republican leadership responded by claiming, “‘Well, we want to reform it, but gosh, we can’t let it expire, so we’ll extend it without reforms and then we’ll work on trying to bring the reforms during this extension period.'” He said, “The bad guys just say no and then we cave once again.”
Good argued House Republicans should instead demonstrate “willingness to have walk away leverage” by delivering an ultimatum bill to the Senate.
“If you want to shut down the government because you’re not willing to cut spending then shut it down. If you’re willing to let FISA expire because you won’t reform it, then let it expire. If you’re not willing to secure the border, we’re not going to give you more money to process more illegals in,” said Good, declaring the “Senate has never seen the Republican House do that.”
Though the House Freedom Caucus is reportedly circulating internal talking points that slam Johnson’s handling of the NDAA and comparing him to former Speaker John Boehner, according to Axios, Good resisted criticizing Johnson to Fredericks.
“I’m a performance driven guy and I judge the actions not the words,” he insisted, before adding that House Republicans are running out of time “to deliver for the American people.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bob Good” by Bob Good.
