What Progressive Caucus?

Speaking Security Newsletter | Advisory Note for Organizers and Candidates, n°33 | 6 August 2020

Bottom line

The supermajority of the Congressional Progressive Caucus voted opposite of what most Americans want (at least according to every public opinion poll I’ve read, like this one).

Methodology

I wanted to see how progressive the Congressional Progressive Caucus actually was on the recent legislation re: military spending/imperialism.

Results are based on 3 votes: Mark Pocan’s amendment (10 percent reduction in military spending to fund social programs), Ilhan Omar’s amendment (Afghanistan withdrawal), and the NDAA ($740bn+ military spending).

I consider the only acceptable progressive response (“passing grade”) to be the following: Yes on Pocan’s amendment, Yes on Omar’s amendment, and No on the NDAA. Deviation from any of these three is unacceptable (“failing grade”). A third category, “shameless failures” are those who voted the exact opposite of this (and those who didn’t show up to vote on Omar’s amendment but voted No on Pocan’s amendment and Yes on the NDAA).

^Source: Congressional Progressive Caucus

Empirical results

• 92 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) cast votes on the 2021 NDAA

  Average defense industry campaign financing, 2020 cycle: $17,670 (House average: ~$26,000).

• 35 members received a passing grade (38% of the CPC)

  Average defense industry campaign financing, 2020 cycle: $6,886.09

• 57 members received a failing grade (62% of the CPC)

  Average defense industry campaign financing, 2020 cycle: $24,102.89

• Of those 57 failures, 18 were shameless failures (20% of the CPC)

  Average defense industry campaign financing, 2020 cycle: $47,462.44

^Shameless failures. Also who let Adam Smith on the CPC?

Emotional results

Irritable.

Thanks for your time,

Stephen (@stephensemler; stephen@securityreform.org)

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