Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) just drew a line in the sand. He said Congress should withhold funding from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if the Biden administration ignores a court ruling that suspended approval of the controversial abortion pill mifepristone.
A federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction undoing the FDA’s approval of mifepristone nationwide last Friday. And a separate ruling issued in Washington state may restrict the scope of the injunction in Texas.
The Biden administration has challenged the Texas decision and the White House has asked for an immediate hold on the injunction. A federal appeals court should give e a verdict this week, but it ultimately may go to the Supreme Court for a final decision.
There are some politicians along with some reports that the Biden Administration is considering just ignoring the ruling entirely. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is calling for exactly that.
Gonzales serves on the House Appropriations Committee, he said in a CNN interview that Republicans should consider using the “power of the purse” to prevent the Biden administration from ignoring the law.
“I am a prolific pro-lifer, and I think it’s important that we protect the sanctity of life,” Gonzales said. “I believe in state rights. Here in Texas, we have a heartbeat bill that was passed. And I think it’s important that states dictate their futures.”
He continued: “And we have to have the courts uphold these. I mean, it’s very dangerous when you have the administration, the Biden administration, coming out and saying they may not uphold a ruling. As an appropriator on the House Republican side, I look at it, as the House Republicans have the power of the purse.
And if the administration wants to not lead this ruling — not live up to this ruling, then we’re going to have a problem. And it may become a point where House Republicans on the appropriation side have to defund FDA programs that don’t make sense.”
He went further saying that the White House was potentially undermining the justice system.
