April 4, 2019: Chip Roy Votes “No” on the Violence Against Women Act

Showing more concern for the NRA than for women, Roy was the only member of San Antonio’s Congressional delegation to vote against re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Roy claimed that parts of the bill that would prevent convicted domestic abusers from possessing guns would “attack our god-given rights.” Roy was subsequently asked directly by constituents to produce Biblical texts showing that God intended convicted domestic abusers to own firearms. He declined to answer.

Nearly half of all women murdered in the U.S. are killed by a boyfriend or partner. Roy was also asked by constituents if he felt these deaths were God’s will. He again declined to answer.

May 24, 2019: Chip Roy Delays Disaster Aid to Texans, Makes GOP Enemies

In May, Chip Roy held $19 billion in disaster aid hostage so he could score some free publicity.

Roy used a procedural rule to block passage of a bipartisan bill designed to help victims of wildfires and storms. He gave different reasons to different media outlets, sometimes saying that he objected to a voice vote for the bill, and sometimes saying he was upset that funding for a border wall hadn’t been included. Chip clearly enjoyed the media attention his stalling maneuver earned for him. But it caused rifts in his own party.

Republican Rep. Austin Scott of Florida called Roy and his assistants “clowns”:

“It’s theater and grandstanding, it’s all it is. It’s not even a principled stand,” Scott said. “They’re not trying to negotiate a resolution. They’re just acting up.”

Texas GOP Rep. Kay Granger called Chip’s actions a “political stunt.”

Sen. David Perdue of Georgia tweeted, “This is yet another example of politicians putting their own self-interest ahead of the national interest. It’s pathetic that some members have chosen this moment to grandstand & get into the national headlines.”

Eventually, the bill was passed, by an overwhelming margin of 354-58. Rep. Roy’s theatrics did nothing but delay much-needed disaster help, and stoke discord, for no good reason.

May 12, 2019: In “Red-faced Meltdown,” Chip Roy Defends Big Pharma Profiteering

At a House Oversight Committee probing the high price of the HIV prevention drug Truvada, Roy declared himself “offended” when Rep. Katie Hill questioned the drugmaker’s CEO about his recent “signing bonus” of $30 million. Roy called the question “an attack [on] the capitalistic system” and said he was “really glad” about the company’s obscene profits–“And I hope they make a lot more!”