Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Despite Last-Minute Changes, Senate Bill Deals Big Blow to Renewable Energy

10 hours ago

Trump-Backed Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Passes US Senate

11 hours ago

Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App

12 hours ago

Israeli Officials to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Washington Amid Military Escalation in Gaza

13 hours ago

Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support

13 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

1 day ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

1 day ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

1 day ago
Say It Ain't So, Devin. Congress Turned You Into a Fat Cat?
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 7 years ago on
July 20, 2018

Share

Rep. Devin Nunes portrays himself as a humble, hard-working servant of the people.
Just a dairyman’s son sticking up for farmers and (nonunion) blue-collar workers who are always getting the shaft from city slickers, radical environmentalists, mainstream media, the Deep State, and Democrats.

Portrait of GV Wire News Director/Columnist Bill McEwen
Opinion
Bill McEwen
Turns out, he’s just another congressman living large on the dime of his donors.
As reported by McClatchy’s Kate Irby, “Nunes used political donations to pay for nearly $15,000 in tickets to Boston Celtics basketball games as well as winery tours and lavish trips to Las Vegas, according to reports from the Federal Election Commission and two nonpartisan watchdog groups.”

In His War on the Mainstream Media, Nunes Maintains Ship-to-Shore Silence

Nunes brushed off an attempt by McClatchy to interview him about these expenses, saying — presumably with a straight face — “I wish I could help you.”
His staff didn’t respond to requests for comment, either.
That’s understandable. Nunes has declared war on the mainstream media in general and The Fresno Bee in particular. McClatchy owns The Bee. When you’re at war, speaking to the enemy is strictly verboten because, as everybody knows, loose lips sink ships.

Remember the Nunes Vote That Sent Dairy Feed Prices Soaring?

Nunes has never been an effective congressman.
For example, you’d think that with his dairy background he would have preached to the heavens about the ills of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that ushered in the renewable mandate and subsidies for ethanol.
Not Nunes, who had big designs on moving up the GOP pecking order in the House of Representatives. He, like most Republicans, marched to the drum of Republican leadership and voted “aye.”
Not long after President Bush signed the bill, the price of corn — which is used in ethanol — skyrocketed.
Want to know who else uses a lot of corn?
Dairymen.
Many family dairies in the Valley went under because the price for milk was less than the cost of production.
Know who else voted for ethanol subsidies?
Then Sen. Barack Obama. The same guy that Nunes declared war on in a disagreement over federal water allocations a few years later when he ascended to the White House.
Bet the Valley’s fair-haired congressman doesn’t share these stories around the campfire when he’s back home from Washington, D.C.
Take a look at every issue Nunes has used to stir his base: water, environmental regulation, the plight of dairies, the Delta smelt, building more dams, Obamacare, high-speed rail.
When has he ever moved the needle?
Never.

Nunes Is a Trump Mini-Me

Making matters worse, Nunes now has pinned his political future to Trumpism.
President Donald Trump has started a global trade war. It’s scaring farmers across the nation to death.
Yet, there’s nary a peep out of Nunes about that.
Valley farmers long have advocated for immigration reform. Trump closes the borders, leaving farmers, the hospitality industry and construction companies short of workers.
Not a peep out of Nunes about that.
Where’s our humble, hardworking public servant when we need him?
Chasing ghosts, spinning conspiracy theories, accepting awards from right-wing groups and kissing Trump’s fanny.
In fact, he has been so busy doing nothing productive, his legions of admirers haven’t been able to pin him down long enough to ask, “What happened to our free-trade warrior and federal deficit hawk?”

The Three Things Nunes Is Good At

Nunes, however, does have skills.
In fact, he’s devastatingly effective at three things, in particular: raising campaign money for himself and others, getting reelected in a district that’s drawn to send a Republican to Congress, and taking care of Devin Nunes.
Part of his schtick was that he works overtime for the little guy.
Now that cover has been blown.
Nunes likes the good life: limo rides, sports tickets, four-star hotels, Las Vegas junkets and wine-tastings.
It’s enjoyable when you can afford it.
Twice as nice when someone else picks up the tab.
Being a congressman, I tell you, is yeoman’s work.
Thank your lucky stars we have a salt-of-the-earth guy like Devin Nunes willing to do it.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

DON'T MISS

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

DON'T MISS

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

DON'T MISS

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

DON'T MISS

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

UP NEXT

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

UP NEXT

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

The Chainsmokers to Headline Dog Daze Festival at Chukchansi Park

UP NEXT

Sex Abuse Scandal Forces Fresno’s Catholic Diocese to Declare Bankruptcy

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Intoxicated Employee Following Morning Disturbance

UP NEXT

Fresno Police, CHP Crack Down on Impaired Driving for July 4th

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Amaury Fernandez

UP NEXT

CA Rolls Back Its Landmark Environmental Law to Speed Housing Construction

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

5 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

5 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

5 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

5 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

6 hours ago

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

6 hours ago

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

6 hours ago

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

6 hours ago

Jury Reaches Verdict on Some Counts at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

7 hours ago

How Wimbledon Is Tackling Its Hottest Opening on Record

7 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration released about 150 National Guard troops on Tuesday in the first pullback since it dispatched a milit...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

An Israeli military convoy manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, July 1, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
4 hours ago

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

Abel Joel Garcia Zarate, 39, of Biola, was arrested Sunday, June, 30, 2025, in Madera County on suspicion of starting a wildfire just hours after crews responded to a separate blaze sparked by farm equipment. (Madera County SO)
4 hours ago

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

5 hours ago

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERSStringerFile Photo
5 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

5 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

Lara Trump looks on during Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend