Carl, Moore trade bombs over defense spending – both claim ‘work horse’ not ‘show horse’

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) was the lone member of Alabama’s congressional delegation to vote against the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which ultimately passed the House in a 310-118 vote Thursday.

Moore, along with 72 fellow Republicans and 45 Democrats, opposed the finalized defense budget proposal. He cited abortion travel for service members, critical race theory and Ukraine funding among reasons for his vote.

“Earlier this year, I proudly supported the House version of this legislation, which was truly focused on military readiness and service member needs,” Moore said in a statement. “I am disappointed that divisive policies which hold service members and taxpayers hostage to the Democrats’ radical agenda have been included in this bill, and I cannot support it.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, in a primary race against Moore for the GOP nomination for the newly-redrawn Alabama 1st Congressional District, doesn’t see it the same way as his colleague and primary opponent. Carl (R-Mobile) elaborated on his vote:

Today, I voted to:

✅ Increase pay for our military by 5.2%

✅ Ban CRT in the military

✅ Authorize $316.6 million in construction funds for military bases in AL

✅ Fully fund our National Guardsmen in support of border patrol activities

The FY24 NDAA is a huge win. pic.twitter.com/B6hFVFvwgJ

— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) December 14, 2023

Despite Moore’s reservations, the other five members of Alabama’s GOP delegation in the U.S. House praised the bill as a product of intense negotiation on fundamental and specific appropriations. Carl, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, tore into his opponent’s protest vote in a statement to Yellowhammer News.

“Barry Moore voted against giving our troops a pay raise, against securing our border, and against building the wall,” Carl said.

“However, Barry Moore voted to keep CRT training and DEI initiatives in our military. It’s disappointing to see him vote against these conservative priorities, but what do we expect from a show horse who likes to talk the talk but not walk the walk?”

For reference, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who waged an aggressive war against the Biden Administration’s military abortion travel policy, voted in favor of the 2024 NDAA, arguing, “We didn’t get everything we wanted this time, but we got a lot.”

“I voted for this year’s defense bill for two reasons: because it’s good for Alabama and it’s good for our national security,” Tuberville said on Thursday.

Rep. Moore dug in on Thursday in a statement to Yellowhammer News, disputing the idea he’s a showhorse. “Workhorses work for the American people; show horses provide gift horses to Ukraine,” Moore said.

“Carl voted to send $600 million to Ukraine after just stating he was going to stop sending them millions in taxpayer dollars while America’s infrastructure is crumbling and our southern border is being invaded. But this is what you expect from someone who has always voted for ‘business as usual’ since coming to Congress.”

Moore called the budget passed on Thursday a “3,000 page monstrosity”.

As Congress brings its work to a close in 2023, Carl and Moore, two sitting incumbents, both elected to Congress in 2020, are heating up their bid to stay after 2024.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270