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'''John Cornyn, III''' (born February 2, 1952 [[Houston, Texas]]), is the [[Moderate Republican]] senior [[United States Senator]] from [[Texas]], considered a leader in the [[RINO]] wing of his party in contrast to his [[conservative]] colleague, [[Ted Cruz]].

'''John Cornyn, III''' (born February 2, 1952 [[Houston, Texas]]), is the [[Moderate Republican]] senior [[United States Senator]] from [[Texas]], considered a leader in the [[RINO]] wing of his party in contrast to his [[conservative]] colleague, [[Ted Cruz]].

Although somewhat conservative in his first term,<ref>In 2006, ''The National Journal'' ranked Cornyn as the fourth most conservative Senator. [http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib_cons.htm?o1=con_composite&o2=desc]</ref> Cornyn today is largely controlled by Republican Party moderates and liberals. He serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Budget Committee, Finance Committee, and Judiciary Committee. As the chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] in 2012, Senator Cornyn pulled $5 million in spending out of the toss-up [[Missouri]] race because the embattled [[pro-life]] nominee, [[Todd Akin]], spoke out too much for the [[unborn]]. In October 2017, Cornyn announced he would block the confirmation of Russ Vought, a strong conservative, to the important position of Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget because he wanted the federal government to appropriate even more money than it already had for the state of Texas after a hurricane.<ref>Wegmann, Philip (October 20, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/john-cornyn-holds-top-white-house-nominee-for-ransom/article/2638199 John Cornyn holds top White House nominee for ransom]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Pandolfo, Chris (October 20, 2017). [https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/john-cornyn-holds-conservative-nominee-hostage-for-swamp-kickback John Cornyn holds conservative nominee hostage for Swamp kickback]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Swan, Jonathan (October 19, 2017). [https://www.axios.com/john-cornyn-holds-up-top-white-house-nominee-2498698528.html John Cornyn holds up top White House nominee]. ''Axios''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Brian, Darling (October 23, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/23/darling-john-cornyn-holds-trumps-omb-pick-hostage-extract-petty-revenge-conservatives/ Darling: John Cornyn Holds Trump’s OMB Pick Hostage to Extract Petty Revenge on Conservatives]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 23, 2017.</ref>

Although somewhat conservative in his first term,<ref>In 2006, ''The National Journal'' ranked Cornyn as the fourth most conservative Senator. [http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib_cons.htm?o1=con_composite&o2=desc]</ref> Cornyn today is largely controlled by Republican Party moderates and liberals. He serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Budget Committee, Finance Committee, and Judiciary Committee. As the chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] in 2012, Senator Cornyn pulled $5 million in spending out of the toss-up [[Missouri]] race because the embattled [[pro-life]] nominee, [[Todd Akin]], spoke out too much for the [[unborn]]. In October 2017, Cornyn announced he would block the confirmation of Russ Vought, a strong conservative, to the important position of Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget because he wanted the federal government to appropriate even more money than it already had for the state of Texas after a hurricane.<ref>Wegmann, Philip (October 20, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/john-cornyn-holds-top-white-house-nominee-for-ransom/article/2638199 John Cornyn holds top White House nominee for ransom]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Pandolfo, Chris (October 20, 2017). [https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/john-cornyn-holds-conservative-nominee-hostage-for-swamp-kickback John Cornyn holds conservative nominee hostage for Swamp kickback]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Swan, Jonathan (October 19, 2017). [https://www.axios.com/john-cornyn-holds-up-top-white-house-nominee-2498698528.html John Cornyn holds up top White House nominee]. ''Axios''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Brian, Darling (October 23, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/23/darling-john-cornyn-holds-trumps-omb-pick-hostage-extract-petty-revenge-conservatives/ Darling: John Cornyn Holds Trump’s OMB Pick Hostage to Extract Petty Revenge on Conservatives]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 23, 2017.</ref>

In 2017, Cornyn holds the No. 2 position in the U.S. Senate, called the "Majority Whip." His Senate seat was once held by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], Johnson's permanent successor, [[John Tower]], the first Republican senator from Texas since [[Reconstruction]], and [[Phil Gramm]], Cornyn's predecessor from 1985 to 2002.

In 2017, Cornyn holds the No. 2 position in the U.S. Senate, called the "Majority Whip." His Senate seat was once held by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], Johnson's permanent successor, [[John Tower]], the first Republican senator from Texas since [[Reconstruction]], and [[Phil Gramm]], Cornyn's predecessor from 1985 to 2002.