1. Right now there's a collective jeer as gadfly @RepThomasMassie is demanding a House roll call vote, meaning all reps have to fly in to vote. Pelosi called him selfish. Reality is more complex. She just doesn't want to lose power and do remote voting.
2. I have a letter from House Rules Chair @RepMcGovern on why the House won't work remotely. It's... not good.
Here's one reason: "For example, not every Member of this institution has the same access to broadband."
Broadband access?!? These are wealthy members of Congress!
Here's one reason: "For example, not every Member of this institution has the same access to broadband."
Broadband access?!? These are wealthy members of Congress!
3. McGovern is afraid of 'cyberattacks," "authenticating Members' identities," and "how to ensure that our colleagues are voting without undue influence from bad actors."
This is all silly. The House and Senate used to do remote voting through proxies. Same problems.
This is all silly. The House and Senate used to do remote voting through proxies. Same problems.
4. Also he notes that "Members also have varying degrees of comfort with using technology."
They can learn as most of us have. They have staff.
A lot of members are calling bullshit on the excuses from Pelosi and McConnell. abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireS…
They can learn as most of us have. They have staff.
A lot of members are calling bullshit on the excuses from Pelosi and McConnell. abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireS…
4. It's not just House-side. McConnell is resisting his own colleagues who want to work remotely. So what's really going on? Pelosi and McConnell want to retain *power.*
6. As anyone who worked in Congress knows, the key to control is managing the schedule of how members convene. Every major piece of legislation now is voted on backed up against a weekend, recess, or vacation. Often the House or Senate will vote and adjourn as a power play.
7. This $6 trillion bill is especially notable. Pelosi has kept the entire House in their districts, and is hoping to get the bill through without any formal debate or any hearings at all. Nothing public. Not even a roll call vote! That's total control on her part.
8. Democratic members, except for a few like @AOC, have meekly gone along with Pelosi because Democratic primary voters pick conflict averse aristocrats. But also because they don't get together and talk to each other outside of House structures.
9. One of the reasons the bill is so bad is because there wasn't a lot of public debate. It was just Mnuchin (alone with no staff I'm told), McConnell, Schumer and policy aides, and Pelosi (remotely, weird how she's able to do it). Crafting a giant bill in secret with no debate.
10. This is not necessary. It is not necessary to have the Senate adjourn for a MONTH after they voted in this crisis. It is not necessary to have a situation where the Speaker of the House calls her members 'selfish' for wanting to debate and vote on the largest bill ever.
11. Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell just don't want their members to work remotely because then they have *less* power and the people have more power.
Well guess what? A lot of us have learned to work remotely. Congress can too. For more, follow Congress expert @danielschuman.
Well guess what? A lot of us have learned to work remotely. Congress can too. For more, follow Congress expert @danielschuman.
