House Republicans led by Marjorie Taylor Greene are once again using process maneuvers to try to prevent the House of Representatives from functioning.
Last week they tried to adjourn the House for the day at 10:30 in the morning; today they are doing something even worse.
Last week they tried to adjourn the House for the day at 10:30 in the morning; today they are doing something even worse.
Congress speeds the consideration of uncontroversial bills, things like renaming post offices, bills that pass out of committees with unanimous support, legislation both parties agree on.
They pass on "voice vote," and if a single Member objects they can request a recorded vote.
They pass on "voice vote," and if a single Member objects they can request a recorded vote.
This has always been a good way to fast track what we agree on to allow more time for consideration and debate of harder legislation. In in the pandemic it's especially important because we vote in groups to limit the danger of spreading the virus; a single vote takes 45 minutes.
Today I was to preside over consideration of 13 of these noncontroversial bills with bipartisan support, but then the bills were suddenly pulled.
It turned out Republicans planned to demand recorded votes on *everything* to delay the American Rescue Plan.
It turned out Republicans planned to demand recorded votes on *everything* to delay the American Rescue Plan.
https://twitter.com/MZanona/status/1369047681990066186
Pandemic precautions mean that we would have been voting on these bills all night. Greene and her colleagues were exploiting those precautions to protect us and our staffs in order to delay critical legislation.
Their tactic will now delay the passage of these bills:
Their tactic will now delay the passage of these bills:
They are delaying a bill to award Congress' highest civilian honor to the first responders who protected the Capitol on January 6, including those who are no longer with us.
They are delaying a bill to improve vaccine delivery through the VA.
They are delaying Republican bills.
They are delaying a bill to improve vaccine delivery through the VA.
They are delaying Republican bills.
House Republicans leaders had multiple opportunities to stand up to extremists like Marjorie Greene in their party.
Instead, they have empowered them -- and this is what happens: attempts to block Covid relief by delaying legislation that has near-unanimous support. Despicable.
Instead, they have empowered them -- and this is what happens: attempts to block Covid relief by delaying legislation that has near-unanimous support. Despicable.
This isn't just a fringe.
Greene and the Freedom Caucus are enabled by their party leaders, Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, who increasingly follow their lead.
Remember this when they make bad faith complaints about "unity" -- they are trying to completely disable the House.
Greene and the Freedom Caucus are enabled by their party leaders, Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, who increasingly follow their lead.
Remember this when they make bad faith complaints about "unity" -- they are trying to completely disable the House.
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