Jordan-Gaetz Feud Spills onto House Floor

 

Disarray rocked the House majority yesterday during an otherwise productive session of Congress when one Republican House member sought the expulsion of a colleague.

The ruckus began with a vote on HR 51, a bill to ratify the Ottawa Treaty on land mines. A bipartisan majority on the floor favored amending the bill to include lifting the trade embargo with Cuba. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) joined conservative Republicans like Don Bacon (Nebraska) in describing the Cuban embargo as an arcane and failed policy. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) joined 21 other House members in voting to lift the embargo. (The bill passed and was later signed into law by President Biden.)

Ceremonial Mace

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), however, described lifting the embargo as a grave error, calling it a vital tool for stopping the communist regime in Cuba. After the vote, Jordan appeared to call out Gaetz, saying, "I would just like to remind my fellow Republican Congressman from Florida that their Cuban American voters are not going to be happy if they see that you're betraying them by endorsing the Communist regime which they risked their lives to flee."

Toward the end of the floor session, Rep. Gaetz grabbed the House ceremonial mace from the Sergeant at Arms and spoke out of turn on the floor, demanding a vote on Jordan's expulsion. The Speaker decided to allow the vote.

Ultimately the vote failed when nearly all Democrats voted "present." Only five House members, including two Republicans, voted in favor of the measure. It requires two-thirds of the chamber to expel a member.

In a statement later made available to the Sentinel, Jordan said, "I expect Representative Gaetz will be hard-pressed next election cycle to explain to his constituents not only why he voted for a bill which contravenes decades of Republican doctrine in support of an authoritarian one-party Marxist-Leninist regime, but also why he tried to censure one of the House's most outspoken conservative voices and weaken our Party's narrow majority." Jordan additionally demanded an apology from all Republicans who failed to vote against the measure.

In other floor news, a bipartisan majority voted to override President Biden's veto of an audit of the Federal Reserve. Biden was reportedly stunned and pensive after learning of this. 

House Passes Supreme Court Amendment

A bipartisan coalition today approved an amendment to the U.S. Constitution fixing the size of the Supreme Court at nine justices.

Rep. Bacon

The amendment was pushed in order to counter pressure for President Biden to expand the Supreme Court to protect Democratic legislative accomplishments from judicial review. The amendment's author, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), opened debate on the measure by playing a 1983 recording of then-Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware) describing court-packing as a "bonehead idea." Bacon urged his colleagues to support the amendment to "protect the glorious system of checks and balances." 

Some Democrats, including Reps. Cori Bush (Missouri) and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (New York), expressed strong reservations about the measure, saying that rigid approaches to the size of the Court have created egregious injustices in the past. However, other Democrats were open to the amendment with some additions, including a code of ethics for justices as well as 18-year term limits for all future justices.  

The amendment passed with a 21-5 vote, exceeding the two-thirds majority needed for passage. The amendment now heads to state legislatures, where, if it receives approval from 38 states, it will become the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In other legislative action, House Republicans were able to push through several longstanding goals, including:

-A 35% cut in federal funds for reproductive services provided by Planned Parenthood. Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) described the measure as a "war on murder," while Rep. Doris Matsui (D-California) accused Republicans of hypocrisy by saying, "You say that life is sacred at conception, you don’t seem to care after they’re born."

Rep. Frost

-A national voter identification card requirement for all federal elections. Speaker Andy Biggs noted that many American believe that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent and claimed that greater ballot security would improve voters' perceptions of the process. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Florida), however, argued that “Voter fraud is not an issue -- this vote is to disenfranchise minority voters.” Rep. Bush claimed that Republicans are blaming imaginary fraudulent voters for their losses when in fact they're just bad at crafting public policy.

-A bill to provide a path to legal U.S. residency for up to 10 million immigrants annually who are willing to pay a fee of 2% of their annual income. 

House passes $4.7 trillion budget for 2023

The U.S. House of Representatives approved $4.7 trillion dollars in spending for the 2023 fiscal year as part of its annual budget, which was crafted by a bipartisan committee. The budget now goes to President Biden's desk for his signature.

Rep. Lesko

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Arizona), a member of the Money Committee that drafted the budget, introduced it on the House floor, describing it as a balanced measure that "takes into account the needs of all Americans." She read a statement of support from Money Committee chair Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma), who is currently recovering from Covid symptoms at the Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

Fellow Money Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) added his praise for the budget proposal, arguing that it "demonstrates a bipartisan approach." Committee members noted that the bill actually called for $56 billion dollars more in revenue than spending, creating a surplus that would make a small dent in the national debt.

Several Democrats, however, expressed concern for the very small appropriation for Pell Grants in higher education, originally listed as $50,000 for 2023. This, experts estimate, would almost be enough to send one student to the University of Denver next year.

After some discussion, the line item was increased to $500 million by Majority Leader Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota). Several House progressives, led by Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, pushed for a further expansion of this funding, but this effort did not garner majority support. The budget was ultimately passed on a voice vote.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez

In other House developments, Republicans quashed a bill by Ocasio-Cortez to raise the federal minimum wage to $14.50. In comments later made available to the Sentinel, Ocasio-Cortez listed the economic benefits to families and communities of an increased minimum wage, and implored her colleagues to "put party politics aside and do what you were elected to do by representing the best interests of your constituents." The federal minimum wage remains at $7.50, although various cities and states have floors well above that.

In another development, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) led Republicans to support one of the largest expansions of the welfare state since the Great Society, details page A14.

A Productive, (Mostly) Amicable Day in the House

The US House today defied its reputation for divisiveness, protracted debate, and razor-thin victory margins with a remarkably productive legislative session marked by moments of bipartisanship.

The House managed to pass some 13 pieces of legislation on a wide range of issues, ranging from data-mining protections to medical device availability to responses to Chinese surveillance balloons. Nearly all of the bills were passed on voice votes. 

Rep. Bice

One hard-fought compromise involved a set of competing bills by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) over making feminine hygiene products more affordable. While Bush's original bill likely would have been further-reaching in terms of providing free menstrual products, the two were able to come to terms and put forward a bipartisan Bice-Bush Act. (One of the session's more divisive votes occurred over the naming of the act.) The bill passed on a voice vote.

Rep. Massie

Republicans were also able to pass a longstanding goal for some conservatives -- an act to audit the Federal Reserve Board. Its author, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), argued that it is "long overdue that we lift back the curtain of the Federal Reserve for the American people." Although a number of Democrats raised concerns, resistance to the bill softened with Rep. Ruben Gallego's (D-Arizona) amendment that the bill require reauthorization every four years.

Perhaps the most partisan fight occurred over Majority Leader Tom Emmer's (R-Minnesota) proposal to eliminate all taxes -- including state and local taxes -- on small businesses. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) and other Republicans emphasized that these cuts were for smaller businesspeople, such as "the baker that wakes up at 3AM." Democrats raised numerous objections over the definition of small business and the enforceability and constitutionality of the measure. It nonetheless passed on a party-line roll call vote right before adjournment. It was not clear whether President Biden would sign the measure into law.

Dems Roll Republicans in Lively House Session

Defying their reputation for legislative disarray, House Democrats held together and managed to defeat measures on abortion and Ukraine funding pushed by the Republican majority.

Rep. Emmer

House Majority Leader Tom Emmer (Minnesota) authored HR 2, a bill that would have banned abortions nationwide in cases beyond three weeks of gestation. "All human life born and unborn should be protected," proclaimed Emmer. "God bless babies," added Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida). 

Democrats pushed back on the measure. Rep. Katie Porter (D-California) noted that it is impossible in most cases for a woman to know she is pregnant before three weeks of gestation. Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez warned that the measure would lead to dangerous illegal abortions. 

Rep. Bush

Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colorado) and Cori Bush (D-Missouri) brought up examples of their own pregnancies, with Bush noting that she was homeless for a time while raising her small children. "Where was the concern for our babies then?" she asked.

All Democrats voted against the bill. Republicans held a two-seat majority in the chamber, but Reps. Nancy Mace (Arizona) and David Joyce (Ohio) voted "present," depriving the bill of a majority.

It was a similar story on Speaker Andy Biggs' bill to curtail US funding for Ukraine. Biggs claimed that the war was at a stalemate and that the US had done what it could do, calling for a reduction in spending to help bring the warring parties to a resolution. He additionally claimed that the Ukrainian government is one of the most corrupt in Europe and continued US support was only worsening this.

Rep. Salazar

Democrats offered a vigorous defense of Ukraine. They were aided by Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar (Florida), who parted with her colleagues in her support for Ukraine, which she claimed was a push back against Russian communism. "We’re forgetting the real thing; this is communism," she argued. (Editor's note: Russia is not a communist nation.)

Salazar joined all Democrats in opposing the bill, which failed on an 11-11 vote. 

Republicans were successful in pushing through Rep. Debbie Lesko's (R-Arizona) bill to add $5 billion in funding for further wall construction at the US-Mexico border.

House Goes After TikTok

In what was portrayed as a rebuke to China, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bill to investigate the controversial social media site TikTok over the next three years.

Rep. Buck (R-CO)

The bill, authored by Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colorado), passed on a voice vote after a lengthy and divisive partisan debate. Buck raised the specter of the alleged Chinese spy balloon recently shot down by military jets after it had crossed over the continental United States, suggesting that the Chinese government was using TikTok to similarly spy on Americans. 

Rep. María Salazar (R-Florida) similarly suggested that TikTok was being used by the Chinese communist government to infiltrate the United States. "It's no secret how I feel about communism," she added. Urging a support for the bill, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) said, "TikTok should be blown out of the sky like the Chinese spy balloon was this week."

Democrats voiced a number of concerns about the bill. Minority Leader Ruben Gallego (Arizona) described the measure as a "virtue signal of a bill" that was "all foam and no beer." Rep. Doris Matsui (D-California) asked why just TikTok was being singled out and not other Chinese-owned social media companies, and raised concerns about the bill's vagueness. Several Democrats wondered if the Defense Intelligence Agency, tasked with running the investigation, was the proper agency for the job. 

Several members of the House International Affairs Committee traded barbs on the floor, blaming each other for a lack of the bipartisan comity that had been on display during the committee hearings over the bill. "I'm fairly disappointed," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska). 

Rep. Matsui (D-CA)

The bill now goes to President Biden's desk. The White House has not indicated whether the President will sign it.

House selects 2023 leadership team as 118th Congress begins

Speaker Andy Biggs

U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) was chosen to be the Speaker of the 118th session of the House of Representatives this month. Biggs, who has represented Arizona's 5th district since 2017, was selected in a recent closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference.

Other majority party chamber leaders selected include Reps. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) for Majority Leader and Thomas Massie (R-New York) for Majority Whip. Democrats chose Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona to be Minority Leader and Reps. Nancy Pelosi (California) and Cori Bush (Missouri) to be Minority Whips.

From the White House, President Biden issued a statement congratulating Speaker Biggs and the rest of the House leadership. "I look forward to working with the congressional leaders this session on a productive agenda to heal the soul of America," the President wrote.

Prospects for the session are difficult to ascertain at this point. Republicans hold only a four-seat majority and have a somewhat fractious caucus, and there are not many policy issues on which they agree with President Biden. The House will hold its first committee hearings this week.