MCGOVERN: RAPID RETURN RULE FOR FEDS. CHABOT COLUMN,
Congressional Democrats quietly passed an emergency “martial law rule” to turbocharge reopening the government despite signs that President Trump and Democratic leaders appear deadlocked over the shutdown.
“We are ready to go. We could end this immediately,” U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, who now chairs the powerful House Rules Committee, said during an interview on Herald Radio.
The measure, tucked into a rules package approved by Democrats last week, means legislators can quickly approve a bill reopening the government if Trump and Democratic leaders reach a deal.
The measure bypasses rules that would normally force representatives to wait three days before voting.
It only applies to ending the shutdown and will expire in a few days, McGovern said.
“This is an extraordinary measure. We provided what I used to call a martial law rule,” said McGovern, a Worcester Democrat. “We can bring it up as soon as there’s an agreement.”
The measure comes as the government shutdown continues into a third week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Trump remained at a stalemate Wednesday over $5.7 billion for a wall along the southern border. The trio clashed at yet another White House sit-down Wednesday.
“We have a better idea of how to keep the country safe, and it isn’t a wall,” a dug-in Pelosi said following an explosive half-hour huddle.
Trump suggested he would quickly reopen the government if Pelosi would fund the wall at a later date. Once Pelosi refused, Trump tweeted that the meeting was “a waste of time.”
McGovern echoed Pelosi and dismissed the idea that a wall can prevent illegal immigration.
“Yes, we need to do a better job at our border, but there are ways to do it that will actually enhance border security,” he said. “The wall doesn’t do it.”