Unity, schmunity – Dems want payback for GOP’s dissent
So much for unity. Democrats on Capitol Hill are itching for some payback in the wake of GOP lawmakers challenging the Electoral College votes and the deadly riots that followed last week.
According to Politico, boycotting is up for discussion, and some of those who dissented the election’s results could find their legislation scuttled.
As the media outlet reported, several Democrats floated the idea Monday that House chairs could keep any legislation co-sponsored by anti- certification Republicans from seeing the light of day.
Doesn’t matter what the legislation is, or how it could potentially help the American people. If a Republican who opposed the vote certification is involved with the bill, it’s as good as doomed.
Why help the country move forward when you can revel in good, old-fashioned vindictiveness?
This, by the way, is not the first time objections were raised during the vote certification process. Democrats objected to George Bush’s electoral votes in Ohio back in 2004. More than 30 Democrats voted against certifying results in states Trump won in 2017. But that was then — when despising then-incoming President Trump was a badge of honor in the halls of Congress.
Some sources noted House Democratic leadership would have to make such a call, since the maneuvering could seriously hamper bipartisan work. One would think that alone would put the brakes on such a notion — after all, their candidate, President-elect Joe Biden is pushing solidarity over divisiveness.
If Dems go through with playing “keepaway” with legislative power, it would be a huge move. Discussions are heating up across the Democratic Caucus about such details as how to co-sponsor certain bills, Democratic sources told Politico. Collaboration is now in the “maybe” pile.
“Democrats who are deciding who to choose as their Republican lead on bills will be wise to choose members who voted for the election results,” said a Democratic committee aide. “Committees will not be rewarding members who voted against the election results — clearly those members are not interested in governing.”
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), who chairs the House Rules Committee, told reporters Monday that the caucus would need to discuss any potential next steps for Republican members who objected to the results, or for those who also helped incite last Wednesday’s violence.
“Some of these people should have the good sense to resign, and they should take it upon themselves to do the right thing,” McGovern said. He did not rule out the possibility of censuring some of the GOP members.
Rebuke those in the GOP who objected to the certification, as massively hypocritical as that would be, but leave the peoples’ business out of it.
Lawmakers will be taking up bills that affect the lives of people across America, and that legislation shouldn’t be held hostage to one side of the aisle wishing to “get back” at the other.
One would hope that in the runup to a new administration, discussions would focus on repairing the country’s polarization by setting an example of working toward common goals for the nation.
Congress has a chance to make things better, not worse. It’s up to them to take it.