GOP Mutiny Halts Trump-Backed Bills in House
A rebellion by nine Republicans against their own party has led to the suspension of House proceedings, stalling two key bills supported by the Trump administration.
In a surprising turn of events, a normally routine procedural vote in the House of Representatives turned chaotic as nine Republicans joined Democrats to vote down a rule, effectively halting all legislative action for the week. This unexpected mutiny has put a hold on two significant pieces of legislation backed by the Trump administration, which were scheduled for votes on Wednesday and Thursday.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., expressed his disappointment over the situation, stating, “It’s a very disappointing result on the floor there, a handful of Republicans joined with all the Democrats to take down a rule. That’s rarely done. It’s very unfortunate.” The rule in question was necessary to allow debate and votes on the No Rogue Rulings Act and the Safeguarding Voter Eligibility Act.
The rebellion was sparked by a controversial move by House GOP leaders to block a discharge petition led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla. Luna’s petition aimed to allow new parents in Congress to vote remotely for 12 weeks following the birth of a child. The leaders’ attempt to thwart this effort by altering an unrelated rules package led to backlash among some Republicans, who felt their party was undermining previously agreed-upon rules.
Rep. Luna highlighted the significance of the day, saying, “I think that today is a pretty historical day for the entire conference and showing that, yeah, the body has decided that parents deserve a voice in Washington and also to the importance of female members having a vote in Washington D.C.”
The nine Republicans who voted against the rule included Reps. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., Greg Steube, R-Fla., Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., Max Miller, R-Ohio, and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. Rep. Miller explained his stance, stating, “I could not in good conscience vote for an unprecedented rule that would pull the rug out from under Representative Luna’s discharge petition that got the required signatures fair and square.”
As a result of the failed vote, Democrats celebrated the outcome, while House GOP leaders are now considering their next steps. They could potentially call an emergency session of the House Rules Committee to revise the language of the rule to avoid targeting discharge petitions. However, one House Republican suggested that it might be better for lawmakers to take a break for a few days to cool down the tensions.
This incident marks a significant setback for the Trump administration’s legislative agenda and highlights the internal divisions within the Republican Party.