GOP avoids House impeachment vote - for now
Senate delivers surprise defeat on gun rights
Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for June 23, 2023:
A bad day for Rep. George Santos (R-NY).
Republicans aren’t done with Hunter Biden.
I started my first Capitol Hill job 43 years ago this week.
IMPEACHMENT. House GOP leaders successfully sidestepped a vote on an impeachment resolution against President Biden on Thursday, using the rules to send the plan from Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) to two committees for further review. But when you listen to Boebert and her allies, this was just the start of their political crusade against Joe Biden.
GOP. "It's time for the House to take action against Biden's blatant dereliction of duty," said Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN). "It’s past time we hold the President accountable," added Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), as backers demanded fast impeachment action against the President.
FRAMING. What I noticed most was how Boebert framed Thursday’s vote. "Republicans voted to begin impeachment proceedings," Boebert declared last night on Fox News. That’s not what happened - but that’s what you’re going to hear from Boebert and other conservatives.
WHAT'S NEXT. Right now, most House Republicans want nothing to do with impeaching President Biden. But I really believe pressure will build, as this may quickly become a major litmus test for GOP lawmakers in Congress.
IN FAVOR. Who spoke in favor of impeachment on the House floor? Not GOP leaders. Not any committee chairs. Instead it was a familiar group of outspoken House conservatives: Biggs AZ, Roy TX, Norman SC, Ogles TN, Mills FL, Boebert CO, Crane AZ, Donalds FL, and Good VA.
BASELESS. Democrats belittled the GOP effort. "They're wasting our time on a baseless impeachment attempt," said Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), as Democrats predicted the voters would frown on the effort. "Republicans are dead set on squandering their House majority," said Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA).
PRIORITIES. Look for Democrats to continue to emphasize the argument that Republicans aren't addressing kitchen table issues. "They have done nothing to make life better for everyday Americans," said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
TRUMP. Speaking of impeachment, two House Republicans have filed resolutions designed to formally erase the twin impeachments of former President Donald Trump. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) unveiled those plans on Thursday.
EXPUNGE THIS. "The first impeachment of President Trump was a politically motivated sham," said Greene, whose plan would formally expunge Trump's 2019 impeachment. "The American people know Democrats weaponized the power of impeachment against President Donald Trump," said Stefanik, who wants to erase Trump's post-Jan. 6 impeachment.
OUTLOOK. Frankly, it wouldn’t shock me to see the House pass both of these plans. That’s because of the extreme level of devotion to Trump among some GOP lawmakers - combined with the fear of what might happen if you oppose something which helps Trump.
PISTOL BRACES. In a surprise outcome, the U.S. Senate defeated a House-passed plan to overturn a federal rule regulating so-called 'pistol braces,' which allow you to shoot a high-powered weapon with one hand. The vote was straight along party lines, 50-49 against the repeal. (One Democrat, Coons of Delaware, was absent.)
VOTES. I figured this plan would be approved by the Senate - but even Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted against the repeal. "How on Earth can Republicans look at our nation’s gun violence and think the right answer is to make these accessories easier to own?” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
HOUSE. The outcome was immediately denounced by the bill's main sponsor, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) - who also happens to be a gun store owner. "These Senators failed both our Constitution and their constituents," Clyde said. "We will not forget this shameful betrayal."
VOTES. The repeal of the pistol brace rule wasn't going to become law anyway - as the White House had threatened a veto. But now, the plan won't even make it to the President's desk. It was definitely a defeat for gun rights groups.
VIVA DE LA SANTOS. There was a very bad sign yesterday for Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from the House Ethics Committee. Usually, the ethics panel stands down from any investigation of a lawmaker - if that member has been indicted. That way, they don't get in the way of the feds. But not this time on Santos.
ETHICS. In a highly unusual public update, the committee said it has 'issued over 30 subpoenas,' and is working to complete the Santos probe in 'an expeditious timeframe.' The panel also has voted to look at charges from a federal indictment that Santos fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits.
NUT GRAF. "The Committee is aware of the risks associated with dual investigations and is in communication with the Department of Justice to mitigate the potential risks while still meeting the Committee's obligations to safeguard the integrity of the House," the panel stated.
TRANSLATION. Normally, the Ethics Committee says nothing. In this case, it sounds to me like the committee really wants to get their work done ASAP - which is not good news for Santos.
NAMES. Meanwhile, the names of the two people who secured the $500,000 bond for Santos have been made public. It was his father and aunt. Santos had said there might be a firestorm of publicity if the veil of secrecy was lifted. But that didn’t materialize.
SANTOS. “I ask for the media to not disturb or harass my dad & aunt for the sakes of cheap reporting,” Santos tweeted yesterday. “If the press needs comments they know where and how to find me.”
REGULAR ORDER. Let me interrupt for a moment to make my weekly pitch for this newsletter. It was this week in 1980 that my dad dropped me off on Capitol Hill for my first job in Congress. I’ve seen an awful lot since then. With all of that experience, please consider hiring me to get an inside view of what’s happening at the Capitol. Sign up for ‘Regular Order,’ give someone a gift subscription, or maybe just buy me a drink.
HUNTER BIDEN. Republicans aren't done with Hunter Biden. Two days after the Justice Department announced a plea deal was being struck with the President's son - charging him with tax evasion - GOP lawmakers unveiled testimony from two IRS whistleblowers, who charged that the Hunter Biden investigation had been limited by top officials.
GOP. "The preferential treatment Hunter Biden received would never have been granted to ordinary Americans," said Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. The panel voted yesterday to release the information - as Republicans vowed to pursue the new leads in the case.
IRS. If there was preferential treatment given on the Hunter Biden case - it wouldn't surprise me. After all, we just witnessed how top IRS officials refused to audit Donald Trump's tax returns every single year that he was in the White House, even though it’s required.
TESTIMONY. Here is the testimony of Whistleblower #1. Here is a link to the testimony of Whistleblower #2.
DEFENSE. Democrats cried foul at the GOP move. "Today is about naked partisanship," said Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. Look for the GOP to do all they can to keep the pot simmering on Hunter Biden in the months ahead.
SPENDING. Key committees in the House and Senate forged ahead on Thursday with work on various government funding bills for 2024, but lawmakers are heading home for an extended break with a lot of work still to do. Four of the twelve funding bills are through committee and ready for action in the full House. In the Senate, it's just two of twelve.
SENATE. Thursday's meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee was notable for several reasons. It was the first time in two years that Senators had met to vote out a regular spending bill. It was also the very first time that the committee had allowed TV cameras for a regular bill markup session.
WOMEN. Most notably, the Senate Appropriations Committee is now led by two women for the first time. "We are determined to continue working together in a bipartisan manner," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The two then disagreed on the 302(b) funding levels for various bills.
BREAK. Senators have already left town for their break - they won't be back for legislative business until July 10. The House will leave after a few votes this morning - and not return until July 11. Congress is scheduled to work three weeks in July, and then take a five-week break until Labor Day.
WORST WEEK IN CONGRESS. I think my nominee for the lawmaker having the worst week in Congress is Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA). She didn't do anything wrong. She didn't make any kind of terrible mistake. She just had to watch as her fellow Democrats rallied to the defense of her main opponent in the race for U.S. Senate in California.
SCHIFF. The past week was all about GOP efforts to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) over his investigations of Donald Trump. Schiff has been declaring his punishment a 'badge of honor' as Republicans retaliated for his work to investigate Trump-Russia, the January 6 attack, and more.
MONEY. "This is not just a political stunt to rile up the MAGA base - it's an attack on all accountability and constitutional oversight," Schiff said in a fundraising text. I saw Schiff on the House floor yesterday, no worse for wear after this past week - sporting a broad smile.
TOP TWO. Don't get me wrong - Katie Porter isn't dead by any means. California uses a single primary for all candidates, and then the top two vote getters move on to November. Porter could still make that. But Schiff certainly has enjoyed a big boost over this past week. And Porter has not.
SUPREME COURT. More rulings are expected this morning as the U.S. Supreme Court keeps whittling down the remaining cases in the 2022-23 term. The Justices will likely issue their final decisions by late next week. One case certain to be felt on Capitol Hill is the fate of President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.
JUSTICES. Speaking of the Court, Democrats continue to be aggravated by the latest story of a Justice getting wined and dined, and flown by private jet - without paying for any of it or disclosing it. "You just can't make these things up," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who has repeatedly called for tougher ethics rules.
GOP PUSHBACK. What I find most interesting is the GOP response - downplaying any ethics issues while attacking the press. It doesn't matter who the Justice is, that's getting things for free. No one else in the federal government can accept those types of unlimited gifts. No one. Only the nine Justices can.
ETHICS. I’ll just say this. If you're getting flown around on private jets and having your luxury vacations paid for - that’s awesome. But if you're getting those freebies and you're a public official, then maybe it's not so great of an idea. It doesn’t matter what party you might favor. That's my column this week in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
GOP RACE. Former GOP Congressman Will Hurd of Texas announced on Thursday that he's joining the GOP race for President. Hurd is a more moderate Republican who has long been critical of Donald Trump. "He couldn't even beat Joe Biden," Hurd said on his first day in the race.
HURD HATFIELD. "I'm sick and tired of Donald Trump lying to us," Hurd said Thursday. "Whether you like him or not, he turned Americans against each other," Hurd added, before channeling two-thirds of a famous line used by former Sen. Bob Dole. "You know it, and I know it."
STATUS. No, I don't expect Hurd to make much of an impact in the GOP race, which is still being dominated by Donald Trump. But Trump certainly faces a lot more hurdles - and likely even more criminal charges this summer.
MUSE OF HISTORY. June 23, 1949. On this date, President Truman signed into law a bill which included $5.4 million to help renovate the White House. The building was then basically gutted down to the studs - because it was falling apart. The last straw was when a leg of Margaret Truman's piano fell through a rotting floor board. Congress initially refused to fund the renovation work, which revealed charred pieces of wood - most likely from when British troops burned the White House in 1814.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House meets at 9 am.
The Senate next has votes on July 10.
Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree. Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com
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I feel bad for Katie Porter. I really like her. But I also really like Adam Schiff. I've watched them both and both seem like good, honest people. I'm glad I'm not in California. I'm not sure I could pick just one.
Thank you for noting (and linking) Truman's renovation of the White House. I recall reading about that some time ago but I didn't know about the charred remnants of the British torching in 1814.