The House's last in-session week before the midterms was beset by furious private finger-pointing between House Democrats following several high-profile rebellions . Why it matters: This dynamic may only worsen if Democrats retake the House, which is set to see an influx of distinctly rebellious and independent lawmakers , particularly on the left. - There is even chatter among members contrasting the ability of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to control members with that of his top deputy, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), according to two House Democrats. - Said one of the lawmakers, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share details of sensitive private discussions: "People are talking about 'mom and dad'.…
Democrats in the House voted down a proposed Constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court to nine justices, amid ongoing debates over court-packing.
Democrats in the House voted down a proposed Constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court to nine justices, amid ongoing debates over court-packing. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: House Democrats voted down a proposed Constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court to nine total justices. The amendment required a two-thirds majority to proceed, but failed to gain enough Democrat support, with 212 votes against 206. DETAIL: The amendment, introduced by Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs , sought to permanently establish the Supreme Court’s composition as one chief justice and eight associate justices. The proposal comes as left-wing activists have increasingly called on the Democrats to pack the court with additional…Open
Two centrist House Democrats who voted to help Republicans get a procedural motion across the finish line are now facing down possible punishment from party leaders who say they were blindsided by the move. Why it matters: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is taking an uncharacteristically aggressive public approach to the defections, to the thrill of some of his members. - "I 'effing love it," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). "We have to draw a bright line here and kick some ass or this will be the new norm." - Another House Democrat said Jeffries and his deputies "are right to make an example" of the two rogue centrists. Catch up quick: Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) voted with…
House Democrats were left stunned and pointing fingers Tuesday after a pair of centrist lawmakers unexpectedly helped Republican leadership pass a key procedural vote. Why it matters: The result underscored how little control House Democratic leadership enjoys over some of its more independent-minded members even at crucial moments. - The two centrists, Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), are known to rarely attend party caucus meetings or heed leadership's instructions on how to vote. - "I think it's well established that I don't really do whip calls," Golden told Axios on Tuesday. Driving the news: The House passed what is known as a "rule" — a procedural package setting out the parameters for how a…
"We are witnessing state-sanctioned terror inflicted on innocent people by their own government." Rep. Katherine Clark speaks out during a hearing held by House Democrats examining ICE's use of force after the shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said he'd leave the Democratic Party if it becomes the "anti-Israel party," though he signaled he had no plans to imminently depart the caucus. Why it matters: Republicans currently hold a narrow Senate majority, but with midterm elections looming, Fetterman's comments could be a blow to Democrats should they flip four seats in November and regain control. - Fetterman acknowledged the Democrats' difficult Senate math when speaking Wednesday at The Hill Nation Summit: "And if we flip those four seats, then I would be 51, and ... watch what I do." - He continued, "I'm the guy that would be there that 51 as the committed Democrat." Driving the news: Democrats have grown more disillusioned and angry toward…
A measure to prevent any State Department funding from going to Israel failed by a decisive margin in a House vote on Wednesday. Why it matters: The vote exposed deep divisions among House Democrats, with even the party's top two leaders taking divergent positions. - House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and 97 other Democrats voted against the amendment, along with 215 Republicans. - But Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) — along with 102 other Democrats and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), the measure's sponsor — voted for it. By the numbers: The amendment to the State Department funding bill ultimately failed in a 104-314 vote, with 10 members voting "present." Catch up quick: At issue for many Democrats was that the…
House Democrats' internal split over a vote to cut off U.S. aid to Israel has extended to leadership, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) planning to vote differently. Why it matters: Such a divergence between the caucus' top two leaders is exceedingly rare and underscores just how much anxiety this vote is giving some in the party. - Many House Democrats have substantive misgivings but plan to vote for the measure anyway due to growing political pressure from the left. - "There are going to be people within our own party trying to drag us over the coals," one House Democrat told Axios on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the political pressures undergirding their…
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) is facing calls to resign from Democratic colleagues who say she expressed agreement with a radio host's remark that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) should get his "cotton-picking hands off of Virginia." Why it matters: Kiggans, who denied agreeing with or condoning the language, is facing one of the most hotly contested reelection battles in the country. - "First they gutted the Voting Rights Act. Now they are using brazenly racist language to attack Black leaders," House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) said in a post on X , calling for Kiggans to "immediately apologize and resign." - Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and a close ally of Jeffries,…
House Democrats chose not to force a vote this week to block President Trump from unilaterally waging war with Iran in part out of fear that they still lacked the votes to pass the measure, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The move is frustrating the Democratic grassroots, with some progressive groups and lawmakers fuming over the fact that another vote won't be possible until mid-April. - Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told Axios there is "absolutely" frustration among lawmakers on the left that an Iran war powers resolution didn't get a vote this week. - "Democrats should absolutely be forcing Republicans to vote on stopping this war as urgently as possible," Andrew O'Neill, national advocacy director at the progressive group…
