In the House, the Speaker normally controls the agenda, and nothing can be schedules without their approval. However, there is a process where if a member gathers the signatures of a majority of Members on an issue, the Speaker is forced to put it on the agenda.
Their petition to release the Epstein files currently has 217 out of the 218 signatures necessary, it has every sitting Democrat on board, and enough Republicans to bring it to the threshold. But there was a vacant seat, which a Democrat won recently. That Democrat is on the record as wanting to sign the petition.
Normally, these special election winners are sworn in right away, but Speaker Johnson adjourned the House before she could be sworn in. Adjourning the House looked particularly bad, because it all but guaranteed a shutdown.
Adjourning the House looked particularly bad, because it all but guaranteed a shutdown.
I don’t think they’re concerned about that. They rely on the fact that most voters won’t know this and the Republicans can just run around saying “the Democrats forced us to shut down!” even though the Republicans were the ones who did it early and stopped any chance of continued negotiations.
Republicans revel in the lack of nuanced discussion. :(
they didn’t vote Johnson cut it short to not swear in, the vote to release them
In the Senate?
to avoid a vote, and swear in the 218 yes vote, Democrat, I believe in Minnesota. but yeah he shut it down government is down now
In the House, the Speaker normally controls the agenda, and nothing can be schedules without their approval. However, there is a process where if a member gathers the signatures of a majority of Members on an issue, the Speaker is forced to put it on the agenda.
Their petition to release the Epstein files currently has 217 out of the 218 signatures necessary, it has every sitting Democrat on board, and enough Republicans to bring it to the threshold. But there was a vacant seat, which a Democrat won recently. That Democrat is on the record as wanting to sign the petition.
Normally, these special election winners are sworn in right away, but Speaker Johnson adjourned the House before she could be sworn in. Adjourning the House looked particularly bad, because it all but guaranteed a shutdown.
I don’t think they’re concerned about that. They rely on the fact that most voters won’t know this and the Republicans can just run around saying “the Democrats forced us to shut down!” even though the Republicans were the ones who did it early and stopped any chance of continued negotiations.
Republicans revel in the lack of nuanced discussion. :(