Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, a Democratic member of the House Rules Committee, strongly criticized the Republican Party, labeling them as the “most ineffective and incompetent” House majority in history.
During a meeting of the House Rules Committee on Thursday, Representative McGovern, who has been a member of the committee since 2018 and a representative of Massachusetts in Congress since 1997, expressed his frustration over the lack of progress. “It has been almost an entire year since anything we’ve done in the Rules Committee has gone to the President’s desk, and the last time it did happen, it was with Democratic votes,” he stated.
According to a statement, Republicans have made multiple attempts to pass their own rules during this current Congress, but have been unsuccessful in doing so. This has resulted in the House being at a standstill due to internal disagreements within the party. Prior to this Congress, it had been 20 years since a rule failed to pass. The number of failed rules in this Congress is unprecedented, with it being 50 years since such a high number has been seen.
According to McGovern, the failure to pass a party’s own legislation seven times is not just incompetence, but a complete disaster. He emphasizes that seven failed attempts indicate a level of paralysis within the Republican party, resulting in wasted time and a failure to fulfill their duties.
I reached out to McGovern’s Washington office and the Rules Committee’s office for a comment on Friday, but unfortunately, there was no response at that time.
The Rules Committee holds significant power in Congress and plays a crucial role in determining the order in which bills are considered on the House floor. This influential committee has the authority to shape the introduction and progression of legislation in the lower chamber. Prior to any bill being discussed, the committee must approve a rule or resolution that establishes the guidelines for the ensuing debate.
The committee convened on Thursday to deliberate on four legislative proposals, among them being the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It is expected that this proposal will be brought to the House floor for debate on Friday.
Criticism of the 118th Congress for its lack of productivity during a season marked by infighting between moderate House Republicans and hardliners is not a novel sentiment. McGovern joins the chorus of voices expressing disappointment in the Congress’s failure to achieve meaningful progress.
In October 2023, Republican hardliner Matt Gaetz of Florida led a historic vote that resulted in the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This sudden turn of events brought all business in the House of Representatives to a halt, as a replacement for the California representative needed to be found.
The tension within the House GOP remains unresolved despite the election of a new speaker. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia MAGA Republican, has issued a threat to remove Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, by filing a motion.
According to Greene’s statement on X, previously referred to as Twitter, she accuses Mike Johnson of not assisting, supporting, or paying attention to Republicans. She further claims that Johnson is carrying out the Deep State’s agenda. Greene asserts that there is a need for a new Speaker of the House.
In a recent development, she has accused Johnson of surrendering to Joe Biden on multiple occasions, claiming that he is no different from Nancy Pelosi. When contacted by Newsweek, Greene’s spokesperson was approached for their input via email on Friday.
Key legislation, such as the aid bill to Ukraine, which is crucial for providing support in their fight against the Russian invasion, is currently facing delays in Congress due to the ongoing threats and infighting.
Greene, similar to Donald Trump, has held a longstanding opposition to providing fresh aid to Kyiv.
