House Republicans are forcing votes this week meant to make Democrats choose between the party’s mainstream and its socialist flank, using a resolution condemning socialism and a separate plan to cap the Supreme Court. Expect sharp committee fights, heated exchanges on definitions, and votes timed to corner Democrats on election bills and court reform.
The House Rules Committee advanced a GOP resolution condemning socialism, and no Democrats voted to move it forward. Many Democrats slammed the move as a political stunt that won’t ease everyday pressures like rising prices.
“So you’re concerned about rising gas, or are you concerned about grocery prices? You know, don’t worry. Republicans in Congress are passing another non-binding resolution condemning socialism,” McGovern said.
A heated exchange broke out in committee over what counts as socialism and who would be willing to tolerate government intervention. Rep. Joe Neguse pressed Chairman Bryan Steil with a hypothetical about a presidential equity stake, and Steil replied he would “want to see the details.”
“Oh, you’d want to see the details,” Neguse yelled as the two men spoke over each other. “You said if the government owns grocery stores, that would be socialist. But if, of course, Donald Trump were to announce an equity stake in a grocery store, well, ‘I’d have to really see the details,’ because we all know the play.”
Steil said he would be open to such a proposal only if it served a national security imperative, and at one point Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx chided Neguse for interrupting. The clash underscored how Republicans are trying to paint Democratic infighting as a national choice between free markets and broader government control.
“Some folks on your side of the aisle would like to have government-run grocery stores. I think that’s nuts,” Steil shot back during the hearing. Neguse pressed, “And if the president of the United States announced that the United States government was taking an…equity stake in grocery stores?”
“I think there would need to be a national security rationale for the action. I don’t see any in your hypothetical. I don’t see a national security focus,” Steil said.
Neguse called it a “helpful answer,” to which Steil quipped, “It’s a hypotherical. So we’re entering silly season.”
Congressional leaders set a House rule vote on the resolution for Tuesday afternoon followed by the final resolution vote Tuesday evening, and Republicans have another high-profile measure lined up on Wednesday to propose a constitutional amendment capping the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. GOP leaders are fast-tracking that measure to force Democrats to take a clear stand on court packing and the direction of the judiciary.
Several prominent progressives have urged expanding the court to as many as 13 seats, a stance House Republicans are using to underscore contrast on institutional norms. That debate over the size of the Supreme Court is being folded into a larger GOP strategy to frame Democratic choices as either preserving the republic or embracing radical reforms.
“It’s time for the Democrats to pick a side. Stop playing the middle. Be proud of who you are. You were elected to lead, so lead. Have an opinion. We intend to put you on record,” House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., told reporters.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded by attacking the underlying bills the resolution highlights, saying, “I haven’t taken a look at that resolution, although it’s my understanding that the resolution elevates the so-called SAVE America Act, which is just the ‘Suppress the Vote Act.'” He argued Republicans were trying to use process moves to push controversial election changes.
The resolution also praises Republican-backed election changes as “common-sense election integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, photo identification, and database checks.” It calls for enforcement of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which passed the House but has not moved in the Senate.
“Let’s scare people with yet another boogeyman and not do anything about it. Not really solve problems, just try to scare people,” Scanlon said.
“I’ve seen firsthand the alarming rise of socialism…families in western New York have watched one-party rule in Albany pile on more taxes, more mandates, more government control, while hardworking taxpayers are left to foot the bill,” Langworthy said. “And now downstate, we’ve watched the socialist left move more from the activist fringe into positions of real, serious political power. And anyone thinks that these ideas are going to stay confined in New York City is sadly mistaken.”
