A win for the American people.

October 1, 2023

          Congress passed a 45-day continuing resolution with only hours to spare, averting a government shutdown in the short term. But in doing so, the boil has been lanced. Speaker Kevin McCarthy finally conceded that the House GOP is incapable of governing without substantial support from Democrats. When McCarthy finally brought a “clean” continuing resolution to the House floor, every Democrat (save one) voted in favor of the resolution, while 90 Republicans voted against it. In fact, more House Democrats (209) than Republicans (126) voted in favor of the continuing resolution!

          In proposing a resolution that needed substantial Democratic support to pass, McCarthy crossed the line in the sand drawn by Matt Gaetz and the “Freedom” Caucus. Will they file a motion to remove McCarthy from the Speakership? That seems unlikely because the 90 Republicans who opposed the continuing resolution don’t have the votes to remove McCarthy (or elect a replacement). Either way, McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus are in weakened positions.

          Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Majority Leader Schumer deserve credit for keeping their caucuses unified and disciplined. Indeed, in a strong showing by Hakeem Jeffries, he took the floor for 52 minutes to give his Democratic colleagues time to read a bill that McCarthy released for a vote with zero minutes' notice. Jeffries’ speech is here: C-SPAN | Hakeem Jeffries (Jeffries’ speech begins at the 1-hour-47-minute mark).

          President Biden also deserves credit for standing tough. In McCarthy’s desperation, he pleaded for a meeting with President Biden in an attempt to circumvent the unified Democrats in the House. As noted by Josh Marshall, Biden’s response was, effectively, “Here’s my offer: Nothing.” (For those not fans of The Godfather, the reference is to an iconic scene in Godfather Part Two.)

          The fact that McCarthy had to remove funding for Ukraine to secure any Republican votes is shameful—and a gift to Putin. But there is bipartisan support in the Senate for Ukraine. And representatives in the House may have an opportunity soon to vote on funding for Ukraine.

          There is much more to say about this development. But on Saturday evening, it is clear that the winners are the American people, the president, and congressional Democrats, who collectively called the bluff of MAGA extremists. The losers are the Freedom Caucus, Matt Gaetz, and Kevin McCarthy—and the Ukrainian people, who are depending on the United States to help stop Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression. Let’s hope that McCarthy (or the next Speaker) will honor McCarthy’s commitment to bring a stand-alone Ukrainian funding bill to the House floor.

          Comments will remain open to everyone for the rest of the weekend.

          Talk to you on Monday!