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- Manlobbi
Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) ❤
No. of Recommendations: 5
On the Hill, Democrats cannot merely play defense. They must force Republicans to vote on whether to return the power to pay tariffs to Congress. They must box Republicans into separate votes on hugely unpopular measures ranging from Medicaid cuts to elimination of ACA subsidies to slashing of critical medical and scientific research to tariffs. Republicans are already nervous, very nervous, thanks to the tariff disaster; now is the time to test just how closely, and for how long, they are going to play dumb and adhere to Trump’s noxious positions.
Jennifer Rubin on Substack
No. of Recommendations: 4
hey must force Republicans to vote on whether to return the power to pay tariffs to Congress. They must box Republicans into separate votes on hugely unpopular measures ranging from Medicaid cuts to elimination of ACA subsidies to slashing of critical medical and scientific research to tariffs.
How? They do not control either chamber of Congress. Because they don't have a majority, they don't get to "force votes" on anything.
No. of Recommendations: 3
Because they don't have a majority, they don't get to "force votes" on anything.
True. But they can make the Reps choose a side on various issues. For example, a Dem could introduce a bill about Congressional control of tariffs. It won't get anywhere, but the fact that it won't get anywhere will indicate which side the two "teams" are on. And that can be used as a blunt instrument to beat them with when the economy is tanking, and the bread lines start to form.
No. of Recommendations: 2
True. But they can make the Reps choose a side on various issues. For example, a Dem could introduce a bill about Congressional control of tariffs. It won't get anywhere, but the fact that it won't get anywhere will indicate which side the two "teams" are on. And that can be used as a blunt instrument to beat them with when the economy is tanking, and the bread lines start to form.They needn't bother - there's already a bipartisan bill to do that in the Senate, initiated by Grassley and Klobuchar (I think?). Nebraska Republican Bacon is drafting companion legislation in the House, and has a few GOP Reps that are going to sign on:
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5236142-congre...https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5234734-gop-rep...The problem with these efforts is that no one
has to go on record - so they can't make Republicans actually choose sides, rather than straddle. And because they don't get to the floor, they have trouble getting a lot of attention.
No. of Recommendations: 0
The problem with these efforts is that no one has to go on record...
Except for Mike Johnson (and the sponsors of the bill(s)), that is true. If Johnson refuses to bring it to the floor, we know where he stands. We also know where the sponsor(s) of the bill(s) stand. Isn't it common for a lot of people to have their name on a bill (even though they aren't sponsors) as an expression of support? Seem to recall that in the past.
The Felon has said he will veto any such bill. I have doubts they have enough votes to override. But maybe...?? If the Reps are having to cancel town halls because of irate constituents, maybe they will vote to override? There are more and more irate constituents every day, it seems.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Except for Mike Johnson (and the sponsors of the bill(s)), that is true. If Johnson refuses to bring it to the floor, we know where he stands.
And probably John Thune. But those guys aren't the sort of frontline members that you can really squeeze with a tough vote - the leadership is generally (not always, but generally) not really in danger of losing their seat in an election.
This is all just quibbling - the main point is that the Democrats really have very little formal power in the Congress right now, and people tend to forget that. Even Rubin, who writes about politics regularly, lost sight (I think) of the fact that the Democrats can't force votes or force lawmakers to get on the record.
No. of Recommendations: 0
...the main point is that the Democrats really have very little formal power in the Congress right now,...
I'm aware. My point was that all they can do is position themselves as well as possible against the Reps in the 2026 and 2028 elections. Make clear they opposed the tariffs, and as much as possible (even if by inference) hang support of tariffs on the Reps. That's the most they can do right now. They can't dictate policy.
