From Fox News · Elizabeth Elkind · · 1m 20s
Two Democrats bail out GOP vote
Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez broke with Democrats to advance a GOP rule tied to Russia sanctions.
In brief
Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez broke with Democrats to advance a GOP rule tied to Russia sanctions. Two moderate Democrats helped Republicans move legislation forward because they wanted a Russia sanctions bill to survive, raising new pressure on Hakeem Jeffries before the midterms. Originally reported by…
Two Democrats defected
Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington voted with Republicans on a rule vote, helping the House move toward considering several bills.
Jeffries took a hit
The vote undercut Hakeem Jeffries because minority parties almost never help the majority pass rules, even when they like parts of the agenda.
“It’s an embarrassing blow to Jeffries’ leadership”
Russia sanctions drove it
Golden’s team said he backed the rule so a Russia sanctions bill would not die after already passing the Senate with broad bipartisan support.
“He didn’t want to see the Russia sanctions bill die in a rule vote”
Perez cited Ukraine
Gluesenkamp Perez said her district includes a large Ukrainian community and framed the vote as a step toward cutting off Russian oil money for the war.
“My vote today gets us one step closer to enacting these sanctions into law”
Democrats were furious
The same two lawmakers had crossed party lines on an earlier rule vote. Jeffries and deputies called that move a breach of trust and asked caucus rule officials to respond.
“an action that necessitates a serious response”
Midterms sharpen stakes
Golden is retiring at year’s end. Gluesenkamp Perez faces a difficult race in a district that backed Donald Trump in 2024.
Here's the gist
Two moderate Democrats helped Republicans move legislation forward because they wanted a Russia sanctions bill to survive, raising new pressure on Hakeem Jeffries before the midterms.
