Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) recently issued a scathing rebuke of Republicans during a House Rules Committee hearing, calling them “incompetent.”
The House Rules Committee had gathered to debate four legislative pieces at a time when the GOP is divided and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) threatens to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
“This is the most ineffective, incompetent majority, I think, in American history,” McGovern said. “Full stop. It has been nearly an entire year, an entire year almost, since anything that we have done in the Rules Committee has gone to the president’s desk. And the last time it did happen, it was with Democratic votes.”
McGovern: This is the most incompetent majority in American history.. Republicans have tried and failed to pass their own rules seven times this congress. Before this Congress, it had been 20 years since a rule failed. It’s been 50 years since we’ve seen this many rules go down. pic.twitter.com/vskoiEwrPK
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2024
Greene’s threat to oust Johnson and the House GOP’s divisiveness has caused large inaction in the chamber, according to the Washington Examiner.
“Republicans have tried and failed to pass their own rules seven times this Congress. Seven times. This House has been stuck at a standstill because of their infighting,” McGovern said. “And Republicans have done it seven times. One or two, three times, maybe that’s just incompetence.”
“But seven? Seven is a disaster. Seven is paralysis. It means weeks and weeks of sitting around doing nothing because Republicans can’t get their house in order and do their job,” the Massachusetts congressman continued.
McGovern’s mention of a “rule,” meaning a resolution the House must pass before debating legislation, came as the House Rules Committee advanced a new proposal to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The measure would add new provisions to persuade conservatives to support the bill, scheduled for debate on April 12, 2024.
Since 1997, McGovern has represented Massachusetts in Congress.
Notably, 19 House Republicans recently joined Democrats in tanking a bill to renew Section 702 of FISA. Former President Donald Trump had urged lawmakers to “Kill FISA,” arguing that the law was used to spy on his presidential campaign.
“KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” the former president wrote on Truth Social.
Following the vote, House Freedom Caucus chairman Bob Good (R-VA) said, “The constitutional liberties of Americans have to come first.”
