Inside House Democrats’ behind-the-scenes food fight

Por Andrew Solender — Axios

The House’s last in-session week before the midterms was beset by furious private finger-pointing between House Democrats following several high-profile rebellions.

Why it matters: This dynamic may only worsen if Democrats retake the House, which is set to see an influx of distinctly rebellious and independent lawmakers, particularly on the left.

• There is even chatter among members contrasting the ability of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to control members with that of his top deputy, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), according to two House Democrats.
• Said one of the lawmakers, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share details of sensitive private discussions: “People are talking about ‘mom and dad’. … Dad is soft.”
• “I think people are asking the question: If this is happening in the minority, are you prepared for what will happen in the majority?” said a third House Democrat.

“There is no daylight between the three of us,” Jeffries said at a Thursday press conference with Clark and Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).

• “We’ll address the situation when we address the situation,” he added.
• A Democratic leadership aide told Axios that everything Jeffries’ deputies do is in coordination with him and doesn’t represent a break between leaders.

Driving the news: Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) on Tuesday provided Republican leadership with the necessary votes to advance a package of GOP bills, including a Russia sanctions bill strongly opposed by Democratic leaders.

• It was the second time this month the pair of centrists defected from leadership on a procedural vote — even after Clark and Jeffries publicly threatened them with punishment the first time.
• “People thought the first time was a mistake. The second time is defiance,” said a fourth House Democrat, telling Axios the two “operate like they are above the caucus.”
• Clark, along with Jeffries, engaged Gluesenkamp Perez in a heated discussion on the House floor during the vote in view of an Axios reporter, which sources said was about her defection.

The rebellion came after Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) forced a vote on impeaching President Trump without support from leadership.

• The vote angered many House Democrats, who complained Green was muddying the party’s message on a crucial week.
• Jeffries and Clark voted “present” along with 44 other Democrats. 147 sided with Green and 18 voted with Republicans to quash the impeachment effort.
• Leadership’s neutrality on that vote drew frustration as well, with a fifth House Democrat telling Axios: “Our constituents don’t send us here to be ‘present.’ They send us here to use our judgment.”

What they’re saying: OurRevolution executive director Joseph Geevarghese said Jeffries “never seems to have this much trouble figuring out what to do when progressives are in his sights.”

• “You cannot demand discipline from progressives while treating defections to the right as an unsolvable procedural dilemma,” he told Axios.
• Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.) said progressives “catch shit” for being “too ideologic and bold on our ideas,” and that it’s “curious … how there isn’t an equally vocal attack” on centrists who break from the party line.
• Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for the left-wing Justice Democrats: “Leadership is threatening a Democratic majority in November by refusing to stand up to the corporate Democrats aiding and abetting Republicans’ agenda.”

What we’re hearing: Jeffries isn’t the only target of rank-and-file backlash — Clark is getting heat from moderates for taking a swipe at Gluesenkamp Perez.

• The minority whip told reporters Wednesday that “it’s team players who should sit on exclusive committees,” which was widely interpreted as a reference to Gluesenkamp Perez’s seat on the Appropriations Committee.
• Fumed a sixth House Democrat: “Katherine Clark just declared on moderate Democrats, which is a risky move for leadership going into a potentially tight majority.”
• Jeffries’ has been far more muted, repeatedly saying he will “have more to say about the situation when I have more to say about the situation.”

Much of the fury is also directed at Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez, with some of it is coming from their fellow centrists.

• “Everyone in the caucus is sick of the bullshit. Everyone has their … number,” a seventh House Democrat, a moderate, told Axios.
• “Marie is playing with fire,” a senior House Democrat told Axios, adding that Jeffries “may not do anything now, but her committee appointment may be in jeopardy for next session.”

The other side: Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement to Axios, “I don’t worry about that kind of stuff. I will always vote my District and let others play inside DC politics games.”

• Said Golden: “I’m a Mainer and an American. I’m also a proud Democrat, but that team is a distant third.”

The bottom line: “Members have concerns about those who are not team players,” a ninth House Democrat told Axios, and “next year is the best time to address it.”

• Golden, who is retiring, has a warning for his colleagues: “Be careful what you wish for. Next time, it could be you facing punishment for putting your constituency or our country ahead of the party.”

Fonte: Axios