Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA, 4th District) and House Republican Leaders, Refused Requests from Democrats to Swear in Rep., just Elect in Special Election, Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ 7th District) on Tuesday, afterHer Father died, saying She will be Sworn-in when the House Returns to Regular Session. The move Deprives a Petition of the Last Signature it needs to Force a Vote on a Bill to Release Files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a Push that Republican Leaders and Trump (R) Oppose.
Grijalva has already Vowed to Sign the Discharge Petition, as soon as She’s Sworn-In, and the Bipartisan Lawmakers Pushing to Release the Epstein Files had hoped to Launch the Process as quickly as possible. Grijalva is in Washington this week along with a Host of House Democrats who returned to the Capitol during a Recess to Pressure GOP Leaders to Negotiate a Bipartisan Government Funding Bill. Although there are No Votes Scheduled, the House Floor Opened up briefly at Noon on Tuesday for a Pro-Forma Session, a Routine Procedure allowing One Chamber to Pause Floor Activities for Long Stretches without the Consent of the Other.
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA, 9th District) Presided over Tuesday’s Pro Forma Session, Gaveling Out and Refusing to Recognize Democrats Shouting on the Floor, as they attempted to Force a Vote on a Democratic Proposal, to keep the Government Open. He did Not Swear-In Grijalva. “Historically, you do it when the House is in session other than pro forma,” Griffith said after the Session when asked about Not Swearing in Grijalva.
Grijalva noted that Florida Republicans were Sworn in during a Pro Forma Session earlier this year, on April 2nd, the Day after their Special Elections. The House had been in Session the Day Before. “There’s no reason why I couldn’t have been sworn in, and it’s very problematic, because we’re facing a government shutdown. We’re going to have constituents who have questions, and there is nobody there to answer questions,” Grijalva said. She said She has Not had any Direct Communication with the Speaker’s Office on when She will be Sworn in. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Grijalva said on the Timing.
A Spokesperson for the Speaker’s Office, though, indicated that Grijalva will be Sworn-In when the House Returns to Regular Session, currently Scheduled for Oct. 7th. “As is standard practice, with the House now having received the appropriate paperwork from the state, the Speaker’s Office intends to schedule a swearing in for the Representative-elect when the House returns to session,” the Spokesperson said in a Statement.
The House was previously Scheduled to be In Session on Monday and Tuesday, but Republican Leaders Canceled those Voting Days, as they aim to Pressure Senate Democrats to accept a GOP-Crafted Stopgap Funding Measure. A Shutdown would Not Prevent Grijalva from being Sworn-In. The Full House was Sworn-In during a Government Shutdown when a New Congress started in January 2019. Highlighting Grijalva’s Arrival, the Democratic Women’s Caucus wrote a Letter to Johnson on Tuesday morning, urging Her immediate Swearing-in.
“It is common practice in the House of Representatives that Representatives-elect are sworn in immediately following their decisive election, with some being sworn in as little as 24 hours after they have won,” wrote Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM, 3rd District), who Chairs the Group. “This instance should be no different.”
Johnson’s Decision to Refuse the Democrats’ Entreaties has No bearing on the current Shutdown Debate, because it doesn’t Change the House Voting Math for Passing Bills. The Chamber currently has 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats, with 2 Open Sets, awaiting Special Elections latter this Year. 'and the Republicans’ small cushion will be the same even if the Democrats add that Voting Seat. On any Party-Line Vote, Republicans can afford just Two Defections, assuming All Members are Present and Voting.
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA, 11th District), who was Elected earlier this month, to the seat Shat was held by the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), had Successfully Exerted similar Pressure on GOP Leadership by Driving to the Capitol the Day After, He was Elected and Demanding to be Sworn-In, so He could Sign the Discharge Petition. Walkinshaw was Sworn in on a Day the House was Voting, Not in a Pro-Forma Session.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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