House Democrats are vowing to try a rarely used tactic to force votes
in the GOP-led chamber on the minimum wage and immigration reform, a
strategy that will likely fail but might hurt Republicans with voters in
this year’s elections.
The tactic is known as a “discharge petition." It would require the
minority party, in this case Democrats, to persuade roughly two dozen
Republicans to defy their leadership and join Democrats in forcing a
vote on setting the federal minimum wage at $10.10 an hour.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said fellow chamber
Democrats will push the issue when Congress returns from its break Feb.
24.
The attempt to force a vote on a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws could occur in a few months.
Democrats think that a majority of Americans support both issues and
that attempting to use the discharge petition will at least portray
House Republicans as the obstacle to their success.
However, the discharge petition rarely works.
That was never more evident than last fall in the midst of the 16-day
partial government shutdown. Though several Republicans said they
wanted to vote on a spending bill with no strings attached, they
ultimately rejected the idea that they would join forces with the
Democrats.
However, the petition worked in 1986, forcing a vote on a gun rights
bill, and in 2002, ensuring a vote on campaign finance legislation.
On the larger issue of using the petition to retake control of the
House, Republicans now have a 234-201 majority, and Democrats would need
a net gain of 17 seats to win back the majority. The current
projections show Democrats gaining at most four seats, according to the
non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report.
In addition, signing the petition would be a breach of loyalty for
Republicans, certain to draw the wrath of the caucus and rebuke of
Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Republicans largely oppose any increase in the minimum wage. They say
it's an issue left to the states and that it could slow hiring in a
struggling economy.
Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, acknowledged
that Democrats are unlikely to sway Republicans. Yet he also provided a
preview of one of his party's arguments on this issue.
"I don't think we're ever confident that we're going to get 18
Republicans to sign a discharge petition, but we apparently have 30 or
40 that are known over here," he said last week. "Our expectation is if
they want to make sure that working people have an incentive to work,
they will pay them to do so a wage that does not leave them in poverty."
On the issue of immigration, a number of House Republicans back a
comprehensive approach but would likely be unwilling to break ranks with
the party and Boehner.
Reference
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/17/house-dems-to-use-longshot-tactic-to-force-votes-tarnish-gop-in-midterms/
