Greater than 100 U.S. Home Democrats — together with among the wealthiest members of Congress — joined with Republican lawmakers on Thursday in passing a decision “denouncing the horrors of socialism,” a largely symbolic gesture that opponents warned is nonetheless a step towards slashing Social Safety, Medicare, and different security web packages.
House Concurrent Resolution 9, which “denounces socialism in all its varieties and opposes the implementation of socialist insurance policies in the USA,” was launched by Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida), the staunchly anti-communist daughter of Cuban exiles who as soon as interviewed then-Cuban President Fidel Castro for Telemundo.
“I believe it’s the perfect decision that has ever been introduced earlier than the USA Congress,” Salazar told Insider on the U.S. Capitol earlier than the vote. “Our youth are being penetrated by this ideology by way of media and academia.”
The measure — which adopted the vote to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) from the Home International Affairs Committee — passed 328-86, with 14 lawmakers voting “current” and 6 members not voting.
100 and 9 Democrats — lots of them members of the corporate-friendly New Democrat Coalition — joined with each Republican lawmaker in voting to approve the decision. Outstanding Democrats who voted “sure” embody: Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (New York), former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (California), and Home Assistant Democratic Chief Jim Clyburn (South Carolina), all of whom performed distinguished roles in defeating Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vermont) presidential campaigns, which had been based mostly on popular democratic socialist insurance policies and rules.
Lots of the Democrats voting for the decision additionally rank among the many wealthiest members of Congress, together with Pelosi, whose 2018 web price was over $114 million, according to OpenSecrets.org; Suzan DelBene (Washington, $79 million web price); Dean Phillips (Minnesota, $64 million); Scott Peters (California, $60 million); and Ro Khanna (California, $45 million). Khanna together with Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell of California and Rubén Gallego of Arizona, are both present or potential candidates for U.S. Senate.
Denouncing the measure on the Home flooring, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) — who voted “no” — said that “the socialism decision is ineffective. It does nothing. It doesn’t matter. Are we speaking about public faculties? Are we speaking about roads? Are we speaking about Social Safety? I imply, give me a break.”
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, invoked his expertise as a capitalist to lambaste the anti-socialism decision.
“For 35 years now I’ve owned a small enterprise, giving me considerably extra expertise as a capitalist than the overwhelming majority of members on the opposite facet of the aisle. In order a capitalist, let me let you know: This decision is apparent ridiculous. It collectively condemns Pol Pot and Norway,” Pocan said throughout flooring debate, referring to the previous Cambodian dictator, who was supported by the Republican Reagan administration after main a genocidal regime that killed at the very least 1.5 million individuals.
Pocan continued:
Right here’s what that is actually about: An increasing number of members on the opposite facet of the aisle are calling for cuts to Social Safety and Medicare, and lots of have referred to those packages as “socialism” all through their existence. The opposite night time within the Guidelines Committee they confirmed their playing cards. Republicans refused an modification to declare that Social Safety and Medicare isn’t socialism. This decision is little about clever discourse and every part to do about laying the groundwork to chop Social Safety and Medicare.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California), one other “no” vote, known as out the hypocrisy of Republicans who assist company welfare or are private beneficiaries of social packages. Waters took intention at Home Small Enterprise Committee Chair Roger Williams (R-Texas), who summarized his assist for the decision as: “Socialism dangerous. Capitalism good. In God we belief.”
“Mr. Williams is my pal,” said Waters, “however I do ponder whether Mr. Williams views the $1.43 million he acquired in debt forgiveness [to be] constant along with his views on socialism? I don’t get it.”
After Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California), who voted towards the measure, noted during floor debate that there have been quite a few democratic socialist leaders all over the world who’ve been “allies of America and NATO,” Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) quipped, “If this decision would simply merely draw out my Democrat colleagues to only say, sure, they’re in favor of socialism, possibly this can be a worthwhile endeavor.”
Rep. Summer season Lee (D-Pennsylvania), a former organizer from Pittsburgh’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter who voted towards the decision, shrugged off Republicans’ red-baiting and the New Democrat Coalition’s assist for the GOP decision.
“They’re going to name you socialists anyhow,” Lee said.
