Democrat rebels defy Jeffries to hand GOP critical win just before midterms
House Democrats Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington crossed party lines to support a Republican procedural rule, allowing the House to move toward debate and a final vote on a broader legislative package that includes the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. Their votes helped the rule pass 214–211. Fox News, Yahoo News
Golden’s spokesperson said he supported the rule because defeating it could have stopped the Russia sanctions legislation from reaching a final vote. Gluesenkamp Perez similarly said advancing the bill would move Congress closer to restricting the Russian energy revenue supporting the war in Ukraine. It was the second time in two weeks that the pair broke with Democratic leadership on a procedural vote. Fox News
The sanctions proposal targets Russia and Iran but has also divided Democrats because it would give the president substantial authority to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy. Democratic opponents argue that the authority could be used against American allies or raise domestic costs. The vote advanced consideration of the legislation; it was not the final vote on the sanctions bill. House Rules Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats