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There had been 4 Republicans who voted no tonight in opposition to impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and House Vice Conference Chairman Blake Moore (R-Utah) – a member of the Republican management.
But Moore’s “nay” vote in opposition to impeaching Mayorkas deserves an asterisk. He’s not likely in opposition to impeaching Mayorkas. Moore voted no so the Republican effort to impeach Mayorkas may dwell to combat one other day.
FOUR HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE AGAINST IMPEACHMENT OF ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS
To wit:
Moore was on the board as a yea in favor of impeaching Mayorkas. But the GOP miscalculated what number of yea votes that they’d – in addition to what number of Democrats current and obtainable to vote no.
The present breakdown within the 431 member House is 219 Republicans to 212 Democrats with 4 vacancies.
Republicans can solely lose three votes. But that’s if all of their members are current. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has not voted all 12 months due to most cancers remedies. Scalise tells FOX he can be again quickly.
(Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images)
So as quickly because the Mayorkas impeachment vote went to 215-215, the gig was up for impeaching Mayorkas.
At least on Tuesday night time.
By rule, a tie vote loses within the House. So the Mayorkas impeachment effort was taking place to defeat.
Only on one event earlier than has the House ever defeated articles of impeachment. In December 1997, the House solely adopted two of the articles of impeachment leveled in opposition to former President Clinton.
WHY DID THE HOUSE FAIL TO IMPEACH MAYORKAS?
So what had been Republicans to do so as to salvage their impeachment gambit?
House guidelines allow any member on the PREVAILING aspect of a roll name vote (on this occasion, the NAYS) to “move to reconsider” a vote. In different phrases, demand a re-vote.
Moore was a yea – however on the shedding aspect. Gallagher, McClintock and Buck actually weren’t going to transfer to order a re-vote. So, it fell to a member of the House GOP brass.
Moore modified his vote to no. Not as a result of he opposes impeaching Mayorkas. But now he was on the “winning” aspect.” This preserved the option for House Republicans to summon the vote again. Perhaps when Scalise is back. Or if Republicans win the special election on Long Island next week. The GOP hopes that Republican nominee Mazi Melesa Pilip defeats former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) for the seat vacated by expelled former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.). Then Republicans might have some reinforcements to impeach…
Of course, that presumes that other Republicans aren’t absent that day.
As I always say, YOU try to get more than 400 people in the same room at the same time. Members are always away for random reasons. Illness. Family commitments. Funerals. Events in the district. You name it.
TOP REPUBLICAN SAYS DEMS ‘WILL ANSWER’ AT BALLOT BOX FOR NOT BACKING MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT
Of course, impeachment resolutions are “privileged.” That means any member could just put forth an impeachment plan again right away and the House would have to take it up. But by preserving the impeachment investigation, committee report and other documents, the maneuver by Moore enables the Republican leadership to preserve the impeachment gambit launched by the Homeland Security Committee – and try again. Maintaining that more exhaustive impeachment plan will also give the GOP more credibility if and when they present their impeachment articles to the Senate for a possible trial.
Moreover, having a key member change their vote to potentially order a re-vote in the House is rare. It happens with some degree of regularity in the Senate. Over the years Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would often be compelled to change their votes from yes to no – in order to call for a re-vote on a failed issue.
Moore’s effort was not unprecedented in the House. But something seen more often across the Capitol dome in the Senate.
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