House Democratic leadership publicly rebuked Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for defecting to vote with Republicans on a crucial procedural measure, a move that averted legislative gridlock but strained party unity.
The two lawmakers, described as "blue dog Democrats," cast votes Tuesday in favor of a Republican-led procedural rule, a vote that almost failed due to Republican defections. The measure ultimately passed 210-208. Such bipartisan votes on procedural rules are rare in the House. Without the intervention of Golden (D-Maine) and Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), the House might have been unable to advance its legislative agenda for the week.
"The decision by two of our colleagues to blindside the entire House Democratic Caucus and join with the Republican majority to pass a procedural rule on the brink of failing represents a significant breach of trust," House Democratic leadership stated. "It necessitates a serious response, and we have asked the Committee on Caucus Rules to take this up in short order."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is poised to become Speaker if Democrats regain control of the House in the upcoming elections, faces the challenge of maintaining caucus discipline. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed disappointment, noting that such an issue was not a problem during her tenure. "Voting for the rule is something that I, as Speaker, never— We didn’t even consider that anybody would do that," Pelosi commented to Politico. "We never had that problem, so I’m disappointed that they did that."
Potential repercussions for the two lawmakers have been discussed, including the possibility of removal from committee assignments for the remainder of the year. Golden is not seeking reelection, while Gluesenkamp Perez is running in a highly competitive race.
Both Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez cited the "Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act" as their primary motivation for crossing party lines. This bill, which was part of the legislative package advanced by the rule, delays the implementation of new whale protection regulations affecting the fishing industry until 2035. The bill itself later passed the House with bipartisan support.
Golden explained that he would not vote against legislation vital to his constituents, stating, "They want people to always vote yes or no on procedural votes, even if it were like cutting off their own nose to spite their face." He highlighted the potential impact on approximately 18,000 jobs in Maine and recounted fishermen expressing extreme distress over the proposed regulations.
Gluesenkamp Perez echoed concerns about the "DC bubble" overlooking the needs of working people in coastal communities. "Nature is not a terrarium–and you don’t get effective environmentalism without the input of people who make their livelihoods and heritage on the water-whether we’re talking about lobsters or sea lions–working people need a seat at the table," she stated.
Earlier on Tuesday, the House had approved a measure to prevent a government shutdown, extending funding until December 11, by employing a "suspension of the rules" procedure that required two-thirds majority support. Republican leadership had previously encountered difficulties with certain members who repeatedly blocked procedural votes, contributing to floor stagnation.