House Republicans Increase Messaging Votes Ahead of August Recess

The following article by Lindsey McPherson was posted on the Roll Call website July 19, 2018:

GOP leaders prepare for break by seeking contrast with minority party

The Capitol dome in Washington. Credit: Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse via Getty Images

The House floor is seeing an uptick in messaging bills as Republicans prepare for a monthlong district work period in a midterm year when they are defending most of the seats in play.

Case in point was a resolution the House adopted Wednesday expressing support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and rejecting calls to abolish the agency — a stance some progressive Democrats are pushing.

More than two-thirds of the Democratic Caucus voted “present” to protest what they saw as a GOP political ploy to highlight a divide within their party. But the different views were still apparent as 18 Democrats voted to support the pro-ICE resolution and 34 voted against it.

View the complete article here.