The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday night to kill a resolution that sought to censure progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was aimed at punishing Tlaib for her comments and actions related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The final vote of 222-186 in favor of tabling the resolution without debate saw nearly two dozen Republicans join with all House Democrats to kill the motion. Democrats briefly applauded when the resolution failed.
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Meanwhile, a retaliatory resolution introduced by Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., aimed at censuring Greene, was withdrawn from the schedule just before voting began. Balint released a statement celebrating the failure of the Tlaib resolution and explained her decision to withdraw her own resolution.
“Given the fact that this conference voted unanimously for an election denier, there was a question of whether my resolution to censure Rep. Greene could pass with the votes it needed from ‘moderate’ Republicans. They have shown they are unable to stand up in moments that require courage,” Balint said, referring to the election of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
“But tonight, when 23 Republicans said ‘no’ to Rep. Greene’s bigotry, I saw this situation a little differently. I want to thank them for doing the right thing. And I’m going to hold back on the vote for now. Vermonters and people across the country need us to get to work and focus on the urgent needs facing working people here at home and around the world,” she added.
Greene had accused Tlaib of being responsible for a protest last month that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of Gaza cease-fire demonstrators after they took over the Cannon House Office building. In her resolution, Greene repeatedly referred to the protest as an “insurrection.”
Following the vote, Greene criticized the 23 Republicans who chose to table her resolution, labeling them as “feckless.” She took to X, formerly Twitter, to express her frustration, stating, “This is why Republicans NEVER do anything to stop the communist Democrats or ever hold anyone accountable!!”
A diverse range of members from the GOP Conference voted to table the resolution, including House Freedom Caucus Policy Chairman Chip Roy, R-Texas, and conservatives like Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-W.Va., as well as moderate Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif. Roy responded indirectly to Greene’s criticism in his statement explaining his vote, referring to her resolution as “feckless.”
“Rep. Rashida Tlaib has repeatedly made outrageous remarks toward Israel and the Jewish people. Her conduct is unbecoming of a member of Congress and certainly worthy of condemnation – if not censure,” Roy said.
“However, tonight’s feckless resolution to censure Rashida Tlaib was deeply flawed and made legally and factually unverified claims, including the claim of leading an ‘insurrection’…I voted to table the resolution.
In January 2021, the legal term insurrection was stretched and abused by many following the events at the Capitol. We should not continue to perpetuate claims of ‘insurrection’ at the Capitol and we should not abuse the term now.”
Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., another one of the 23 Republicans, explained that while he disagreed with Tlaib’s previous comments, he voted to halt the Tlaib censure as a stand for free speech. He condemned Tlaib’s rhetoric about Israel but emphasized the importance of First Amendment liberties.
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“As much as I disagree with previous comments made by Rep. Tlaib, First Amendment liberties are for every American, and I will support this constitutional right, whether the speaker is on the political left or right and whether they are speaking heinous lies or harsh truths,” Walberg said.
“When we hear evil speech, we should not look to the government for the answer but rather speak up as individuals to denounce it.”
