In a rare move, Florida GOP Rep. Greg Steube is willing to work with House Democrats to bring a tax relief bill to the House floor if Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to do so. This potential collaboration marks a unique moment in the 118th Congress, which has seen instances of bipartisan cooperation on major legislation due to Johnson’s narrow majority facing pushback from conservative hardliners. The tax relief bill, aimed at providing assistance to those affected by federal disasters, has been stuck in the Senate, prompting Steube to file a discharge petition to force a vote on the bill in the House.
Steube’s petition received support from 190 Democrats, surpassing the 218 threshold required to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. This bipartisan effort demonstrates a shift towards cooperation in a highly polarized political climate. With the bill addressing the urgent need for tax relief for Americans affected by disasters such as Hurricane Ian, Steube emphasizes the importance of delivering relief to constituents across the country. The success of this petition marks only the third time in 30 years that a public discharge petition has been successful, underscoring the significance of the issue at hand.
Following the petition hitting the threshold, a notice will be printed in the congressional record and added to the House calendar. Steube will be required to wait an additional seven legislative days before calling up a vote on his bill in a floor statement. If Speaker Johnson does not bring the bill to the floor within two legislative days, Steube will proceed with his petition. This potential course of action would make it the third successful discharge petition since 2000, showcasing the determination of members to ensure their priorities are considered by the House.
House leadership faces the challenge of limited time to bring bills up for consideration, often resulting in competing priorities vying for floor time. While it is not uncommon for members to advocate for their priorities to be addressed, successfully bringing a bill to the floor via a discharge petition is highly unusual. Steube anticipates widespread bipartisan support for his bill once it reaches the floor for a vote, confident that it will garner close to unanimous backing from the entire House. This collaborative effort between parties highlights the potential for bipartisan cooperation in addressing pressing issues affecting Americans.
With Speaker Johnson’s response to the situation pending, Steube’s willingness to work across party lines reflects a growing trend of bipartisanship emerging in the political landscape. The potential success of the tax relief bill and the demonstration of bipartisan support underscore the importance of addressing the needs of constituents in a timely and efficient manner. As Steube navigates the process of bringing the bill to the House floor, the outcome could pave the way for further instances of cooperation between Democrats and Republicans in addressing critical issues facing the nation.
