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| House Democrats Throw Out the Rule Book. But to What End? | House Democrats Throw Out the Rule Book. But to What End? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — In a year of disruptive politics, House Democrats have gotten into the act. | WASHINGTON — In a year of disruptive politics, House Democrats have gotten into the act. |
| Frustrated at being shut out under the rigid rules of the House, the least powerful political wing in Washington fought back ferociously into the early morning Thursday with a raucous floor sit-in, demanding a vote on gun control and throwing the House rule book out of the Capitol’s neoclassical windows in the process. | |
| Legislatively, the Democrats lost badly in the end, but attracted considerable public attention via a remarkable social media feed streamed on usually staid C-Span, in some cases from their own mobile devices. They vowed on Thursday to press ahead even though Speaker Paul D. Ryan and his fellow Republicans were racing out of town and would not return until after the Fourth of July. | |
| But it was the House Democrats, not typically known for radical revolutionary tactics, who were declaring their independence. | But it was the House Democrats, not typically known for radical revolutionary tactics, who were declaring their independence. |
| “We are going to keep the fires burning on this issue because the American people demand it,” said a hoarse Representative Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, as he held forth on the floor early Thursday. | “We are going to keep the fires burning on this issue because the American people demand it,” said a hoarse Representative Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, as he held forth on the floor early Thursday. |
| What the payoff will be remains unclear. House Democrats were already expected to gain seats in the November election but a takeover is still considered a long shot, even with Donald J. Trump, the ultimate disruptive force, as the Republican nominee. And Mr. Ryan showed that he could still command the majority-really-rules House even during the protest by muscling a bill through over Democratic objections. | What the payoff will be remains unclear. House Democrats were already expected to gain seats in the November election but a takeover is still considered a long shot, even with Donald J. Trump, the ultimate disruptive force, as the Republican nominee. And Mr. Ryan showed that he could still command the majority-really-rules House even during the protest by muscling a bill through over Democratic objections. |
| Mr. Ryan defended his actions on Thursday, saying he pushed the legislation to thwart the Democrats’ determination to have the House “descend into chaos.” Mr. Ryan told reporters, “We were going to get our job done.” | Mr. Ryan defended his actions on Thursday, saying he pushed the legislation to thwart the Democrats’ determination to have the House “descend into chaos.” Mr. Ryan told reporters, “We were going to get our job done.” |
| Democrats said they were energized by the protest, but they face a reality that only a couple of dozen House seats are considered truly competitive. It could also be the case that the animation of Thursday quickly gives way to fervor created by two Supreme Court decisions on Thursday on other cultural flash points — affirmative action and immigration. | Democrats said they were energized by the protest, but they face a reality that only a couple of dozen House seats are considered truly competitive. It could also be the case that the animation of Thursday quickly gives way to fervor created by two Supreme Court decisions on Thursday on other cultural flash points — affirmative action and immigration. |
| The outlook for any progress on gun measures looks dim considering the stalemate in the Senate and the refusal so far by House Republican leaders to even bring up a legislative proposal. | The outlook for any progress on gun measures looks dim considering the stalemate in the Senate and the refusal so far by House Republican leaders to even bring up a legislative proposal. |
| Still, the defiance by the House Democrats, who angrily declined to simply bow to the Republican majority and head out of town without even a vote on gun control after the killings in Orlando, Fla., showed they were willing to fight. Even so, some liberals thought a defining fight over a bill based on suspects on no-fly lists might not be the best idea. House Democrats had seen their brethren in the Senate, who have much more legislative leverage, force Republicans to vote on gun proposals with another test vote looming on a compromise plan. | Still, the defiance by the House Democrats, who angrily declined to simply bow to the Republican majority and head out of town without even a vote on gun control after the killings in Orlando, Fla., showed they were willing to fight. Even so, some liberals thought a defining fight over a bill based on suspects on no-fly lists might not be the best idea. House Democrats had seen their brethren in the Senate, who have much more legislative leverage, force Republicans to vote on gun proposals with another test vote looming on a compromise plan. |
| But the whole chaotic scene on the House floor as lawmakers almost came to blows in an American version of foreign legislators duking it out could just turn people off Washington even more — if that is even possible. | But the whole chaotic scene on the House floor as lawmakers almost came to blows in an American version of foreign legislators duking it out could just turn people off Washington even more — if that is even possible. |
| Still, Democrats, who said they decided they had to escalate their level of obstreperous behavior because they were getting nowhere playing by traditional House rules, were feeling good about their revolt. And they said they were motivated even more by the disdain heaped on them by Republicans during the hours on the House floor. | Still, Democrats, who said they decided they had to escalate their level of obstreperous behavior because they were getting nowhere playing by traditional House rules, were feeling good about their revolt. And they said they were motivated even more by the disdain heaped on them by Republicans during the hours on the House floor. |
| “It’s just been very moving,” said Representative Jan Schakowsky, Democrat of Illinois. “I think in part we were inspired by the kind of cynicism we saw last night from the Republicans.” | “It’s just been very moving,” said Representative Jan Schakowsky, Democrat of Illinois. “I think in part we were inspired by the kind of cynicism we saw last night from the Republicans.” |
| Republicans dismissed the protest as a political stunt and a small group of them remained on the floor at points to taunt Democrats. They accused Democrats of trying to cash in politically on the Orlando tragedy and of breaking their oaths as House members to abide by the rules. | Republicans dismissed the protest as a political stunt and a small group of them remained on the floor at points to taunt Democrats. They accused Democrats of trying to cash in politically on the Orlando tragedy and of breaking their oaths as House members to abide by the rules. |
| “I’ve had it with the gun grabbing Democrats and their sit-in anti 2nd amendment jihad” Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, said in a post on Twitter. “I’m going to go home and buy a new gun.” | “I’ve had it with the gun grabbing Democrats and their sit-in anti 2nd amendment jihad” Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, said in a post on Twitter. “I’m going to go home and buy a new gun.” |
| For Mr. Ryan, it was a spectacular collapse of his grand plan to restore regular order to the House, adhering to traditional legislative practices. Instead, a chamber where electronic devices and photos are frowned on was awash in selfies, Facebook Live and Periscope. Even C-Span seemed to be engaged in guerrilla video warfare. Persuading members to return to the old rules after the breakout social media experience could prove difficult. | For Mr. Ryan, it was a spectacular collapse of his grand plan to restore regular order to the House, adhering to traditional legislative practices. Instead, a chamber where electronic devices and photos are frowned on was awash in selfies, Facebook Live and Periscope. Even C-Span seemed to be engaged in guerrilla video warfare. Persuading members to return to the old rules after the breakout social media experience could prove difficult. |
| At the end of the night, Mr. Ryan jammed through a spending bill and a motion to adjourn without even so much as the briefest of debates. | At the end of the night, Mr. Ryan jammed through a spending bill and a motion to adjourn without even so much as the briefest of debates. |
| “So we’re locked out of everything, if I am understanding the rule correctly?” Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, a Democrat who is considered an expert on House rules, asked of Mr. Ryan. “This is a lousy process, Mr. Speaker.” | “So we’re locked out of everything, if I am understanding the rule correctly?” Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, a Democrat who is considered an expert on House rules, asked of Mr. Ryan. “This is a lousy process, Mr. Speaker.” |
| The House, as they say on Capitol Hill, was not in order. | The House, as they say on Capitol Hill, was not in order. |