This actually changes a lot. If house republicans put up particularly MAGAy bills, their fellow members in tight districts can’t safely either not vote or vote against those bills. Otherwise, their vote will be used against them in campaign ads that very well may end their career. Voting for the bill will upset their moderate voters, voting against will upset the MAGA voters and the rest of the caucus.
Traditionally, for more controversial bills, Rs in moderate districts would abstain to stay off the radar.
So, to keep the caucus the safest move for the Rs is to not bring up anything (which, notable with the slim majority they have now, they’ve already slowed bills rolling out). But then Ds can very easily still campaign against the Rs in purple districts for being do-nothing politicians.
i guess… they were pretty much already useless before he left, its not like much has changed
This actually changes a lot. If house republicans put up particularly MAGAy bills, their fellow members in tight districts can’t safely either not vote or vote against those bills. Otherwise, their vote will be used against them in campaign ads that very well may end their career. Voting for the bill will upset their moderate voters, voting against will upset the MAGA voters and the rest of the caucus.
Traditionally, for more controversial bills, Rs in moderate districts would abstain to stay off the radar.
So, to keep the caucus the safest move for the Rs is to not bring up anything (which, notable with the slim majority they have now, they’ve already slowed bills rolling out). But then Ds can very easily still campaign against the Rs in purple districts for being do-nothing politicians.
The Government will shutdown on Jan 15th if they don’t pass some sort of legislation, and that’s also super bad for the “governing” party.