Republicans are reveling in House Democrats' frustrations with Biden after he withholds veto yet again
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool
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House Democrats are annoyed with President Joe Biden and Republicans can't get enough of it.
- In the last month, Biden has twice withheld vetoes on GOP-led bills that most House Dems opposed.
- And Democratic lawmakers' frustration has become House Republicans' favorite new sideshow.
House Democrats are annoyed with President Joe Biden and Republicans can't get enough of it.
In the last month, Biden has twice withheld vetoes on GOP-led bills that most House Democrats opposed – and after the White House signaled that Biden opposed them, too. Democratic lawmakers' frustration with Biden has become House Republicans' favorite new sideshow.
"Cannot stress enough how comical this Lucy & the football act is between the WH & House Dems," tweeted Jack Pandol, communications director for the House GOP campaign arm.
The latest flashpoint is over GOP legislation to end the COVID-19 national emergency. The White House planned to wait until May.
Most House Democrats voted against that bill last month after the White House said the bill's passage "would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care systems." However, before a Senate vote Wednesday night, the White House put out the word that Biden wouldn't veto the bill. It passed 68-23.
The White House's January statement did not threaten a veto, but it said the administration "strongly opposes" the bill's enactment "which would be a grave disservice to the American people."
"It's, like, kindergarten-level cooperation," Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia fumed to Axios. Another Democrat, Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan, told the Axios "the lack of clear information" and "clarity in messaging" from the White House is "not productive. It's very unhelpful."
House Republicans' campaign arm on Wednesday is seizing on the schism, including a popcorn emoji in an email highlighting such quotes from House Democrats. "House Democrats remain rip-roaring angry at the White House for once again exposing their extremism to voters," said Will Reinert, of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Biden still "strongly opposes" the bill, a White House official said Wednesday night, "and the administration is planning to wind down the COVID national emergency and public health emergency on May 11."
But the official said Biden would sign the bill if it comes to his desk and the administration would continue the work to wind down the national emergency "with as much notice as possible to Americans who could potentially be impacted."
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Thursday that no members had raised concerns to him about the national emergency "dynamic" with the White House. The White House has kept its word when the administration says Biden will veto legislation. "And as far as I'm concerned, that is the most important marker of communication," he said.
Moving forward, however, Jeffries said he's hoping for early and clear communication from the White House, particularly with regard to Republicans' latest efforts to try to repeal what Jeffries called "common sense District of Columbia police reform measures."
"It's my hope and expectation that the White House will be crystal clear, well in advance of that legislation hitting the floor as to their perspective," Jeffries told reporters.
Earlier this month, House Democrats were furious with Biden's decision to allow Congress to overrule a DC crime law, especially after his administration put out a statement opposing the GOP measure.
The overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted in opposition, and 15 were targeted in GOP digital ads, saying they "voted for reduced sentences for violent crimes."
Most Senate Democrats voted for that resolution after Biden said he wouldn't veto it.
Biden's position caught DC Del. Eleanor Homes Norton by surprise during a news conference. "This is news to me," she said, adding that she was "very disappointed."