Once again, House Speaker Paul Ryan is trying to abuse his power to protect unconstitutional U.S. participation in the Saudi regime’s deliberate-famine-causing war in Yemen. Once again, he’s using parliamentary tricks to try to block the House from voting to end the war.
House Democratic Leader Pelosi and Democratic Whip Hoyer can lead now to end the war by whipping House Democrats to vote against the rule on the farm bill. That’s where Paul Ryan stashed his parliamentary dirty trick blocking our vote this time. Last time he stashed the parliamentary trick in the rule on a bill on wolves. This time it’s the farm bill.
Pelosi and Hoyer can act to protect our vote to end the Yemen war by whipping Democrats to vote no on the rule. Last time, six House Democrats voted against us. When the Senate voted, every single Democrat voted with us. If Schumer and Durbin can whip Senate Democrats to oppose the Yemen war, Pelosi and Hoyer can whip House Democrats to oppose the Yemen war.
MoveOn and Indivisible – which have a lot to do with the fact that Pelosi and Hoyer will be leading the House again in January – are pressing Pelosi and Hoyer to whip against Paul Ryan’s rule. They wrote to Pelosi and Hoyer in part:
“We urge you to aggressively whip the the caucus to ensure that all House Democrats vote in opposition to any effort to de-privilege H.Con.Res. 142…it is absolutely critical to send a firm, united signal to House Republican leadership that Democrats will unanimously vote against any effort to subvert Congress’s Article I responsibilities. All 49 Senate Democrats stood firm in supporting the consideration of S.J.Res. 54, the Yemen War Powers Resolution. We ask that you ensure that same unity in the House of Representatives.”
Here’s how you can help: urge Leader Pelosi and Whip Hoyer to heed MoveOn’s call.
Leader Pelosi: (202) 225-4965
Whip Hoyer: (202) 225-4131
When you reach a staffer or leave a message, you can say something like: “I urge that Leader Pelosi and Whip Hoyer heed MoveOn’s call to press every House Democrat to vote against any rule that blocks a floor vote on ending the Yemen war.”
When you’ve made your calls, please so report in the comments.