Ten House Democrats joined all Republicans to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) due to his actions during President Donald Trump’s speech on Tuesday.
Green started his antics as Trump started his speech. He wouldn’t sit down, shook his cane at the president, and yelled at him.
H.Res. 189 censured Green for disrupting “the proceedings of the joint address and was a breach of proper conduct.” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson had Green removed “after numerous disruptions.”
The censure doesn’t do anything. It’s only a formal statement of disapproval. They don’t lose rights or privileges.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) spoke to Johnson about a censure vote against Green after Trump’s speech.
Johnson brought Newhouse’s censure resolution to the floor on Thursday.
Before Johnson read the censure, Democrats started singing, “We shall overcome.”
Green shook Newhouse’s hand before he spoke on the House floor during the debate about his censure:
Green, now serving his 11th term, offered no regrets Wednesday when he explained his actions. Before speaking in his own defense from the House floor, he walked up to the Republican side of the chamber and shook Newhouse’s hand. Green said he did not blame Johnson or those who had escorted him out after his outburst.“Friends, I would do it again,” Green said.He explained his actions by saying Trump had indicated he had won a mandate from voters. But Green said Trump does not have a mandate to cut Medicaid, a program that many of his constituents rely on.“This is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience,” Green said. “There are people suffering in this country because they don’t have health care.”He concluded his remarks by saying, “on some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all.”
Green and Rep. Shomaru Figures (D-AL) voted present.
The ten moderate Democrats who voted with the Republicans:
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