House Tensions Explode as Republicans Force Dems to Face Their Socialist Insurgency [WATCH]

House Republicans are preparing to force a series of votes this week aimed at putting Democrats on the record over socialism and proposals to expand the Supreme Court, after a contentious House Rules Committee hearing exposed sharp divisions between the two parties, as reported by Fox News.

The House Rules Committee advanced a resolution Monday condemning socialism, with no Democrats voting to move the measure forward.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the resolution as a distraction from issues affecting Americans.

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Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., called the measure “nonsense” and argued that it would do little to address everyday concerns.

“So you’re concerned about rising gas, or are you concerned about grocery prices? You know, don’t worry. Republicans in Congress are passing another non-binding resolution condemning socialism,” McGovern said.

The hearing became particularly heated during an exchange between Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., over how socialism should be defined.

Neguse questioned Steil about a hypothetical scenario involving President Donald Trump taking a “20% stake” in Kroger grocery stores. Steil responded that he would “want to see the details.”

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“Oh, you’d want to see the details,” Neguse yelled as the two men spoke over each other.

“You said if the government owns grocery stores, that would be socialist. But if, of course, Donald Trump were to announce an equity stake in a grocery store, well, ‘I’d have to really see the details,’ because we all know the play.”

Steil said he would be willing to examine such a proposal if there were a national security reason for it, while repeatedly noting that Neguse was presenting a hypothetical.

Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., also reprimanded Neguse for interrupting Steil.

“Some folks on your side of the aisle would like to have government-run grocery stores. I think that’s nuts,” Steil said.

After further debate, Steil added, “I think there would need to be a national security rationale for the action. I don’t see any in your hypothetical. I don’t see a national security focus.”

Neguse called that a “helpful answer,” prompting Steil to respond, “It’s a hypothetical. So we’re entering silly season.”

According to a provisional schedule, the House is expected to hold a procedural rule vote Tuesday afternoon, followed by a final vote on the resolution Tuesday evening.

Republicans are also preparing another vote for Wednesday on a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap the number of Supreme Court justices at nine.

The measure is being advanced without going through the House Rules Committee, but it will require support from two-thirds of the House rather than a simple majority.

Several prominent progressives, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, have supported expanding the Supreme Court to as many as 13 justices.

House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., said the votes are intended to force Democrats to take clear positions.

“It’s time for the Democrats to pick a side. Stop playing the middle. Be proud of who you are. You were elected to lead, so lead. Have an opinion. We intend to put you on record,” McClain said.

She added, “Do you want to pack the Supreme Court or not? It’s really simple. It’s a yes or no vote. It’s no bigger than that. Two — do you believe in socialism? If you do, you should say it loud and say it proud. I personally don’t believe in socialism. I like the fact that we have a democracy, that we have a republic, that we have a free society. And I’m proud to put myself on record.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not directly say Monday whether he supports the anti-socialism resolution. He instead criticized provisions related to the SAVE America Act and election security legislation.

The resolution condemns socialism while also praising Republican-backed election security measures, including proof of citizenship, photo identification and database checks.

It calls for enforcement of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, which has passed the House but has not been taken up by the Senate.

Democrats have largely criticized the legislation as voter suppression.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., said the effort was intended to “silence political opponents.”

“Let’s scare people with yet another boogeyman and not do anything about it. Not really solve problems, just try to scare people,” Scanlon said.

Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., argued that the growing influence of democratic socialists is already evident in New York and warned against assuming those political ideas will remain limited to one area.

“I’ve seen firsthand the alarming rise of socialism…families in western New York have watched one-party rule in Albany pile on more taxes, more mandates, more government control, while hardworking taxpayers are left to foot the bill,” Langworthy said. “And now downstate, we’ve watched the socialist left move more from the activist fringe into positions of real, serious political power. And anyone who thinks that these ideas are going to stay confined in New York City is sadly mistaken.”

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