The Topline: May 27, 2021
It's a consequential day in the U.S. Senate. The chamber is preparing to vote on whether to create an independent commission to fully investigate the attack on the Capitol nearly five months ago. Yesterday, the family of Capitol Police Ofc. Brian Sicknick, who died as a result of the events of that day, implored Republicans to support the measure. Whether their emotional plea had any effect is unclear yet. As of this writing, only two Senate Republicans have indicated that they will vote in favor of the legislation. The outcome of the vote also will influence the future of the filibuster. Senate Democrats who support the filibuster have urged Republicans not to employ the tactic on a vote like this, which frankly deserves widespread, bipartisan support. Whatever happens, it will have a significant political impact. Stay tuned. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor
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The end of a beautiful friendship?
— "There is no excuse for any Republican to vote against the commission since Democrats have agreed to everything they asked for," Manchin said. "Mitch McConnell has made this his political position, thinking it will help his 2022 elections. They do not believe the truth will set you free, so they continue to live in fear."
— McConnell disagrees. He has criticized the House proposal as "slanted and unbalanced," leading other Senate Republicans to oppose it as well. Only two Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney—have publicly committed to supporting the bill. Ten Republicans would need to vote for it to overcome the filibuster.
— "I do not believe the additional, extraneous commission that Democratic leaders want would uncover crucial new facts, or promote healing," McConnell said today. "Frankly, I do not believe it is even designed to do that." Okay, Mitch. —The Hill
MORE: GOP set to block 1/6 panel, stoking Senate filibuster fight —Associated Press
Tumulty: When will GOP go green on Greene?
"Republicans must do more than simply denounce [Rep. Marjorie Taylor] Greene. It is time for them to, at a minimum, rally behind censuring her. A resolution to do so is being drafted by Rep. Bradley Schneider. Republicans should also kick her out of their caucus, as Rep. Adam Kinzinger has proposed. Anything less makes hollow Republican leaders' efforts to portray Greene as merely a fringe player among their ranks. They created her, and they continue to elevate her. This is the consequence of seeking power without regard to what else it may bring." —Karen Tumulty in The Washington Post
Karen Tumulty is a Washington Post columnist covering national politics.
MORE: Republicans under pressure after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments —NBC News
Biden riles China
Amid renewed concerns that the COVID-19 virus may have leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, President Biden said yesterday that he has ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to redouble efforts to determine the exact cause of the pandemic. Biden said intelligence has coalesced around two likely scenarios, but hasn't reached a definitive conclusion. A report is due within 90 days. Biden also said the U.S. would work with allies "to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence." China, not surprisingly, is displeased, accusing the U.S. of playing politics. —MarketWatch
MORE: Senate approves amendment blocking funds to Wuhan Institute of Virology —Newsweek
China bill hits a speed bump
It was one of the least exciting days on C-SPAN in a while, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer rolled the dice on one of his top legislative priorities: combating China's competitiveness. Efforts to counter China typically garner widespread support in Congress, but last-minute drama is preventing swift passage of the Innovation and Competition Act. Democrats sought signoff on a deal struck between Sen. Mike Crapo and Schumer on an amendment that would extend trade preferences and tariff relief. That led several senators to withhold their vote until the agreement was sealed. If Republicans ultimately torpedo the bill, it could mark the first successful filibuster of the 117th Congress. —The Hill
MORE: Senate tests willingness to preserve filibuster with China, Jan. 6 commission votes —NBC News
Applebaum: Belarus' dangerous precedent
"In autocratic capitals all over the world, dictators and their flunkies are watching to see how the West reacts—whether [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko gets away with it and whether, perhaps, this new tool of oppression will become available to them too. Invariably, others will seek to use it, if only because it sends a message to their dissident and exile communities: You are not safe. You are never safe. Not even if you live in a democracy; not even if you have political asylum; not even if you are sitting on a commercial plane, thousands of feet above the ground." —Anne Applebaum in The Atlantic
Anne Applebaum is a senior fellow of the Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and the author of "Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism."
MORE: Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich's colleagues fear for their lives —BBC News
Focus on gun violence
— House-passed legislation to require background checks on nearly all gun purchases has stalled in the Senate. But Murphy and Cornyn believe their solution can attract broad support from both parties by closing an unintended loophole in the system that has led to preventable mass shootings.
— Specifically, they want to clarify who is required to register as a federal firearms licensee, or FFL, and thus conduct FBI checks on a buyer before selling a gun. The senators say an ambiguity in the law has enabled unlicensed sellers to transfer weapons to dangerous people who skirt the background check system.
— "What we're trying to protect, or carve out, are the hobbyist and or casual transactions between friends and family members, but capture the people who literally are making a living and making a profit selling firearms, and give that to the U.S. attorneys to prosecute," Cornyn says. —NBC News
MORE: Following San Jose mass shooting, California Gov. Gavin Newsom asks: 'What the hell is wrong with us?' —Yahoo! News
Foley: Realistic electoral reform is possible
"District maps soon must be drawn. Partisan primaries must be held under existing rules if Congress fails to enact a majority-winner provision that would require states to rethink the relationship of primaries and the general election. Senate Democrats are at risk of blowing their chance at meaningful electoral reform. ... [T]hey should compromise with 10 reasonable Republicans on a set of simple measures to ensure that congressional elections genuinely implement voter preferences." —Edward Foley in The Washington Post
Edward Foley writes on matters relating to election law and administration. He holds the Ebersold Chair in Constitutional Law at Ohio State University, where he heads the university's election law program.
MORE: Gregory E. Deavens, Susan Jacobson & David Thornburgh: Corporate America must stand up for voting rights —The Philadelphia Inquirer
I disagree with Steven R. about presidential impeachment. The House only needs a one-vote margin to impeach. That nearly guarantees that the Republican Party at least, and quite likely the Democratic Party too, might vote for articles of impeachment against any first-term president. That would effectively limit a president to one term, any time that the House is controlled by the opposition party. Our founding fathers thought long and hard before writing our Constitution. We should emulate them if we seek to amend it. —Bill M., Pennsylvania
I have read that some geniuses in the sedition party—what used to be the GOP—have been blaming the "left" for attacks on Jews. Probably true of some. Yet I'd venture a guess that there are not many "lefties" (which I am not) in the neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups (of which I am definitely not), like those chanting on video things like "Jews will not replace us" just a few years ago during a march in Charlottesville. Jews (which I am not), like veterans (which I am), have unfortunately been the pawns—and much worse—of politicians and other groups in the U.S. for decades. —Bill T., Arizona
The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Stand Up Republic Foundation.
Got feedback about THE TOPLINE? Send it to Melissa Amour, Managing Editor, at editor@thetopline.com.
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