On Tuesday the House passed a resolution in which socialism in all its forms, including that of the Democratic Socialists of America, was condemned. The vote was 220 to 192, there being two members who voted ‘present’.
Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., chairman of the Committee on House Administration, led debate on the floor and during the rules fight that put H. Res. 1490 before the House. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo, authored the measure.
“Socialism has no place in the United States of America,” Steil said. “Hard work and merit are the backbone of the American Dream, not socialized outcomes or government control.”
He said to the House that the country is at a crossroads: either shrink the size of government or risk socialist policies taking control of the Democratic Party. He referred to the DSA’s platform — which includes voting rights for noncitizens and for incarcerated criminals, ranked-choice voting in all elections, and the abolition of both the Electoral College and the U.S. Senate — as well as to the DSA leaders who describe the bicameral republic as “inherently undemocratic.”
Steil said that socialism is easy to win in elections but almost impossible to get rid of, because socialist policies have been responsible for the deaths of more than 100 million people around the world. And said that a conservative policy makes life more affordable, ensures victory in elections, and keeps the communities safe, while a DSA policy raises taxes, allows noncitizens to vote, and gets rid of prisons.
The resolution was carried by all the Republicans present, with eight Democrats in favour and one hundred ninety-two Democrats against, the latter group including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. Crank stated that a vote of this kind would have been unanimous 10 or 15 years ago and added that “this evening’s vote showed who stands for freedom and who stands with socialism.”
The resolution H. Res. 1490 condemns socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America, opposes socialist policies in the United States, and reasserts its support for free, fair, and secure elections decided by American citizens. It also supports the SAVE America Act, the voter-ID and citizenship-verification bill which is stalled in the Senate. The Democrats used that language as a cover. Nevertheless, the record remains the record: when asked to denounce an ideology associated with famine, dictatorship, and more than 100 million deaths, almost the entire House Democratic Caucus replied in the negative.
Steil stated that socialism is easy to elect and nearly impossible to remove. On Tuesday, the House recorded where Democrats stand. Eight voted to condemn it. One hundred ninety-two voted no. Wisconsin voters who had seen Steil lead the debate now have the roll call.
