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| Heading Into Long Recess, House Democrats Take Home a Mixed Record | Heading Into Long Recess, House Democrats Take Home a Mixed Record |
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| WASHINGTON — On their 100th day in power, they squabbled about spending as President Trump assailed one of the first Muslims in Congress with a video of the Sept. 11 attacks. | WASHINGTON — On their 100th day in power, they squabbled about spending as President Trump assailed one of the first Muslims in Congress with a video of the Sept. 11 attacks. |
| On the 200th day, they fought privately over impeachment as they completed a landmark budget deal that added hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending. | On the 200th day, they fought privately over impeachment as they completed a landmark budget deal that added hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending. |
| Seven months into their majority, one whose brash, young and diverse membership promised big change, House Democrats left Washington for the summer with a long list of symbolic victories — but an even longer one of unfulfilled goals. | Seven months into their majority, one whose brash, young and diverse membership promised big change, House Democrats left Washington for the summer with a long list of symbolic victories — but an even longer one of unfulfilled goals. |
| With their legislative agenda on track but stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate, and with internal divisions complicating their efforts to oust Mr. Trump, the new class returns home with a decidedly mixed record. | |
| Under the relentlessly disciplined tutelage of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats have shown remarkable unity on votes, passing legislation on gun control, immigration, health care, election security, the federal minimum wage and the budget package with minimal evidence of the rifts just beneath the surface. | Under the relentlessly disciplined tutelage of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats have shown remarkable unity on votes, passing legislation on gun control, immigration, health care, election security, the federal minimum wage and the budget package with minimal evidence of the rifts just beneath the surface. |
| But virtually all of their legislation has hit a blockade set up by Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, and the few bills that have reached Mr. Trump’s desk have been vetoed. | But virtually all of their legislation has hit a blockade set up by Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, and the few bills that have reached Mr. Trump’s desk have been vetoed. |
| “While a lot of work may have been done in the House, very little of it has become law,” said Representative Jeff Van Drew, a first-term Democrat from New Jersey who won a Republican-leaning district that supported Mr. Trump. “Nice bills that don’t become law become nothing.” | “While a lot of work may have been done in the House, very little of it has become law,” said Representative Jeff Van Drew, a first-term Democrat from New Jersey who won a Republican-leaning district that supported Mr. Trump. “Nice bills that don’t become law become nothing.” |
| At critical moments, disconnects between liberals and moderates on both policy and style have exploded into public view, and Mr. Trump has diverted attention from key Democratic victories at almost every turn. A vote on a meticulously negotiated agreement among Democrats on legislation to raise the minimum wage was overshadowed this month after Mr. Trump made an incendiary attack on four freshman congresswomen of color; House Democrats spent the first half of their week debating and passing a resolution to condemn his comments as racist. | At critical moments, disconnects between liberals and moderates on both policy and style have exploded into public view, and Mr. Trump has diverted attention from key Democratic victories at almost every turn. A vote on a meticulously negotiated agreement among Democrats on legislation to raise the minimum wage was overshadowed this month after Mr. Trump made an incendiary attack on four freshman congresswomen of color; House Democrats spent the first half of their week debating and passing a resolution to condemn his comments as racist. |
| “He knows exactly how to distract us, and we take the bait — we take the bait every time,” said Representative Elissa Slotkin, Democrat of Michigan, another first-term lawmaker from a Trump district. “And then I go home and people say, ‘How come your party isn’t helping me with the cost of inhalers or EpiPens, or health care in general?’ And we do care about those things; it’s just not what makes sexy headlines.” | “He knows exactly how to distract us, and we take the bait — we take the bait every time,” said Representative Elissa Slotkin, Democrat of Michigan, another first-term lawmaker from a Trump district. “And then I go home and people say, ‘How come your party isn’t helping me with the cost of inhalers or EpiPens, or health care in general?’ And we do care about those things; it’s just not what makes sexy headlines.” |
| Meanwhile, impatience is growing among the party’s liberal wing to move forward on impeaching Mr. Trump, as activists vent their frustration about a House Democratic majority they charge is too timid to effectively challenge the president. | Meanwhile, impatience is growing among the party’s liberal wing to move forward on impeaching Mr. Trump, as activists vent their frustration about a House Democratic majority they charge is too timid to effectively challenge the president. |
| Leaders have privately counseled Democratic lawmakers to use their August break to play up their policy agenda, holding events that highlight their accomplishments in the first 200 days. Those include a bid to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and measures to protect health care access. In a news conference on Thursday on the steps of the Capitol, Ms. Pelosi said Democrats would “own August” and ratchet up pressure on Mr. McConnell to take up legislation that the House has passed. The word “impeachment” was not uttered. | Leaders have privately counseled Democratic lawmakers to use their August break to play up their policy agenda, holding events that highlight their accomplishments in the first 200 days. Those include a bid to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and measures to protect health care access. In a news conference on Thursday on the steps of the Capitol, Ms. Pelosi said Democrats would “own August” and ratchet up pressure on Mr. McConnell to take up legislation that the House has passed. The word “impeachment” was not uttered. |
| But progressive groups intend to amplify their pro-impeachment message and to intensify pressure on Democrats to fall in line. The liberal organizing group Stand Up America is planning a major mobilization next month to put Democrats on the spot on the subject, encouraging voters across the country to demand that their lawmakers support opening an inquiry. | But progressive groups intend to amplify their pro-impeachment message and to intensify pressure on Democrats to fall in line. The liberal organizing group Stand Up America is planning a major mobilization next month to put Democrats on the spot on the subject, encouraging voters across the country to demand that their lawmakers support opening an inquiry. |
| Activists are particularly focused on the 30 or so progressive lawmakers who have not yet come out in favor of impeachment, as well as holdouts on the House Judiciary Committee, more than half of whom already back the move. | Activists are particularly focused on the 30 or so progressive lawmakers who have not yet come out in favor of impeachment, as well as holdouts on the House Judiciary Committee, more than half of whom already back the move. |
| “During the August recess, we will ensure that every member of Congress hears from their constituents on why it’s the only path forward,” said the group’s president and founder, Sean Eldridge. “Right now, Congress is the only institution that can hold Trump accountable for his crimes — and it’s time for Speaker Pelosi to do the right thing by starting an impeachment inquiry.” | “During the August recess, we will ensure that every member of Congress hears from their constituents on why it’s the only path forward,” said the group’s president and founder, Sean Eldridge. “Right now, Congress is the only institution that can hold Trump accountable for his crimes — and it’s time for Speaker Pelosi to do the right thing by starting an impeachment inquiry.” |
| The satirical website The Onion on Thursday reflected the degree of liberal outrage at the speaker’s approach, blaring the headline, “Pelosi Concerned Outspoken Progressive Flank of Party Could Harm Democrats’ Reputation as Ineffectual Cowards.” It appeared just hours before Ms. Pelosi scored a major coup, winning passage of the breakthrough two-year budget agreement to raise the statutory limit on national debt and increase spending limits, with minimal defections by progressive Democrats. | The satirical website The Onion on Thursday reflected the degree of liberal outrage at the speaker’s approach, blaring the headline, “Pelosi Concerned Outspoken Progressive Flank of Party Could Harm Democrats’ Reputation as Ineffectual Cowards.” It appeared just hours before Ms. Pelosi scored a major coup, winning passage of the breakthrough two-year budget agreement to raise the statutory limit on national debt and increase spending limits, with minimal defections by progressive Democrats. |
| The spoof pointed to very real frustration among activists, who argue that despite Democrats’ best efforts to brand themselves as pragmatic and in touch with kitchen-table concerns, they instead come across as feckless and ineffective by failing to establish a clear position on how to take on Mr. Trump. | The spoof pointed to very real frustration among activists, who argue that despite Democrats’ best efforts to brand themselves as pragmatic and in touch with kitchen-table concerns, they instead come across as feckless and ineffective by failing to establish a clear position on how to take on Mr. Trump. |
| “There is a lot of frustration on impeachment, because basically, Trump and the Republicans have a very clear message, which is, ‘Full exoneration, no collusion, no obstruction, witch hunt,’ and the Democratic response is, ‘Well, we’re looking into it; we need more evidence; we’ll see,’” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, a grass-roots network of progressive activists. “It looks weak, because it is weak.” | “There is a lot of frustration on impeachment, because basically, Trump and the Republicans have a very clear message, which is, ‘Full exoneration, no collusion, no obstruction, witch hunt,’ and the Democratic response is, ‘Well, we’re looking into it; we need more evidence; we’ll see,’” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, a grass-roots network of progressive activists. “It looks weak, because it is weak.” |
| Indivisible activists will also be attending town hall-style meetings and other events in August to urge Democrats to support impeachment, he said. “They’re going to hear that this is the issue of the day, and we expect you to take a stand.” | Indivisible activists will also be attending town hall-style meetings and other events in August to urge Democrats to support impeachment, he said. “They’re going to hear that this is the issue of the day, and we expect you to take a stand.” |
| Despite the outside pressure and bickering inside her ranks, Ms. Pelosi has kept Democrats together on critical issues and maintained an impressive productivity, churning out bill after marquee bill that Democrats can point to in their quest to offer a different approach from Republicans. | Despite the outside pressure and bickering inside her ranks, Ms. Pelosi has kept Democrats together on critical issues and maintained an impressive productivity, churning out bill after marquee bill that Democrats can point to in their quest to offer a different approach from Republicans. |
| “Will voters at the end of the day, in 18 months, give them credit for trying to do a lot of stuff that the Senate’s stopped? The jury’s out — we’ll see,” said Steve Elmendorf, a lobbyist who is a former top House Democratic leadership aide. “But the good thing for the freshmen and the people in Trump districts is they have something to say, they have a message, they have things they are trying to do.” | “Will voters at the end of the day, in 18 months, give them credit for trying to do a lot of stuff that the Senate’s stopped? The jury’s out — we’ll see,” said Steve Elmendorf, a lobbyist who is a former top House Democratic leadership aide. “But the good thing for the freshmen and the people in Trump districts is they have something to say, they have a message, they have things they are trying to do.” |
| “She, every week, puts up 218 votes on a lot of things, and that’s what matters,” Mr. Elmendorf said of the speaker. | “She, every week, puts up 218 votes on a lot of things, and that’s what matters,” Mr. Elmendorf said of the speaker. |
| Ms. Pelosi and Democratic leaders have gone to great lengths in recent weeks to defuse conflicts in their ranks and present a united front. Mr. Trump himself helped facilitate that after he denounced Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, and three other lawmakers of color, prompting the vote on the racism resolution. | Ms. Pelosi and Democratic leaders have gone to great lengths in recent weeks to defuse conflicts in their ranks and present a united front. Mr. Trump himself helped facilitate that after he denounced Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, and three other lawmakers of color, prompting the vote on the racism resolution. |
| On Thursday, House leaders abruptly canceled action on a measure to toughen oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, rather than risk a potentially divisive vote before their recess, which might distract from the striking unity of recent successes. On Friday morning, Ms. Pelosi made a public show of locking arms with Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, with whom she has clashed this month, after a one-on-one meeting called to calm the tensions. | On Thursday, House leaders abruptly canceled action on a measure to toughen oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, rather than risk a potentially divisive vote before their recess, which might distract from the striking unity of recent successes. On Friday morning, Ms. Pelosi made a public show of locking arms with Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, with whom she has clashed this month, after a one-on-one meeting called to calm the tensions. |
| And the move on Friday by the Judiciary Committee to sue for the release of grand jury material from the special counsel’s investigation as a part of a broader consideration of impeachment helped quell, at least briefly, the consternation of lawmakers over whether the House has acted aggressively enough against Mr. Trump. | And the move on Friday by the Judiciary Committee to sue for the release of grand jury material from the special counsel’s investigation as a part of a broader consideration of impeachment helped quell, at least briefly, the consternation of lawmakers over whether the House has acted aggressively enough against Mr. Trump. |
| “We’re the most unified we’ve been in seven months,” said Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California. “Three weeks ago, there were significant divisions and concerns, but now we have a clear path forward on holding the president accountable, and we are doing as much as we can with a progressive agenda, given that we have Mitch McConnell as the leader of the Senate and Donald Trump in the White House.” | “We’re the most unified we’ve been in seven months,” said Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California. “Three weeks ago, there were significant divisions and concerns, but now we have a clear path forward on holding the president accountable, and we are doing as much as we can with a progressive agenda, given that we have Mitch McConnell as the leader of the Senate and Donald Trump in the White House.” |
| But Mr. Trump continues to dominate the conversation. He set the tone for lawmakers’ first weekend home with constituents on Saturday when he attacked Representative Elijah E. Cummings, Democrat of Maryland and the chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, insulting his majority-black district in Baltimore as a blighted mess. | But Mr. Trump continues to dominate the conversation. He set the tone for lawmakers’ first weekend home with constituents on Saturday when he attacked Representative Elijah E. Cummings, Democrat of Maryland and the chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, insulting his majority-black district in Baltimore as a blighted mess. |
| “We all reject racist attacks against him,” Ms. Pelosi tweeted of Mr. Cummings in response. | “We all reject racist attacks against him,” Ms. Pelosi tweeted of Mr. Cummings in response. |