Following a nearly month-long hiatus, the United States House of Representatives has resumed its legislative duties. One of the first orders of business on the agenda could potentially be the expulsion of its own member, Congressman George Santos of New York, with a vote possibly taking place as early as Wednesday. Santos, a Republican, is facing 23 charges, including fraud and theft. In addition, the House could decide to censure two other members, a decision which is largely expected to fall along party lines.
Moreover, the House faces the task of passing a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown. Santos, who received heavy criticism from both sides of the aisle even prior to his indictment in May, now faces additional charges relating to his campaign, instigating at least five New York Republicans to call for his removal. Santos is also currently under an ethics investigation within the House.
However, the motion to expel Santos is uncertain, as the House, currently under Republican control, historically expels members infrequently, with only two congressmen being removed in the past century. Given the slim Republican majority, many view the potential expulsion as a political risk. Some members propose that expulsion should only occur if Santos is found guilty in court. Advocates for his removal argue it as a moral decision, stating Santos has deceived voters. Despite the charges, Santos maintains his innocence and has stated he has no plans to resign.
The House might also vote this week to censure two other members, Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrat Rashida Tlaib, both notable for their outspoken tendencies. Greene has proposed a measure to censure Tlaib, the sole Congressional member of Palestinian descent, based on comments she made about Israel and Jewish people, including remarks made following a Hamas attack on October 7. In response, a Democrat has proposed a measure to censure Greene for a series of past comments.
In addition to these internal conflicts, the House must address pressing matters that have grown increasingly urgent over the past month. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy managed to pass a deal to keep the government operational until November 17, a move that cost him his position and led to his removal by the right-wing faction of his party in early October. The House subsequently stalled as Republicans deliberated on a replacement for Speaker before eventually settling on Mike Johnson.
With another potential government shutdown looming in the coming weeks, Republicans must swiftly unite to pass legislation that can also gain approval in the Democrat-controlled Senate. There may also be political divisions over foreign aid, following President Joe Biden’s recent request to Congress for $105bn (£87bn) to assist Ukraine, Israel, and other nations currently engaged in major conflicts.
While Republicans unanimously support Israel against Hamas, they are divided on the issue of aiding Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression. Many conservatives have expressed opposition to providing additional aid to the country.
