Lawmakers demand changes to House censure rules after 'playground nonsense' embroils Congress
House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are erupting in frustration after a week full of political bomb-throwing via a congressional procedure that’s traditionally only saved for the most...
By Fox News · Fox News
House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are erupting in frustration after a week full of political bomb-throwing via a congressional procedure that’s traditionally only saved for the most egregious of fouls. The last five days have marked the first week House lawmakers have all been in D.C. together since the 43-day government shutdown began on Oct. 1. And while most of them were anxious to get to work, the chamber was instead forced to reckon with a series of censure threats and forced House-wide votes on rebuking their colleagues via a mechanism called a privileged resolution. "This is ridiculous playground nonsense," Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., said. "Personally, I'm tired of members of Congress using the chamber as their own personal playground to get attention. People have done some egregious things. But I’ve just had enough of this back and forth nonsense." Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., called the slew of censures and privileged resolutions "the biggest load of bulls—" and called for the system to be reformed so that one lawmaker’s wishes were not enough to disrupt the entire House floor. NANCY MACE TO FORCE CENSURE VOTE AGAINST FELLOW HOUSE REPUBLICAN "I mean, if somebody warrants a censure and/or expulsion, it should truly be driven by the consensus of the body and not some individual going on their own crusade to get attention or make a name," Lawler said. One lawmaker, granted anonymity to discuss the development, said they were even worried the tool could now be misused as an election ploy. "The majority could just [censure] anybody in a tight race. And you don't want this process to become part of election games and s-–" they said. Currently, any one lawmaker can introduce a censure resolution against another. Both Republicans and Democrats have also wielded a mechanism known as a "privileged resolution" three times this week to force an immediate vote on rebuking a colleague — out of five total threats to do so. It spurred conversations by House lawmakers…