The opposition to Pelosi slowly collapse

Congress

Representative Brian Higgins' support is a setback for the group seeking to overthrow the California Democrat.

Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday detained another Democratic detractor, bringing the Democratic California to find the jersey of the speaker while the opposition against it seems to crumble slowly.

Rep. Brian Higgins, a New York Democrat who has been criticizing Pelosi for months and has repeatedly vowed to vote against her at the new Congress, has announced his support for the California Democrat.

History continues below

"It is likely that Nancy Pelosi will be the speaker," said Higgins in an interview to explain his change of opinion. "To be honest about this, not only is there no viable alternative, but for now, there is no alternative."

The Buffalo News first reported the overthrow of Higgins on Pelosi. A few days earlier, Higgins had signed a letter opposing her and told POLITICO several times in an interview that he would not support Pelosi "whatever the circumstances".

But Pelosi is winning, so the circumstances have apparently changed enough for Higgins to reconsider his recent fervent opposition to him.

"For years, Congressman Higgins has been a tremendous leader in affordable, quality health care for all Americans. His proposal to join Medicare is at the center of this debate, as we are working to implement the Affordable Care Act, "said Pelosi in a statement released shortly after the news of the flip-flop of Higgins.

"We look forward to working together to reduce the cost of health care for hard-working families and increase their wages by building infrastructure in America, which is also an important issue for Congressman Higgins."

Higgins is Pelosi's last critic to make a radical change of direction. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) announced that she was supporting Pelosi on Tuesday, just days after having openly considered bidding against him, leaving the anti-Pelosi rebels without an opponent.

Higgins was one of 16 current and future Democrats who signed a letter Monday promising to vote against Pelosi on the ground. Fudge was on a draft of this letter but took his name before it was finalized on Monday, according to Democratic sources. A handful of other incoming Democrats said that they would oppose Pelosi, but they did not sign the letter.

Getting two significant approvals from Fudge and Higgins in one day is just the latest example of Pelosi's persistent strength in the caucus, despite the most credible threat to his leadership so far..

Pelosi tried to win his critics in a manner very similar to that of Pelosi. Over the past two weeks, Pelosi and his allies have launched a massive assault to rally support and convince House Democrats to support it through a combination of operations, flattery and torment. of arms when needed.

According to sources close to Pelosi, there is no timetable for more announcements of "fins", but it has time, and perhaps more importantly, momentum. Pelosi seems to have won, which will complicate the task of the anti-Pelosi Democrats. If they want to spend a bargain with her, the time to leave is as soon as possible.

Higgins said that he would now support Pelosi after she agreed to support two of his key legislative priorities in the new Congress: a major infrastructure package and legislation that lowers the age from Medicare registration.

For Fudge, the incentives to return were different. Pelosi reached an agreement with Fudge to reinstate a committee of the House Administration Committee to oversee the elections and appoint President Fudge.

Earlier on Tuesday, Fudge had made headlines after learning that she had written a letter of support a few years ago to a former Ohio judge and lawmaker who is now charged with having killed his ex-wife. Even if Fudge had not reached an agreement with Pelosi, his candidacy for the presidency would probably have been jeopardized because of the controversy.

Until now, none of the other 15 signatories of the anti-Pelosi letter has changed position.

However, Higgins said that he was in contact with a few who were considering concluding their own agreements with the long-time Democratic leader, and he thinks they'd be smart to do it.

"They talk about trying to make their own agreement on legislation about them or about a committee mandate, etc., and that's what this process is about," Higgins said.

The big question now is whether other Democrats who said they would oppose Pelosi as an orator would stand firm in their opposition or abstain, restoring his path to the hammer.

Democrats will meet next Wednesday for an in camera vote for the position of president and other executive positions. Pelosi should easily win the vote, which only requires a majority of the caucus.

The expected victory will give Pelosi and his allies more than a month to try to convince Democratic opponents to support her in the House of Commons in January. The House will hold a recorded vote for the new Speaker on January 3.

Even elected members in constituencies – Democrats who have faced a flood of GOP TV commercials linking them to Pelosi – say they could vote for it.

The elected representative, Colin Allred, is not part of the Never Pelosi group, but said on Wednesday that he still had not decided how he would vote.

"I'm still waiting to see how that goes. It is obvious that at present there is only one candidate for the presidency, "he said after Higgins' news.

Allred, who has long removed the political party's representative, Pete Sessions, in North Texas, said he hoped to use his trump to gain a foothold on transportation or education committees.

"I think it's important for me to use my influence," Allred said Wednesday. "I met Chief Pelosi and explained clearly what I thought was most important for my district."