"Massie told Axios he's worried the tool may not survive its newfound popularity. He called it a "last vestige of democracy." "The Speaker, because he's not giving an outlet for legislative pursuits, the things we got elected to do, he's probably going to see more of these discharge petitions," Massie told Axios. Massie said he's "brainstorming" ideas for more discharge petitions with his Democratic colleagues."
"Driving the news: Another discharge petition just hit the 218-signature threshold this week, with a vote expected after lawmakers return from Thanksgiving recess. The bill, led by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), would restore union rights for thousands of federal workers. But Johnson told Axios on Wednesday night that discharge petitions have become "too common" and said he would consider changing House rules to make them harder to obtain."
Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna secured passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act by a 427-1 vote after a months-long push to reach 218 signatures. A discharge petition forces a bill onto the floor when a majority of members sign, and its use has increased recently. House leaders including Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise signaled interest in changing rules or raising thresholds to make discharge petitions harder to obtain. Another petition reached 218 signatures for a bill restoring federal workers' union rights. Only seven discharge petitions became law since 1935, three in the last two years. House leaders retain procedural tools to blunt these challenges.
Read at Axios
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