“By focusing on the unprofessional behavior of a few members, people are missing the bigger picture, which is one of bipartisanship,” said Murphy, a leader of the moderate Blue Dog Democrats.
‘Concrete Actions’
House leaders are looking to unify the caucus this month around bills to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and to improve election security, even though these bills have no chance of becoming law with a Republican White House and Senate.
“The House has an aggressive July schedule focused on concrete actions to address the core concerns of the American people,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill on Monday.
Still, it’s the strategy on bipartisan negotiations and votes that risks alienating some factions of the House majority.
The annual defense policy bill coming to the House floor this week could provide the first signs of strains. Republicans largely oppose the $733 billion bill because they want to see $750 billion in defense funds, meaning Pelosi will likely have to rely on just Democratic votes to pass the measure. That could allow progressives who want less defense spending to try to block the legislation.
“My hope is that my colleagues would engage in a positive and productive manner,” Murphy said of the progressives.
Trade Deal
Pelosi is also stuck between reticent Democrats and an anxious White House when it comes to approving the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, intended to replace the Nafta accord.
A key question this month is whether Democrats begin to accept compromises on labor rights, environmental protections, drug pricing and strengthened enforcement that House working groups are negotiating with the administration. The first test could be on the USMCA’s protections for drug patents, which Democrats say favors pharmaceutical companies at the expense of generic manufacturers.