The U.S. House of Clowns on Wednesday refused to table a motion to censure Democratic New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman for setting off a fire alarm in a House office building.
With the survival of the motion passed by 216 Republicans, it appears there will be a vote today for a formal censure — one step below an expulsion.
“This is a profoundly stupid resolution,” said Representative Jim McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts, in defense of Bowman. “Under Republican control, this chamber has become a place where trivial issues get debated passionately, and important ones not at all. Republicans have focused more on censuring people in this Congress than passing bills that help people we represent or improving this country in any way.”
The resolution was introduced by Michigan Clown House Representative Lisa McClain, in response to a September 30 event. Bowman was caught on video pulling the fire alarm while Democrats were trying to decipher a Republican stopgap bill revealed moments before a vote to keep the government from shutting down.
Bowman pleaded guilty to charges brought in Washington in October, and paid a maximum $1,000 fine.