Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida has expressed his willingness to go against his own party leadership to bring a tax relief bill to the House floor, with the support of House Democrats, if Speaker Mike Johnson doesn’t do so. This potential move would be a rare moment in the House and a first in the 118th Congress, where Johnson has faced pushback from conservative hardliners due to a razor-thin majority. Despite the polarized political environment, bipartisanship has emerged with Democrats supporting Steube’s efforts.
Steube took a rare procedural step in late April by filing a petition to discharge his bill, which aims to provide tax relief for individuals affected by federal disasters such as Hurricane Ian and an Ohio train derailment. With the support of 190 Democrats, the petition reached the critical threshold of 218 signatures, allowing Steube to bring it directly to the floor for a vote. This bipartisan support showcases the importance of the issue for constituents across the country who have been waiting for relief for years.
If Speaker Johnson doesn’t act within the required timeframe, Steube will call up his petition to bring the tax relief bill to the floor. This would be the third successful execution of a discharge petition since 2000 and the 12th time since 1967. House leadership faces challenges in scheduling bills for consideration due to limited floor time, leading members like Steube to push for their priorities. Despite the uncommon nature of bringing a bill to the floor through a discharge petition, Steube is confident in broad bipartisan support for his legislation.
After the petition hits the threshold and notice is printed in the congressional record, there will be a waiting period before a vote can take place. Steube anticipates close to unanimous support from the entire House once the bill reaches the floor, regardless of whether it arrives through the discharge petition or leadership action. This move highlights the determination of Steube and his bipartisan colleagues to deliver long-awaited tax relief to Americans affected by various disasters. CNN’s Haley Talbot contributed to reporting on this development.
