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CousinIT

(12,633 posts)
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:23 PM 11 hrs ago

Heritage Foundation publishing an article on how the Republican Congress can refuse to seat Democrats

Nothing to worry about, just the Heritage Foundation publishing an article on how the Republican Congress can refuse to seat Democrats www.heritage.org/election-int...

Brendan Nyhan (@brendannyhan.bsky.social) 2026-04-22T20:23:25.048Z


https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/commentary/no-save-act-congress-still-holds-the-trump-card



21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Heritage Foundation publishing an article on how the Republican Congress can refuse to seat Democrats (Original Post) CousinIT 11 hrs ago OP
Won't there be a new Congress next year? Rstrstx 10 hrs ago #1
The goal here would be to prevent Democrats taking control of the House come January 3, 2027 (nt) AZJonnie 10 hrs ago #4
Yes...but angrychair 5 hrs ago #18
Yeah, I don't think that's the way any of this works AZJonnie 10 hrs ago #2
"They" are the Heritage Foundation. They dictate Republican policy. hedda_foil 9 hrs ago #9
I'm well aware of what the Heritage Foundation is AZJonnie 8 hrs ago #11
They create power as and when needed Dave says 5 hrs ago #20
I hear ya. In fact, back when the PuQ's were denying Grivala (sp?) her seat, I was saying here on DU AZJonnie 2 hrs ago #21
They are so foul! biophile 10 hrs ago #3
Heritage Foundation is a terrorist johnnyfins 10 hrs ago #5
They are a legitimate threat to democracy. Initech 8 hrs ago #13
Desperation. I don't think Speaker Jeffries will go for this scheme. Qutzupalotl 10 hrs ago #6
Effin Ter ra rists Clouds Passing 10 hrs ago #7
"Heritage" is their code word for "White Supremacist struggle4progress 10 hrs ago #8
What? DET 9 hrs ago #10
Hey Heritage Foundation, go shove it straight up your ass! Initech 8 hrs ago #12
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr proud patriot 7 hrs ago #14
The Heritage Foundation is a terrorist organization. spanone 7 hrs ago #15
I look forward to the day the Heritage Foundation Buns_of_Fire 6 hrs ago #16
Interesting MoseShrute 6 hrs ago #17
The problem is, a lot of GOPers arent going to show up Johonny 5 hrs ago #19

Rstrstx

(1,650 posts)
1. Won't there be a new Congress next year?
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:49 PM
10 hrs ago

If Democrats retake control of the House they’ll be the ones making the rules come Jan 3, and something tells me they won’t go along will nullifying elections. This strikes me as too clever by half.

AZJonnie

(3,831 posts)
4. The goal here would be to prevent Democrats taking control of the House come January 3, 2027 (nt)
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:51 PM
10 hrs ago

angrychair

(12,371 posts)
18. Yes...but
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 10:48 PM
5 hrs ago

I think what this article means is that in November/December that they can just declare enough states elections as bad that they retain control of the House and/or Senate and refuse to seat them.
I don't see how it would work long term but I think to e even seriously consider it as a proposal would trigger very bad outcomes.

AZJonnie

(3,831 posts)
2. Yeah, I don't think that's the way any of this works
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:50 PM
10 hrs ago

Obviously an opinion piece by someone who's opinion ain't worth jack.

"Congress" doesn't have this power.

hedda_foil

(16,998 posts)
9. "They" are the Heritage Foundation. They dictate Republican policy.
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 07:11 PM
9 hrs ago

Ever heard of Project 2025? Trump has executed most of it.

AZJonnie

(3,831 posts)
11. I'm well aware of what the Heritage Foundation is
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 08:19 PM
8 hrs ago

I'm not saying it's meaningless or not alarming that they published this opinion. But, not every single word that appears in their pubs reflects their official opinion, just as not everything in the NYT reflects that of the NYT editorial board. NYT publishes Op-Eds. The HF does similarly. Now, was this some sort of "guest essay"? I'm not sure, but just because it's in a HF publication doesn't mean it's an official HF stance. I'd like more detail on that question.

Luckily, even if the HF themselves THINK this actually is true, it's still bullshit. Congress doesn't have this power.

Dave says

(5,445 posts)
20. They create power as and when needed
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 11:30 PM
5 hrs ago

I really think they’ll try something like this. If it happens, any semblance to a democracy is gone. It’ll be over. Chaos will ensue. Maybe civil war.

AZJonnie

(3,831 posts)
21. I hear ya. In fact, back when the PuQ's were denying Grivala (sp?) her seat, I was saying here on DU
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 02:11 AM
2 hrs ago

That I bet they're doing it to test what happens, how people react if they just refuse to sit a Democrat who's been duly elected. See how long they can get away with it, who does what, etc. For the purpose of it being a trial run for next January when they get their asses kicked. I wouldn't doubt they'd consider TRYING it, esp. if it's like 1 state that makes the difference. But I think courts will say uh-uh. That ain't how it works. Even this SCOTUS won't go for it. It opens the door to Democrats doing the same thing, based on some excuse they've come up WRT to why a GQP victory is tainted. Like too few polling places or dropboxes or too many bomb threats from Russian operatives on election day or overly stringent ID requirements or whatnot.

None of this shit in the Constitution, and neither side would get away with it. Not in the end, anyway.

Not to mention none of the bullshit excuses this idiot writer is coming up with are things that actually happen anyway. 95% of people who get caught voting illegally are voting for the GQP. We just saw some red-state small city mayor get convicted of it earlier this week.

biophile

(1,480 posts)
3. They are so foul!
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:50 PM
10 hrs ago

We knew people whose daughter went to work for the Heritage Foundation after college. I told them
“don’t worry, she will find honest work someday”
But she might have leaned that way naturally- the father was German, I think , and could. have been a secret Nazi sympathizer.
We knew them from the girls (their daughters and my daughter) competing in model horse shows. I should have known where she would end up- she cheated in the horse shows. 🙄

johnnyfins

(3,876 posts)
5. Heritage Foundation is a terrorist
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:53 PM
10 hrs ago

Organization.

Make America White Again. Sorry guys, you already lost. You just have not realized it yet.

Qutzupalotl

(15,840 posts)
6. Desperation. I don't think Speaker Jeffries will go for this scheme.
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 05:58 PM
10 hrs ago

(I expect a wipeout, including from in-person voting states.)

DET

(2,544 posts)
10. What?
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 07:29 PM
9 hrs ago
Congress could require new elections when voting rolls are not properly purged.

Yeah, that sounds fair.

Initech

(108,977 posts)
12. Hey Heritage Foundation, go shove it straight up your ass!
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 08:31 PM
8 hrs ago

When we fire the turd, you'll be next!

Buns_of_Fire

(19,188 posts)
16. I look forward to the day the Heritage Foundation
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 09:49 PM
6 hrs ago

is burnt to the ground, with the ashes salted over.

MoseShrute

(134 posts)
17. Interesting
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 09:50 PM
6 hrs ago

If I recall correctly, the vast majority of fraud committed in recent elections was from repukes.

Johonny

(26,381 posts)
19. The problem is, a lot of GOPers arent going to show up
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 11:19 PM
5 hrs ago

Come November. Holding the house is a pretty mythical thing when you're basically moving to year new career after losing in Novmber. I assume the GOP will have few days after Christmas where they have a majority on the floor.

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