What would happen if 17 moderate republicans in Congress switched to Independents

[bigdarryl]

Just a though I was thinking even though these guys wouldn't do it because there to chicken and worried about getting primaried by a republican in there districts but it is a though.Congressmen and Senators can switch parties anytime they want.Would that mean the House switches back to the democrats or stay republican

[Bjorn Against]

1. They would have to decide who they were going to caucus with

If they all chose to caucus with Democrats control of the House would flip. That is unlikely to happen of course, I would not be at all surprised if one or two of them switch sides, seventeen is a big stretch though.

[KansDem]

2. Maybe Bernie Sanders could make an appeal?

A "Come over to our (my) side" kind of offer. Might appeal to those Republicans open to critical thought and reason.

[Kolesar]

4. O.P. hasn't studied civics ... eom

[Loudly]

3. How about just getting them to join in a discharge petition? n/t

[barbiegeek]

5. We need to start calling on this or starting petition for the offer

[Sunlei]

6. what would happen? republican votes who don't want 'the people' to know their partys shame?

republicans have to place a clean bill on the table. changing their name is just another republican waste of time, scam. Those chickens need to grow a pair.

[LynneSin]

7. Luckily for them most of them are in Moderate states

There's 21 now and there is one from Arkansas and one from Idaho. But the rest seem to come from moderate to blue states like New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania. The Tea Party appeal is starting to run low in those states and there could be a chance that congressional reps especially in NJ/NY could lose their general elections to Democrats.

[karynnj]

8. The 17 woukld have to both switch to Independent and caucus with the Democrats

That would make Pelosi Speaker of the House. In 2001, you had a similar thing happen when Senator Jeffords switched to Independent and caucused with the Democrats - changing the House from 50/50 - with Cheney voting for the Republicans to have the majority to 51/48 with Daschle as Majority Leader.


I suspect it would be difficult to get 17 to all change together and it is not worth the risk otherwise.

[Mz Pip]

9. I don't think it would make any difference now

Boehner would still have to call for a vote on the clean CR.

Down the road it might make a bit of difference.