House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ staff on Wednesday night blocked an effort to sidestep Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote on a bipartisan bill that would restore collective bargaining rights for thousands of federal workers, according to four people granted anonymity to describe the sensitive matter.
House leadership has stalled on scheduling a vote for the “Protect America’s Workforce Act” since it was introduced in April. Lawmakers have introduced a discharge petition that would allow the bill to immediately get a floor vote if 218 people sign on.
But Jeffries’ staff stopped the newly confirmed Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) from signing the petition on Wednesday. An aide pulled Grijalva aside moments before she approached the clerk’s desk to add her name, according to a video of the House floor reviewed by POLITICO.
Two of the people, who were granted anonymity to share private details, said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) was poised to sign on if Grijalva did — a move that would have given the petition the numbers needed to advance. But Democrats privately argue that Lawler only wants to attach his name to the effort if he can be the 218th and decisive supporter, allowing him to claim credit as a pro-union Republican.
