Led by the socialist 'Squad,' 174 House Dems oppose anti-terrorist and sexual predator amendment

A bipartisan coalition of House Republicans and some Democrats came together Thursday to pass an amendment to the "Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act" that would make it harder for the Transportation Security Agency to hire people who have been convicted of sexual assault, terrorism and other violent crimes, the Daily Caller reported.

However, 174 Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, voted against the common sense measure that was authored by one of their colleagues, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).

Leading the majority of House Democrats to oppose the amendment was the socialist "Squad," including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not cast a vote.

'The socialist wing' now controls the Democratic Party

Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted House Democrats for opposing the law and pointed out how it serves as another example that the Democratic Party has been hijacked by a Marxist cadre.

"[The amendment] was pulled back by leadership because the socialist wing of the party did not want to have that amendment go forward on this bill," the California congressman said, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

"When it was offered, overwhelmingly the majority of the House would like to see the TSA not hire terrorists or those who have been convicted of sexual misconduct with minors and others. But the socialist wing of the party, that controls now the Democratic Party, said that that could not be offered," he added.

The GOP was able to include the amendment in the final bill after 41 Democrats parted ways with their colleagues. A senior-level Republican staffer ripped Democrats who opposed the measure for following the extremists within their party in rejecting the law.

"It's no surprise that Democrat logic in 2020 means taking marching orders from Justice Democrats to give TSA the ability to hire the Harvey Weinsteins of the world," the staffer told the Free Beacon. "A 'second chance' for sex offenders shouldn't include patting down traveling families."

Why was this necessary?

Underwood's amendment was presented by Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Aziz.) in a motion to recommit, which is typically the final opportunity for the House to debate and amend a measure before a final vote is taken. In her support for the measure, Lesko cited multiple examples of sexual misconduct by TSA workers, including a Los Angeles screener who imprisoned and unclothed a female traveler.

"Fortunately, this offender was immediately fired by the TSA. However, under this bill … this predator could be on the federal payroll for months or even years," Lesko said. "We have two options today: Adopt the Underwood amendment and keep sexual predators off of the federal payroll, or reject it and reward sexual predators with a paycheck from the taxpayer."