Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) does not regret interrupting President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday.
Green stood and pointed his cane at Trump, as IJR reported on. One of Green’s rallying points was protesting potential cuts to Medicaid.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) asked Green to be escorted out and now Republicans are seeking to censure the 77-year-old Democrat.
Green explained his actions Wednesday.
“And still I rise, and I rise to explain why I did what I did,” he said. “And I did it with intentionality. The president indicated that he had a mandate. I said to the president, ‘You do not have a mandate to cut Medicaid.’ I have constituents who need Medicaid. They will suffer, and some will die if they don’t get Medicaid.”
The lawmaker added he heard Johnson tell him to sit, but “I did not and I did not with intentionality.”
Green continued, saying he is ready to face the consequences of his actions.
“I don’t believe in the richest country in the world people should be without good healthcare. I stood up for my constituents then. I’m standing up for my constituents now,” he said. “Friends, I would do it again. I have to be candid with you.”
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) spoke out against Wednesday’s proceedings.
He said the Republicans’ “sprint to the floor to censure Al Green because he hurt Trump’s feelings. It is pathetic.”
CBS News reported Thursday that the House voted to reprimand Green.
The vote was 224 to 198 vote with 10 Democrats and all Republicans voting in favor of the censure. Green, the 28th lawmaker to be censured in the House. He was ordered to stand in the well of the House as the resolution was read.
