Washington, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives is set to deliberate resolutions on Wednesday that seek to censure two of its most controversial members, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. These resolutions come amidst a widening partisan divide in the House and reflect the increasing use of severe punishments for inflammatory rhetoric.

If passed, the censure resolutions would serve as a formal rebuke to both lawmakers, placing them one step below expulsion from the House. The votes on these measures mark the first significant legislative action after a monthlong gridlock caused by the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as speaker.

Rep. Greene introduced the initial censure resolution against Rep. Tlaib, accusing her of engaging in "antisemitic activity." This accusation stemmed from Tlaib's expression of concern regarding the United States' role in supplying arms to Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas. Additionally, Greene falsely claimed that Tlaib had led an insurrection at the Capitol complex during a pro-Gaza rally organized by Jewish advocacy groups.

In response to Greene's resolution, House Democrats, led by Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont, introduced their own resolution to censure Greene due to her alleged record of "racist rhetoric and conspiracy theories." Balint condemned Greene's resolution against Tlaib as an "overt Islamophobic attack" on the only Palestinian-American member of Congress.

The House is expected to vote on both resolutions on Wednesday evening, as Speaker Mike Johnson takes the reins of the House following his recent election to the position. However, the ultimate outcome of these votes remains uncertain.

The growing use of censure resolutions highlights the deepening division within the House, as penalties traditionally reserved for the most egregious wrongdoing are now being employed in a strikingly partisan manner. While the censure itself carries no practical effect, it leaves a lasting mark on a lawmaker's career.

The tactic of using privileged resolutions to force votes in the House, bypassing leadership and committees, has gained popularity. In a separate move, a group of Republicans from New York plans to push for a vote on expelling Rep. George Santos, who is currently facing federal prosecution on multiple charges.

Should the resolutions against Tlaib and Greene succeed, they would join a small but growing list of lawmakers from the past two decades who have faced censure. Former Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California was censured by Republicans for comments he made about investigations into former President Donald Trump's Russia ties. Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona was censured in 2021 for posting a controversial animated video on social media, while Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York faced censure in 2010 for financial and campaign misconduct.

In recent years, the House has also taken action to punish members by stripping them of committee assignments. Rep. Ilhan Omar, the other Muslim member of Congress, was removed from her committee assignment on Foreign Affairs earlier this year over her rhetoric on Israel. Likewise, Greene faced consequences as the Democratic majority revoked all her committee appointments in 2021 due to her propagation of hateful and violent conspiracy theories.

As the House returns to normal legislative business after the internal turmoil, these censure resolutions highlight the challenges Speaker Johnson faces in controlling the House floor. The outcome of these votes will not only shape the careers of Tlaib and Greene but will also serve as a reflection of the current political climate in Congress.