A slow but important week for Congress, as the House addresses the issue of police brutality and DC statehood.

Very partisan happenings the last week of June on Capitol Hill. Sixteen votes and every one of them party line. Steil voted with the Republicans 15 of 16 times.

(I have sent this letter to my representatives in the US Congress, I have decided to post it here because I believe that the message goes beyond just my own representatives, but to everyone that represents our interests in government. I have changed some of the formatting for Vocal, but the message remains the same. If you agree with my message then please share it. We live in dark times, but that only means we must shine the light much brighter. Let your voice be heard. Let our voice be heard. // Namaste - Ju <3)

In memory is where many of us can escape the surrealness of now. For a nation that was founded by the guiding principles of Liberty, Justice, Education, and Morality have all withered by the decay of corruption, deceit, and greed of those who we entrusted to do the publics good. From humble beginnings of a fledging nation to the harsh realities of today the American public have been grossly misled. While some Presidents and members of Congress thought they were moving the country in the right direction only to have the public ill prepared for the consequences of their actions have had lasting effects on every American. Some of those actions taken were designed to deceive the public and entrench a ruling class elite.

Since we are wrapping up Bryan Steil’s first year in the House, it seems like a good time for a review. So here are the top votes for each month, to give you a feel for Steil’s record.

Let’s start with the obvious news of the week: At 8:32 PM Eastern Standard Time on December 18, Donald Trump became the third US President to be impeached by the House of Representatives. The first article, regarding Trump’s quid pro quo deal with the Ukranians, passed 230 to 197, with only two Democrats (Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew) voting no. Every single Republican sided with Donald Trump. The second article, regarding obstruction of Congress, passed 229 to 198, with Peterson, Van Drew and Jared Golden of Maine against. Every single Republican voted in favor of allowing the President to hinder a congressional investigation.

The big vote during the second week of December was on HR 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. As the title suggests, the bill is designed to lower consumer drug prices by forcing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices. Steil joined all but two other Republicans (Fitzpatrick and Herrera Beutler, frequent dissenters) in voting against lower drug prices for consumers. (RC 682, Dec 12)

United States citizens are tired of the dog and pony show coming from our capital. Day after day members of the Republican Party show themselves to be more loyal to Donald Trump than the American people. How do these elected officials look at themselves in the mirror or sleep at night? The current commander in chief has never held a political office before. He is running the country the same way he has run businesses. Seeking the help of foreign governments to help him win in 2016 and again in 2020 is dirty pool but it’s the way the Donald had always done business. We really can’t fault him for being who he is. Those on Capital Hill who are enabling him have been in Washington for decades, and they know better.

Other than the Judiciary Committee starting hearings that are almost certain to end with articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, it was a relatively slow week in Congress. There were only 12 votes this week, but eight of them were party line.

It was a fairly slow week for Congress. Only fifteen votes, and five of those on noncontroversial bills.

Obviously the big news of the week is that the House made the impeachment of Donald Trump official, setting up the rules for further proceedings. It was a party line vote, 232 to 196, with only two Democrats (Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Dan Drew of New Jersey) voting against. Steil and every other Republican voted against the investigation. (RC 603 and 604, H Res 660, October 31). Rep. Steil always answered at his party's call this week, going 21 for 21 on party-line votes.