It’s not often we suggest that the national government can learn something from West Virginia. This is not about vaccine distribution, although West Virginia has certainly set the gold standard in that regard. No, we are talking specifically about how to handle politicians who threaten the safety of our nation’s democracy.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today on whether to strip Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) of her committee assignments. The congressional newcomer is under the microscope for spreading conspiracy theories about the election, even encouraging people to show up in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6., and social media posts from before she was elected that encouraged violence against top Democrats, including responding to one commenter who asked if it was time to hang former President Obama by saying the “stage is being set.” Even members of the Republican party, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, called out her “looney lies” and said such behavior is a “cancer” on the party.
There may be talk later about expelling her from the House or other censure, but in the meantime, Greene sits on the Education and Labor and Budget committees.
So what can Congress learn from our Legislature?
That regardless of party affiliation, threats against democracy and fellow lawmakers must be taken seriously and handled accordingly.
When former Del. Derrick Evans (R-Wayne) filmed himself joining the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, the response from West Virginia citizens and lawmakers was swift. House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) immediately issued a statement condemning Evans’ actions and other delegates called for him not to be seated. A petition even circulated to have Evans removed, garnering more than 68,000 signatures at the time of this writing.
Evans, for his part, resigned after he was arrested and charged relating to his conduct at the Capitol. That was the most dignified and graceful action he could have taken.
Greene, on the other hand, has only doubled down on her conspiracy theories and continued claims that the 2020 election was stolen. She is unlikely to step down, and it’s doubtful efforts to remove her from the House will be successful. We would not go so far as to support disenfranchising the voters of her district by endorsing her removal. However, her behavior should not be rewarded with positions on important House committees.
Committee assignments are an honor and privilege — especially for a first time representative. But Greene’s belief in and amplification of conspiracy theories makes her a wild card with the potential to cause a lot of harm to our democratic systems. Giving the power of a committee position to someone who is so erratic isn’t a good idea, and Greene should be stripped of her committee assignments. And, given her firm belief that mass school shootings were staged and that she has been videoed harassing survivors, she doesn’t seem a good fit for the education committee anyway.
