[guest post by Dana]

This afternoon:

The House on Wednesday voted 252-175 to create an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but the bill faces a different landscape in the Senate, where it needs at least 10 Republicans and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opposes it.

Republican opposition coalesced against the bipartisan legislation hours before the House vote, which passed largely along party lines. There were 35 GOP House members who voted in favor of the bill.

…

The House can pass the bill with only Democratic support and is expected to do so Wednesday, but at least 10 Republicans are needed in the Senate.

Rep. Tim Ryan directed his ire at Republican lawmakers during the debate portion, making a solidpoint:

“Benghazi — you guys chased the former Secretary of State all over the country, spent millions of dollars,” Ryan said, referring to Hillary Clinton. “We have people scaling the Capitol, hitting the Capitol Police with lead pipes across the head and we can’t get bipartisanship. What else has to happen in this country?”

He added, “We need two political parties in this country that are both living in reality and you ain’t one of them!”

Reminder: More than 440 people have been charged so far with participating in the attack, which left five dead.

Absolutely spot-on from Rep. Peter Meijer:

There is no replacement for an independent, bipartisan commission with a mandate to produce a definitive public report to clear away the myths & fictions & get right on the facts. We must have accountability for what occurred on Jan. 6 to move on & heal as a nation. (2/2)

— Rep. Peter Meijer (@RepMeijer) May 19, 2021

The Republican Party should fill its ranks with Peter Meijers. Unafraid, and willing to stand by his vote because right is right, even if will cost him down the line.

–Dana

Courage:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republicans on Wednesday that he is opposed to an independent commission investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection as envisioned by the House.

McConnell had signaled on Tuesday that he was undecided but came down more firmly after another day of deliberations, according to a person with direct knowledge of his remarks. The Kentucky Republican’s stance casts serious doubt on the future of legislation creating a bipartisan commission on the Capitol riot — a bill set to pass the House later Wednesday — if major changes aren’t made.

The article does not say what the “major changes” are but I suspect the necessary changes include whatever Donald Trump says.

You can find the story at the link but I won’t link Politico directly and there is no cached page.