Clash in Congress: House censures Al Green over Trump address disruption

The House on Thursday voted to censure an unrepentant Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, for disrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress. “You have no mandate,” the Houston lawmaker said, shaking a cane and refusing an order from Johnson to “take your seat, sir!” Republicans acted quickly to rebuke Green with a censure resolution that officially registers the House's deep disapproval of a member’s conduct. Johnson tweeted before Thursday's vote that Green “disgraced the institution of Congress and the constituents he serves.” “He deliberately violated House rules, and an expeditious vote of censure is an appropriate remedy,” Johnson said. “There are people suffering in this country because they don’t have health care.” He concluded his remarks by saying, “on some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all.” Trump said last week about the state-federal health care program: “We’re not going to touch it.” Some Democratic lawmakers skipped Trump's address. With tensions clearly on the rise, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York had told colleagues beforehand that “it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber.” “I think Al Green was telling the truth,” said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif.