[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7239-H7240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
                DEMOCRATS COULD STEAL A HOUSE SEAT AGAIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my 
colleagues that, in 1985, the Democrats in this House stole a seat, and 
they can do it again.
  The day after the election in 1984, Republican Rick McIntyre was 
ahead of incumbent Frank McCloskey by 34 votes. After the State's 
recount, McIntyre's lead grew to 418 votes. In the weeks following the 
election, McIntyre was certified the winner of Indiana's Eighth 
Congressional District.
  But come January 1985, House Democrats refused to seat the duly-
elected Member of Congress, Rick McIntyre. Instead, they sent a 
partisan task force to Indiana which then determined ballots not valid 
under Indiana law should have been counted. They changed the rules. 
Under the Democrats' new rules, McCloskey was now ahead by four votes.
  On May 1, 1985, the House voted to seat McCloskey. Ten Democrats 
joined every Republican in voting against seating him. This contest was 
dubbed the ``Bloody Eighth,'' and my Democrat colleagues are 
considering repeating this same battle this year in Iowa's Second 
District.
  Just as in 1985, they are about to change the rules of the game after 
the game has already been played. Democrats have been trying to do this 
in States throughout the 2020 cycle.
  After a thorough recount of votes in all 24 counties in Iowa's Second 
District, Mr. Speaker, and a unanimous bipartisan vote by Iowa's State 
Canvassing Board, Congresswoman-elect Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was 
declared the winner.
  Instead of challenging the certification that Dr. Miller-Meeks now 
has in her possession in court, the Democrat candidate has decided to 
skip that step and, instead, is going to ask Washington Democrats to 
overturn Iowa's voters. And the reason is because she couldn't win in 
court.
  But if Washington Democrats change the rules, she can. She can 
disregard the people of Iowa.
  Setting this precedent that you don't have to exhaust all of your 
options and prove your case in court, but that whatever party is in 
charge of the House can come in, change the rules, and determine the 
winner is a terrible precedent to set.
  I am hoping that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will 
think long and hard if they want a repeat of the Bloody Eighth, because 
there will come a time when the shoe is on the other foot.
  The Federal contest of 1985 eroded public trust in our elections and 
undermined the integrity of our election

[[Page H7240]]

process. I hope my colleagues will come to the same conclusion and 
decide to stand by the people of Iowa's Second Congressional District 
and seat Congresswoman-elect Mariannette Miller-Meeks on January 3.


                      Farewell to Congressman Clay

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I 
didn't congratulate you on leaving this great institution and making 
this institution a much better place for you serving with all of us.
  I have enjoyed our time together, flying back and forth from our 
districts, and I have enjoyed the friendship that you and I have been 
able to have over the last 8 years that we have served together.
  Mr. Speaker, you have done a great job representing the district in 
Missouri right across the river from mine, and our partnership is one 
that is bound not just in politics and not just in legislating, but in 
friendship. I am going to miss being here with you.
  This institution will be a better place, again, because of your 
service. We will all be at a loss without being able to go to you and 
ask you for your expertise, your guidance, and just having some fun.
  I am going miss you, my friend, but our institution's loss is your 
personal time and your family's gain, and I look forward to working 
with you in whatever the next endeavor is on your horizon. May God 
continue to bless you.

                          ____________________