This essay was posted on 4/9/2025.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker made history with his 25-hour Senate speech pointing out how Donald Trump is making mincemeat out of Constitutional limits on the President. To make matters worse, Trumps mostly illegal federal cuts are harming citizens in all states, red and blue.
Detractors have questioned the value of Booker’s effort by wondering what he actually accomplished. Technically, Booker’s main accomplishment was a one-day delay in Senate business, but his effort marks a more important milestone.
Concurrent with Booker’s speech, nine House Republicans joined Democrats to allow House members to vote by proxy. As a result, Speaker Johnson pushed back all voting until Monday. The main significance in this issue involves the nine Republicans enabled the Democrats to get their way, at least for now. Usually, the number of Republicans voting against their party is not enough to make a difference, until now.
The same thing happened in the Senate a day later. Four Senate Republicans joined Democrats to pass a resolution rejecting Trump’s tariffs against Canada.
Cory Booker’s speech marks a change in Congress that is essential if Congressional members hope to regain their power and influence. Will either of these votes make a difference? Probably not. Will they be repeated in the future? I hope so.