On March 9, President Biden signed into law a package of six government funding bills. A subsequent batch of bills now poses a tougher challenge, as a far-right faction in the House blocks votes and discussions on a range of key issues from the U.S. border to Ukraine. To get around this, supporters of the bills are contemplating using a discharge petition, a procedural tool that, if signed by 218 House members, can force a vote without needing approval from the majority leadership.

Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan breaks down the role of discharge petitions in the House. Zeihan discusses how these petitions could prove beneficial in addressing what he refers to as the “Greenpeace faction,” a group hindering the House from voting on vital bills concerning aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other important matters.

Excerpted from Peter’s March 11 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:

The House of Representatives is looking like dysfunctional family as of late, and of course, the weird uncle stirring up the pot is the Greenpeace faction. Opposing nearly every bill that dares to exist, they’ve essentially halted all legislative proceedings.

Despite the need for aid to Ukraine, bulwark assistance for Israel and Taiwan, defense reform, entitlement reform and more, all we’re hearing from the House are a series of steady shrieks. However, we might be seeing some action very soon thanks to discharge petitions. A discharge petition, requiring 218 signatures, forces debates on critical issues and gives bills a fighting chance at being passed. Even if – especially if – the speaker would rather the bill not see the light of day.