Scoop: House Democrats call Mike Johnson's bluff on campus antisemitism

Scoop: House Democrats call Mike Johnson’s bluff on campus antisemitism

House Democrats are challenging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to cracking down on campus antisemitism, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: House Republicans held a vote on an antisemitism bill last week that Democrats complained was inadequate to address the issue and geared toward dividing the left.

Driving the news: Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) is introducing another bill, first obtained by Axios, to provide $280 million to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

• The office is in charge of enforcing federal laws against discrimination at schools, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
• The bill has seven co-sponsors: Reps. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) and André Carson (D-Ind.).

The intrigue: Funding for the office was cut by 25% in the federal spending bill Congress passed in March, from $140 million in fiscal year 2023 to $105 million in 2024.

What they’re saying: “Far too many Jews are feeling the need to hide once again, especially students on college campuses across America,” Goldman, who is Jewish, said in a statement.

• “In this pivotal moment, it is absolutely critical that we do everything we can to drive out hate in all its forms — from our schools, from our cities, and from our nation.”

Zoom out: House Republicans are planning a multi-committee effort to target college antisemitism as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue at universities across the country.

• Johnson has also floated other punitive legislative efforts, such as eliminating tax breaks for colleges and stripping student visas.
• Democrats have argued that legislation such as Manning’s bill to create a nation antisemitism coordinator warrants consideration under this effort, to no avail.

Between the lines: Democrats are trying to seize the initiative from Republicans on college antisemitism as members of the party grow worried about the campus protests blowing back on them politically.

• Republicans have promised to hit Democrats on the issue through ads as the 2024 election heats up.
• The Senate companion bill to Goldman’s was introduced by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), one of several vulnerable Democratic incumbents up for re-election this cycle.

Reality check: Johnson’s office did not respond to questions about whether the bill would get a vote. But one House Republican close to the speaker said there is a “0%” chance it’s put on the floor.

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