AZ Rep. Eli Crane says its important Republicans have 'tough votes' so voters see where they stand

Arizona GOP Rep. Eli Crane said that when it comes to House Republicans having to vote on issues such as censuring Adam Schiff, it's good because it shows their constituents where they stand. 

"I'm glad to see members of the conference figuring out ways to make Republicans take tough votes," Crane said on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast. "Because of it, the pressure that got placed on those 20 people last week – you saw a different outcome today on the House floor."

The GOP-led House on Wednesday advanced a resolution to censure Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff for pushing the narrative that the 2016 Trump presidential campaign colluded with Russia, despite knowing it was untrue. 

Members plan to vote later in the day on the censure, which is expected to pass after failing last week. The first resolution failed in a 225-196 vote with 20 Republicans joining Democrats to table the resolution.

That resolution was proposed by Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and included a $16 million fine, which at least some of the 20 found too extreme and perhaps unconstitutional. 

Crane lauded the vote, even though it failed to pass, for pushing members of Congress to make a stand.

"There's a lot of Republicans and Democrats in the uni-party who can basically go back to their districts and gaslight their constituents about what they're really about and what they're really willing to fight on," Crane stated. "Because they're never forced to take a tough vote. Well, last week, you saw Republicans had to take a tough vote."

The new resolution does not include the fine, which supporters said was half the cost of the Trump-Russia investigation that Luna said was launched because of lies by Schiff, who was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. 

At least eight of the 20 dissenters have indicated they will support the new censure.

"We want accountability," Crane concluded. "We're tired of this two-tiered justice system. We're tired of people like Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi and others being able to basically do whatever they want and never are held accountable."