during the weekly Republican program. At Tuesday morning’s meeting, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) stood up and raised the fee and signed Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s plan (known as the motion) to remove Mr. Johnson from office. After making the announcement, he called on Mr Johnson to resign. Leave it empty.
That means if Democrats choose not to bail out Johnson, Republicans would need a simple majority to oust a second speaker within six months, further throwing the House into chaos in an election year when majority control is at stake. It turns out.
In a private conversation “a few weeks ago,” Massey told the speaker that if a motion to remove him from office was introduced on the floor and Democrats didn’t help bail him out, Republicans would say “we will.” He said he had warned him that he would be successful in removing him from the chair.What should we steer everything toward? [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer wants it. ”
“A motion will be called, okay? Does anyone doubt that? A motion will be called, but in that case he will lose more votes than Mr. Kevin McCarthy.” Massey said, referring to the former Republican chairman who lost the gavel in October when eight Republicans joined all Democrats.
“I have no intention of resigning,” Johnson said at a press conference on Tuesday, calling the threat “ridiculous” as Republicans “try to do their job.”
“We need stable leadership. We need a firm grip on the wheel,” he said. “You know, I consider myself a wartime speaker.”
For months, Johnson has delayed a decision on a $95 billion Senate-passed national security grant that would provide military aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. He is trying to thread a delicate needle by funding Ukraine, a divisive issue in the conference, and trying to appease some on the right.
However, his efforts remained largely flat. He falls far short of the Republican votes needed to pass a procedural vote, known as the rules for considering a bill. Some Republicans are angry that Johnson’s plan does not include border security measures, even though they have said for months that border security is a top priority. But Mr Johnson suggested his own proposals could change. Republicans had the opportunity to consider a tough bipartisan border security bill earlier this year, but it was defeated.
This means he faces a dual threat to both his job and a major foreign aid bill. Johnson stands to lose only two Republicans on either issue. That majority will be reduced to just one vote after Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) resigned by the close of business Friday.
The effort to remove Johnson, if Green goes ahead, is sure to further divide an already divided conference that is proving extremely difficult to manage. House Republicans already ousted one speaker last year and are struggling to pass legislation.
“The last thing this country needs is to get rid of the speaker. But while I don’t agree with his actions…I don’t want this country to go through that,” said a member of the Extreme Party. said one Rep. Ralph Norman (R.S.C.). said the Right House Freedom Caucus.
Green can make a motion to leave at any time. You must vote within 48 hours.
If Ms. Greene receives at least two Republican votes to defeat Mr. Johnson, Democrats will be critical to preserving the Speaker’s job. They voted en masse to expel Mr. McCarthy, along with eight other Republicans, helping to weaken Mr. McCarthy’s chairmanship.
Democrats have said they will help pass rules to consider foreign aid measures, but only if the measures are identical to policies approved by the Senate. They express similar sentiments about Mr Johnson’s job being saved if he passes a strong foreign aid bill.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D.N.Y.) told the Democratic caucus Tuesday morning that Democrats support a bill that is “a penny less” than what is currently in the Senate’s Humanitarian Relief Act. He said he would not. Democrats are waiting to see the text of the bill, which reportedly includes $9 billion in humanitarian aid, the same amount as the Senate bill, before announcing a path forward. Republican aides confirmed that humanitarian assistance is expected to be included in the bill.
“We’ve been very clear, and Leader Jeffries has been clear, that all options should remain on the table. It’s what’s in the bill that matters. What’s in the bill is what matters,” said the Democratic caucus member. said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
