As conservative hardliners staged an insurrection in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson once again found himself walking a tightrope between political reality and what would satisfy his right wing.
On Wednesday afternoon, more than a dozen House Republicans joined all Democrats in rejecting a procedural rules vote in the full House. It was Johnson’s second rules vote defeat in his 11-week term, and came hours after a heated closed-door Republican meeting in which he tried to discuss policy. Agreed with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on government funding.
It’s a challenge that Mr. Johnson will face many times in the coming months, but the chairman has received even fewer votes than his predecessor and he has no control over a spending deal that must pass through the Democratic-controlled Senate. This is an issue when options are limited. And it must be signed by a Democratic president.
“We are in a divided government. Anyone who thinks they stand to gain more from this deal is lying and kidding themselves,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-New York. . “The Speaker did the best he could under the circumstances, but we were weakened by the eight thugs who frankly removed Speaker McCarthy from office.”
The rule, which would have dominated debate over two resolutions of disapproval of the Biden administration’s rule, failed on a 203-216 vote, with 13 Republicans joining Democrats in rejecting the rule. One of the 13 people was Rep. Blake Moore of Utah, who on behalf of Republican leadership asked them to change their vote to “no” and postpone the vote again to a later date.
The remaining Republican opposition votes, made up mostly of members of the House Freedom Caucus, ensured that the spending agreement Mr. Johnson reached with Senate Democrats is roughly the same as that reached by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. and ultimately criticized Mr. Johnson. led to his expulsion.
Rep. Bob Good, a Virginia Republican and leader of the House Freedom Caucus, warned that hardliners are demanding additional spending cuts and a border security deal.
“We say we cannot accept the announced deal, which does not secure our borders, does not cut spending, and is expected to be passed with a clear Democratic majority and rules suspended. ,” Good said.
Johnson also faced backlash during a closed-door briefing on Wednesday morning, which he announced Sunday would provide the government with $1.59 trillion in funding, while reprogramming about $70 billion into non-defense programs. It was the first opportunity to discuss spending in a plenary session since the announcement. .
“There needs to be more communication in conferences. Mike Johnson is not working for (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer or the White House,” said Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. said. “He needs to work with our conference on the deals that are being finalized.”
During the meeting, Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican and chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee, spoke about why he agreed to allow so-called “side deals” and why he didn’t. I had an exchange with the chairman. T claimed that $1.59 trillion is the upper limit. Mr. Jordan also argued that a one-year continuing resolution would have put him in a better position because the cuts would have automatically started to save money.
Another Republican from Ohio, Rep. Warren Davidson, left the meeting early, accusing the leadership of “inciting” him.
Asked whether Johnson should be fired over the spending agreement, Davidson quipped: “He should never have been hired.”
Following Wednesday’s failed vote, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was confident of staying in office despite outrage from conservatives.
“I don’t think I’m in danger of being ‘fired.’ It’s not something I walk around or think about,” Johnson said on Fox News.
Mr. Johnson argued that given Republicans’ slim majority, they could not get everything they wanted in the negotiations.
“We have a two-vote lead, but only one chamber,” he said.
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Schumer reached an agreement on the spending top line over the weekend, but there is still work to be done before Congress can pass a spending deal for the cash-strapped agency on January 19. Important work remains.
Negotiators still need to figure out where to put the money and craft legislation, as some conservatives have pushed for additional policy riders that Democrats have warned could hurt the deal. . Senate leaders raised the prospect Tuesday that the process could take longer than lawmakers are taking and that short-term spending agreements may be needed to fill the gap. I warned you that
Republican Leader John Thune on Tuesday hinted at a short-term spending bill through March, warning that “it’s going to take some time.”
On Wednesday, a South Dakota senator expressed frustration with the state of affairs in the House of Representatives, warning that at some point the House will have to govern.
“They’re going to have to figure out a way to get their work done over there because at some point they’re going to have to give the government money,” Thun said. “That starts with the House being able to do business, and of course passing rules in the Rules Committee and on the floor is absolutely essential to that.”
The appropriators say they can work faster than the March deadline, but in just a few legislative days they need just a few days to close deals, write legislation, get appropriations and get bills passed in the House and Senate. may be impossible.
“There’s a risk of making a federal mistake here,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democratic appropriator from Hawaii, of acting too hastily.
Although Johnson has said in the past that he does not want another short-term spending bill, he did not rule it out on Wednesday, warning that it was important to complete the spending process.
“I’m not ruling out anything other than getting these spending done, and we’re going to work on something,” he told reporters Wednesday after a heated meeting on the topic. Told.
Further complicating matters for the speaker is calls from his right wing to force border security issues as part of a spending showdown. The issue has already jeopardized the future of additional legislation to provide security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. And the House and Senate appropriations committees are warning against bringing thorny political issues into the spending battle for fear of triggering a government shutdown.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican appropriation lawmaker from Florida, told CNN: “All of a sudden (hardliners) are going to link border security to something that no one has ever talked about before, just to criticize the speaker. “We are doing so,” he said. . “Border security is essential. I think the biggest use we have is supplements.”
Although many conservatives were unhappy with Johnson, they did not say he should not hold office. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the effort to oust Mr. McCarthy last fall, said Mr. Johnson’s deal was “insufficient,” but when asked if he should remain speaker, Mr. Gaetz said: Stated. Mike Johnson will never be replaced by someone much more liberal. ”
“I do not believe that a motion to resign is the appropriate tool at this time,” Gaetz said. “It was the right move while McCarthy was on the back foot, but Johnson is at least honest.”
Asked if he had confidence in Johnson, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said only, “It’s a tough job.”
This story was updated with additional developments Wednesday.
CNN’s Haley Talbot and Kristin Wilson contributed to this report.
