Republicans Voice Support for Speaker Johnson After MTG’s Move to Oust Him
Some Republicans have expressed assist for Home Speaker Mike Johnson after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a movement to oust him.
Numerous Republicans have come out in assist of Home Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in response to a transfer by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) demanding his ouster.
Ms. Greene filed a movement to vacate on March 22, in search of to oust Mr. Johnson from his management position in frustration over a $1.2 trillion spending bundle Congress handed to keep away from a shutdown.
“There’s not a time restrict on this, it doesn’t should be compelled,” she mentioned. “However I’m not saying that it received’t occur in two weeks, or it received’t occur.”
Mr. Johnson’s predecessor, former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), was toppled from the place in October 2023 as a consequence of a movement to vacate.
In response to Ms. Greene’s movement, a number of Republicans expressed their backing for Mr. Johnson.
‘I Stand With Mike Johnson’
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) took to social media to make a case for “why each Republican ought to assist” Mr. Johnson, whom he referred to as a “deeply principled” man.
“I stand with Mike Johnson,” Mr. Higgins continued, including that Mr. Johnson is “perhaps the one man” able to main the GOP by means of “darkish and difficult occasions” with a slim, one-vote majority within the Home and a Democrat-controlled Senate and White Home.
Mr. Higgins referred to as on his GOP colleagues to “unanimously oppose” the movement to vacate.
Different Republicans mentioned they wouldn’t assist Ms. Greene’s movement to vacate, although some, like Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), expressed frustration with Mr. Johnson’s dealing with of the federal government funding invoice.
“I don’t suppose it’s the fitting time” to push for Mr. Johnson’s ouster, Mr. Burchett, instructed reporters Friday afternoon. He warned {that a} untimely bid to take away a Republican speaker might hand Democrats a win in an election yr.
“If we did it proper now we’d elect [Democratic Leader] Hakeem Jeffries as speaker,” he mentioned.
Forward of Friday’s vote, Mr. Gaetz mentioned that when he moved to oust Mr. McCarthy, he “made a promise to the nation that we’d not find yourself with a Democrat speaker.”
Some had sturdy phrases of criticism for Ms. Greene over her transfer.
Whereas Mr. Johnson hasn’t addressed the controversy surrounding Ms. Greene’s movement, his spokesperson mentioned he’s attuned to the considerations of his fellow Republicans.
“Speaker Johnson all the time listens to the considerations of members, however is targeted on governing,“ spokesperson Raj Shah mentioned in a press release to some media retailers. ”He’ll proceed to push conservative laws that secures our border, strengthens our nationwide protection and demonstrates how we’ll develop our majority.”
In the meantime, some Democrats mentioned they’d vote to avoid wasting Mr. Johnson from being toppled.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) instructed CNN on March 22 that he would vote to maintain Mr. Johnson within the prime job within the Home and urged his fellow Democrats to do the identical.
“I don’t assist Speaker Johnson, however I’ll by no means stand by and let [Ms. Greene] take over the individuals’s Home,” he mentioned.
Greene’s Movement to Vacate
Ms. Greene filed the movement to vacate as members of the Home voted to fund the remaining 70 % of the federal authorities by means of the remainder of the fiscal yr.
The funding bundle, comprising six appropriations payments, was launched on March 21, a day forward of the deadline to keep away from a partial authorities shutdown.
Regardless of opposition from many of the Home Republican convention, the measure handed beneath a suspension of the foundations in a 286–134 vote.
After the vote, Ms. Greene spoke to reporters exterior of the Capitol, revealing that she had filed the movement.
“This can be a betrayal of the American individuals. This can be a betrayal of the Republican voters,” she mentioned, including that her goal in submitting the movement was to not “throw the Home into chaos.”
“Committees will proceed doing their work, investigations will proceed. … I assist Republicans holding the bulk subsequent convention, however we’d like a speaker of the Home that is aware of learn how to negotiate, is aware of learn how to stroll within the room, is aware of learn how to maintain the road, and is aware of learn how to defend America first and the values and the insurance policies that President Trump will deliver,” she mentioned.
Ms. Greene’s transfer recalled the tumultuous weeks that adopted Mr. McCarthy’s ouster.
With out a chair, no legislative work might be performed, and the GOP infighting in choosing a brand new speaker threatened to tear the social gathering aside.
Ms. Greene’s workplace confirmed to The Epoch Occasions that her movement was not privileged, which means that it’ll not require a flooring vote inside two legislative days.
“This isn’t private in opposition to Mike Johnson,” Ms. Greene mentioned. “He’s an excellent man and I’ve respect for him as an individual, however he isn’t doing the job. The proof is within the vote rely as we speak.”
The Epoch Occasions has contacted Mr. Johnson’s workplace for remark.
Jacob Burg, Samantha Flom, Joseph Lord, and Jackson Richman contributed to this report.