'Running out of time': Republicans warn spending deal could result in Johnson’s ouster

11 Jan 2024, 16:50 by https://www.facebook.com/17108852506 · AlterNet

House Speaker Mike Johnson in in Las Vegas in October 2023 (Gage Skidmore)
Alex Henderson
January 11, 2024Bank

No matter how much former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) attacked President Joe Biden and defended former President Donald Trump, he was never MAGA enough for far-right Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) — whose "motion to vacate" led to McCarthy being ousted from that position. McCarthy's cardinal sin, according to Gaetz and his allies, was his willingness to work with Biden on spending agreements — the type of agreements that, according to The Hill's Emily Brooks, could result in now-Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) being ousted as well.

Brooks, in an article published on January 11, reports, "Conservative outrage over the top-line spending deal negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is fueling speculation over whether he could meet the same fate as his predecessor and have his gavel yanked away…. The top-line spending deal is largely in line with the spending caps and side-spending agreement struck as part of the debt limit deal negotiated by ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year — which fueled a full-on rebellion by hardline conservatives."

Brooks notes that during a January 9 appearance on right-wing Iowa radio host Steve Deace's podcast, Rep. Chip Roy was open to the possibility of ousting Johnson.

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Roy told the host, "If they totally botch it, we get no policy reforms, and we spend $1.66 trillion, I don't know why we would keep him as speaker. I'm leaving it on the table. I'm not going to say I'm going to file it tomorrow. I think the speaker needs to know that we're angry about it."

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) told The Hill that "a lot of people are talking about" ousting Johnson as speaker but said he isn't in favor of that "yet."

Burchett added, "I'd say just give him a little time, but we're running out of time."

Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) threatened to oust Johnson during an appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast.

Greene told Bannon, "Every day Mike Johnson gets closer and closer to this deal brings me closer and closer to vacating the chair because I have absolutely had it."

Rep. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) expressed frustration with Johnson as well, telling The Hill, "Before we could even get together, he announced the terms of the surrender…. He should have never been hired."

Read Emily Brooks' full report for The Hill at this link.

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