House Speaker Faces Possible Ouster
Author: Greg Valliere
April 17, 2024
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP: Only a half dozen Republican House members — perhaps less — may be enough to oust Mike Johnson as Speaker in the next few days. Johnson is moving legislation to aid Ukraine, Israel and others that is adamantly opposed by radicals who want to oust him if he seeks votes from Democrats.
THE PROSPECT OF FRESH CHAOS in the House grew yesterday when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene declared that she has the two votes needed to oust Johnson — a legacy from a deal last year to keep the House running. The exodus of nearly two dozen GOP House members this year has provided Greene with just enough votes to call for the ouster of any Speaker she disagrees with.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS are aghast and worried that the dysfunction will cost them control of the House this fall. They like and trust Johnson — and they agree almost unanimously that there’s no one available who’s a better option.
THE LATEST CRISIS EXPLODED MONDAY NIGHT when Johnson introduced a four-part national security bill, which includes $60 billion in new funds for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and $5 billion to bolster Indo-Pacific allies against Chinese threats.
JOHNSON PLANS TO ADD ANOTHER BILL including Republican national security priorities such as the seizure of Russian assets and a House-approved bill that could ban TikTok from the United States, among other measures. Provisions to tighten control of U.S. borders is not in the measure, which has angered the radicals.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS have issues with the bills, especially aid for Ukraine, which clearly doesn’t have enough support for passage. But Johnson apparently is willing to bring that bill and the others to the House floor later this week, with one very important twist: he would be willing to work with Democrats — and accept their votes — to get the bills passed.
THAT TACTIC HAS GENERATED THE UPROAR that threatens Johnson’s job. Is there a logical successor? Not that we can see. The inmates are close to capturing the asylum. Johnson said yesterday that an attempt to oust him “is not helpful to the cause, it is not helpful to the country, it does not help House Republicans advance our agenda.”
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