Speaker Mike Johnson is finding himself once again walking a tightrope between political reality and what can satisfy his right flank, as conservative hardliners staged a rebellion on the House floor Wednesday afternoon.
More than a dozen House Republicans joined all Democrats in sinking a procedural rule vote on the House floor Wednesday afternoon, the second rule vote defeat in Johnson’s 11-week tenure, and coming hours after a heated private GOP conference meeting where Johnson sought to discuss a deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on government funding.
It’s a challenge Johnson will face over and over again in the months ahead, but comes at a time when the speaker has even fewer votes than his predecessor and as Johnson has limited options on a spending deal that will need to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate and be signed by a Democratic president.
“We’re in a divided government. Anyone who thinks we are going to get more out of this deal is lying and they’re kidding themselves,” Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, said. “The speaker did the best he could under the circumstances and frankly our hand was weakened by the eight nitwits who removed Speaker McCarthy.”
The rule – which would have governed debate on two resolutions of disapproval for Biden administration rules – failed by a vote of 203-216, with 13 GOP members joining Democrats in killing it. The Republican nay votes comprised of most of the members of the House Freedom Caucus, who have railed against Johnson for the topline spending deal he made with Senate Democrats that largely mirrored the same deal cut by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and ultimately led to his ouster.
Rep. Bob Good, a Virginia Republican and leader of the House Freedom Caucus, warned hardliners are demanding additional spending cuts and a border security deal.
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