GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s determination to force a vote on the ouster of House Speaker Mike Johnson promises to escalate into a major confrontation on the House floor next week.
“I think every member of Congress needs to take that vote and let the chips fall where they may and so next week, I am going to be calling this motion to vacate. Absolutely, calling it,” Greene announced.
Greene’s unyielding stance pits her against a Speaker who has vowed not to resign and against many in her own party who are wary of reigniting the disarray that followed the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. Despite her own party’s reluctance and the support Democrats have pledged to Johnson, Greene’s drive to vote remains unwavering.
“This motion is wrong for the Republican Conference, wrong for the institution, and wrong for the country,” Johnson stated, reinforcing his intent to withstand the challenge to his leadership.
House GOP leaders, aligned with Johnson, intend to swiftly counter Greene’s motion. With Democrats prepared to “vote to table Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Motion to Vacate the Chair,” the effort to dethrone Johnson appears destined to hit a wall.
Even among conservative circles, there is pushback against Greene’s approach. Rep. Ralph Norman, a conservative Freedom Caucus member, expressed dissent: “She had every right to do it, but it’s not the time.” Other colleagues, such as Rep. Marc Molinaro and Rep. Greg Pence, criticized Greene’s action as attention-seeking and counterproductive to more pressing issues.
In a dramatic gesture of defiance, Greene, at a news conference, donned a “Make Ukraine Great Again” hat on photos of Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, illustrating her disapproval of Johnson’s aid support for Ukraine.
Greene’s motion stems from conservative dissatisfaction with Johnson’s handling of major legislation, particularly a foreign aid package that included assistance to Ukraine. Despite this, Johnson has earned the backing of the Democratic caucus on certain key issues, complicating the political optics for Republicans.
House Minority Leader Jeffries did not commit Democrats to shield Johnson from repeated ouster attempts, though, stating, “We will take it one step at a time.”
Relevant articles:
– Marjorie Taylor Greene announces vote on Johnson’s ouster , The Atlanta Voice, 05/03/2024
– Republicans dismissive of Greene’s plan to oust House speaker, The Washington Post, 05/01/2024
– Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will force vote over Speaker Johnson’s ouster next week, CNN, 05/01/2024
– Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will force vote next week on ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson, CBS News, 05/01/2024
– Greene’s motion to vacate vote leaves conservatives with no easy options, The Hill, 05/02/2024