On Politics

Tue Apr 16 2024

Sudiksha Kochi | Congress, Campaigns and Democracy Reporter

@KochiSudiksha

Hey OnPolitics readers! House Speaker Mike Johnson's job is in danger after another conservative hardliner publicly supported removing him from his leadership post.

Shortly after unveiling a plan to deliver foreign aid to key U.S. allies, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., slammed the House speaker's proposal in meeting on Tuesday morning, announcing he would support an existing effort to oust Johnson, USA TODAY's Ken Tran reported. Conservative rabble-rouser Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., had already called on Johnson to step down from the top post.

❓What is Johnson saying about the commotion? Johnson at a weekly leadership news conference, was defiant and said he will not resign. "It is in my view an absurd notion someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our job," he said.

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❌ What is a motion to vacate? It is a procedural vote to remove the speaker of the House and puts Johnson's job in jeopardy, as Republicans control the House with a razor-thin majority and conservative ire continues to grow at the embattled speaker. Greene already introduced a motion to vacate, though it hasn't moved forward in the halls of Congress.

♟️ Possible moves: Greene and Massie alone could oust Johnson if all Democrats join them to remove the speaker as they did last year. Democrats this time however, could rescue Johnson from right-wing fury depending on how Johnson presents foreign aid to allies including Ukraine and Israel.

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