Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated with House Speaker Mike Johnson amid the $1.2 trillion spending package released by congressional leaders early Thursday morning, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill discussed the potential for removing Johnson with Newsweek.
Lawmakers have only Friday, until the clock strikes midnight, to pass the six-bill package, known as a minibus, to avoid a partial government shutdown. Several hard-right GOP members, however, have spoken out against the measure, arguing that the package was “drafted in secrecy” and that lawmakers do not have sufficient time to review the 1,012-page document before it is called to a vote.
Speaking with Newsweek on Capitol Hill Thursday, a handful of Republicans discussed the possibility of retaliating against Johnson over issues with the minibus, including Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. When asked by reporters if there were plans to “punish” the speaker, Greene mentioned the group of eight congressman who in the fall voted to remove then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
“The eight that were so self-righteous and, you know, worked up about rules,” Greene said. “Those are the ones you should be asking.”
A small group of GOP lawmakers joined Democrats in October to oust McCarthy over a variety of issues with the California Republican, namely how he moved priority spending bills through the chamber and his willingness to work across the aisle to pass packages in order to avoid a government default.
Greene added while speaking with Newsweek that she thought the minibus released earlier this week was “pathetic” and that voters “should be angry.”
“I’m angry about it. I think it’s a complete failure,” she continued. “And it’s a total departure from where we started this Congress.”
Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett, however, downplayed the possibility of bring a vote of no confidence against Johnson over issues with the minibus, telling Newsweek that he didn’t think such conversations were “serious.”
“It’s just the stuff that people hate about this place,” he added.
President Joe Biden has said that he plans to sign the bill if it passes both chambers of Congress, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the agreement “good news that comes in the nick of time.”
Johnson also praised part of the spending bill that boosts spending for the Department of Homeland Security and slashes funds for the IRS.
“Overall, during the FY24 appropriations process, House Republicans have achieved significant conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals, and imposed substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs while strengthening border security and national defense,” Johnson said in a statement shortly after the package was released.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, the conservative House Freedom Caucus assailed the “Johnson-Schumer-Biden” bill and announced plans to hold a press conference on the minibus Friday morning.
“This 1,000-plus page spending bill was presented to members less than 36 hours before the vote, breaking the House Rule that requires members to have 72 hours to review major legislation,” the statement read. “It spends $5.5 Million per word, fully funds and continues the Biden border crisis, and it is loaded with radioactive ‘woke’ earmarks—all of which is owned by anyone voting for this bill.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.