House Republicans turn on one another as they debate throwing Johnson over the ledge
By
Rachel Schilke
and
Cami Mondeaux
April 18, 2024 6:00 pm
.
While this year has proven to be a tumultuous time in Congress, House Republicans find themselves face to face with yet another chaotic showdown this week as the conference fractures over foreign aid and a possible motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
The release of Johnson’s four-pronged foreign aid plan combined with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) motion to vacate has tensions running high on Capitol Hill, resulting in louder and more public displays of infighting as the House GOP seeks a path forward without relying on Democrats to bail them out.
The Republican conference has been plagued by months of discourse, but it’s come to a head over the last few weeks during battles over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and now the foreign aid legislation to Ukraine, Israel, and other nations.
House Freedom Caucus members and their hard-right allies are on one side of the battle, calling on Johnson to call Democrats’ bluff and force them to move on border security. Members who typically get along with the hard-line caucus are reaching their limit, accusing their colleagues of caring more about fundraising and social media hits than governing.
Emotions ran high on Thursday when Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) got into a heated argument on the House floor that resulted in name-calling. Several members confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Johnson was meeting with House Freedom Caucus members and other hard-line GOP members, including Gaetz, when Van Orden came up to the group.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/2971329/house-republicans-turn-each-other-debate-throwing-johnson-ledge/
