Tensions Mount Against House Speaker Johnson

In the House of Representatives, there has been a growing movement among some Republican members to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position. This movement has gained additional momentum with Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky announcing his support for a resolution initially brought forward by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia.

Representative Massie expressed his dissatisfaction with Speaker Johnson’s leadership, particularly criticizing the direction of foreign aid packages which, according to him, seem to align more with the preferences of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer rather than those of the Republican conference. Massie’s discontent stems from three key areas: the recent spending bills, the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allows for warrantless surveillance of foreign nationals within the United States, and the ongoing financial aid to Ukraine.

This week, Speaker Johnson announced his plans to introduce four separate bills focusing on foreign aid, including support for Israel and Ukraine. Both Senator Schumer and the White House have shown potential support for Johnson’s proposals.

During a closed meeting with Republican House members, Representative Massie confronted Speaker Johnson, asking him to resign. Johnson refused, stating his intent to continue in his role. Massie suggested that Johnson should consider announcing his resignation ahead of time, similar to former Speaker John Boehner, to allow the party to unify around a new leader without the chaos that typically accompanies such transitions.

This situation is reminiscent of last fall’s lengthy and tumultuous process to elect a new speaker, which ended with Johnson’s election. Massie warned of the complications that could arise if a successful motion to remove the speaker were made on the House floor without a prepared succession, describing the potential aftermath as a “hot mess.”

Nearly a month prior to Massie’s announcement, Representative Greene had initiated a motion to vacate the speaker’s position due to disagreements over a $1.2 trillion appropriations package. This motion, however, is not privileged, meaning its timing for a vote is uncertain. Despite this, Massie believes that if brought to a vote, the motion would receive considerable support.

In contrast, Representative Ralph Norman from South Carolina, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, expressed respect for Massie but disagreed with the motion to vacate. He emphasized the detrimental impact of removing a speaker, especially during turbulent times, despite his own disagreements with Johnson’s decisions.

Following the meeting, Speaker Johnson addressed the media, emphasizing the need for “steady leadership” and unity within the Republican conference. He criticized the notion of a vacate motion as unhelpful and detrimental to their collective efforts.

Johnson’s position as speaker is further complicated by the imminent reduction of his majority, which will go down to one seat following the retirement of Representative Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin this Friday. In the event of a vote on the motion to vacate, Johnson might need to seek support from Democrats to retain his position.

Interestingly, Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz from Florida has already expressed his willingness to support Johnson against such a motion. On social media, he metaphorically stated, “Massie wants the world to burn, I won’t stand by and watch. I have a bucket of water.”

Amidst these discussions, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar emphasized the Democrats’ focus on advancing aid to Ukraine and Israel, expressing frustration over the ongoing disputes and dysfunction within the House Republican conference.

This article is based on the following article:

https://www.npr.org/2024/04/16/1245049920/mike-johnson-house-speaker-republicans-motion-to-vacate#:~:text=Raedle%2FGetty%20Images-,U.S.%20Rep.%20Thomas%20Massie%2C%20R%2DKy.%2C%20seen,Speaker%20Mike%20Johnson%20to%20resign.&text=A%20second%20Republican%20member%20is,oust%20House%20Speaker%20Mike%20Johnson.

Background Information

With this background, readers can better understand the roles of the individuals mentioned, the legislative actions discussed, and the broader implications of the events described in the article. This knowledge also helps with grasping the complexities of governance and the impact of political decisions on both national and international stages.

U.S. Government Structure and Roles

• House of Representatives:
  • The House of Representatives is one half of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. The other half is the Senate. Members of the House, known as Representatives, are elected to two-year terms. The House is responsible for creating and passing federal legislation.
• Speaker of the House:
  • The Speaker is the leader of the House of Representatives. Elected by the members of the House, the Speaker is second in the presidential line of succession, following the Vice President. The Speaker’s duties include overseeing the legislative process in the House, leading sessions, and representing the majority party in the House. They also play a significant role in the political and legislative strategy of their party.
• Majority and Minority Leaders:
  • These are the elected leaders of their respective parties in the House. The Majority Leader belongs to the party with the most seats, while the Minority Leader heads the party with fewer seats. They coordinate party legislative agendas and strategies.

Key Legislative Terms and Processes

• Motion to Vacate the Chair:
  • This is a formal motion used in the House of Representatives to remove the current Speaker. It can be brought by any member of the House and, if passed, would require the Speaker to step down, leading to the election of a new Speaker.
• Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):
  • Section 702 authorizes the government to collect and use internet and phone communications of foreign targets located outside the United States without a warrant. Its inclusion in debates often brings up issues concerning privacy and national security.
• Appropriations Package:
  • This refers to legislation that provides funding for government agencies, programs, and activities. Appropriations are typically passed annually and are crucial for the functioning of the federal government.

Political Context

• Partisan Divisions and Internal Party Conflicts:
  • The U.S. political landscape is often sharply divided between the two major parties, Republicans and Democrats. However, significant conflicts also occur within the parties themselves, particularly when there are disagreements on key issues or leadership strategies.
• Foreign Aid:
  • The U.S. provides financial aid to other countries for a variety of reasons, including diplomatic, economic, and military support. Decisions on foreign aid can be contentious and often reflect broader foreign policy strategies and objectives.
• Recent Historical Events:
  • References to past events like the election of a new speaker and legislative processes provide context on the stability or instability within the House. Understanding these can help illuminate the challenges and the stakes involved in leadership positions within the government.

Debate/Essay Questions

1. Is it appropriate for the U.S. government to use warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of the FISA?