Author: Bo Erickson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Republicans will face the first test of their control of both houses of Congress on Friday when they decide whether to keep Mike Johnson in the powerful role of House Speaker.
House Republicans have proved a recalcitrant group over the past two years — they elected Johnson first after taking the unprecedented step of ousting his predecessor Kevin McCarthy midway through his term — and will hold a slim 219-215 majority when their new members take the floor. oath on Friday.
Trump tried to clear the way for a smooth ride after endorsing Johnson on Monday after weeks of uncertainty.
“President Mike Johnson is a good, hardworking, religious man. He will do the right thing and we will continue to WIN,” Trump posted online.
Johnson tried to project confidence this week. “We have the smallest margin in US history. We’re going to have a margin of probably two votes … but I think we’re going to do it,” the speaker told Fox News on Thursday of his chances. “We can’t afford any court drama here.”
Maverick Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a regular thorn in the side of his party’s leaders, has vowed to vote against Johnson. Several other party members were doubtful whether to support him.
More than one vote against Johnson, or more Republican abstentions in the form of “present” votes, would be enough to block Johnson’s re-election if all Democrats vote for their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, as they are expected to.
Whoever secures the presidency — the role second in line to the presidency after the vice president — has a big job ahead of them. In addition to passing Trump’s sweeping legislative agenda, which includes tax cuts and changes to immigration, Congress will have to address the national debt ceiling later this year.
With the federal government already more than $36 trillion in debt, many Republicans in Congress are expected to demand significant spending cuts.
Republicans will also swear in their new 53-47 Senate majority on Friday and are expected to choose Sen. John Thune as their new leader, succeeding longtime Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down but remaining in office.
‘THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES’
Massie took to social media this week to take issue with Johnson’s leadership abilities within the Republican conference.
“He won’t tell the president what’s achievable and what’s not achievable in the House, and he lacks the situational awareness to know what can pass and what can’t,” said Massie, “The Emperor has no clothes and the whole conference knows, but few will the general public can also say that.”
Johnson has angered some conservatives by repeatedly appealing to Democrats to secure votes to pass critical bills, such as legislation to keep government agencies open. It also faced a last-minute challenge late last month when Trump told House Republicans to back out of a government funding deal, demanding that he also raise the national debt ceiling.
A revised version of that bill — not including Trump’s debt limit request — passed the House of Representatives just hours before a government shutdown and won more support from Democrats than Republicans.
Other Republicans — trying to take up the mantle of defending Trump’s second term — have made demands in exchange for their support.
Republican Representative Victoria Spartz this week released a wish list of fiscal structural restraints in the coming year, opening the door for Johnson to win it.
So far, no other Republican has publicly hinted at challenging Johnson for the role.
Another element in Johnson’s favor to remain speaker is the calendar.
Congress is scheduled to meet on January 6 to confirm Trump’s victory in the presidential election, a function he will be unable to perform without the speaker.
Johnson also tried to ease his way over the next two years by changing the rule, agreed to by McCarthy, that allowed any member of the House of Representatives to request the removal of the Speaker through what is known as a “vacation motion.” Johnson’s proposed rules would require nine members of the majority to agree before forcing the kind of vote that led to McCarthy’s ouster.
