House Republicans, already grumbling about Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), were pushed to their limit this past week after he reneged on an agreement on an ethanol bill in an effort to make GOP hardliners happy.
According to a Politico report, the betrayal led one lawmaker to loudly curse Johnson to his face when he tried to explain the changes to the bill he made at the last moment. Republicans described a pattern of deception amid reports that frustration among the GOP’s rank-and-file has reached an all-time high. “I think this guy has divided us with a smile,” said Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), a longtime Johnson critic who has become increasingly vocal. Miller said “without question” he will vote to remove Johnson as GOP leader in the next Congress. Wednesday night erupted into chaos on the House floor and behind closed doors. Multiple Republican factions confronted Johnson directly, yelling and swearing as the speaker struggled to contain the rebellion, Politico reported.
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) yelled a curse word at the speaker as he tried to explain away the bill’s changes, Politico wrote. This week’s episode represents the latest crisis-to-crisis management style that has left party members and staff demoralized, Politico wrote. Rank-and-file lawmakers have expressed serious doubts about the party’s ability to govern effectively over the coming months and retain House control in November.
And, Politico reported, behind the scenes, Republicans are quietly discussing alternatives to Johnson’s leadership. In the closed-door confrontation Wednesday night, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IW) reportedly voiced frustration shared across farm-state delegations: Republicans consistently vote with leadership only to be abandoned on their own priorities. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), appointed by Johnson to the Rules Committee, directly challenged the speaker during a separate meeting in his office. She questioned why anyone should believe Johnson’s promises about a future ethanol vote when he had already broken the same pledge back in late February, Politico reported. Miller, a former Trump White House aide, revealed he only voted for the budget measure because of his loyalty to Trump — and because Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin personally pressured him. But Miller was clear about the implications. “It’s pretty debilitating when you’re supposed to follow a guy into battle, and I wouldn’t trust him to get out of a wet paper bag with an M4,” Miller told Politico. The report noted Johnson will face an immediate test when lawmakers return from recess. Pro-ethanol Republicans claim he pledged to orchestrate a standalone vote the week of May 12, but most expect it to fail without attachment to must-pass legislation. “Do I believe him? Probably not,” one House Republican involved in the negotiations said.
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