Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) came out Thursday in opposition to the current rules on the motion to vacate that threatens to end his speakership, lamenting he does not have the votes to change the rules at this time.
“Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, the House rule allowing a Motion to Vacate from a single member has harmed this office and our House majority,” Johnson posted to his official X account. “Recently, many members have encouraged me to endorse a new rule to raise this threshold. While I understand the importance of that idea, any rule change requires a majority of the full House, which we do not have. We will continue to govern under the existing rules.”
Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, the House rule allowing a Motion to Vacate from a single member has harmed this office and our House majority.
Recently, many members have encouraged me to endorse a new rule to raise this threshold. While I understand the importance of…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) April 18, 2024
“The Speaker tried to change the rules to eliminate the motion to vacate but he didn’t have the votes today,” Massie posted on X.
The Speaker tried to change the rules to eliminate the motion to vacate but he didn’t have the votes today. https://t.co/2qv4zvayI3
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 18, 2024
Breitbart News asked Johnson’s office if he plans to change the motion to vacate rules once those changes have his support – even if a majority of Republicans oppose them – and if he would commit to not doing so but did not receive a response.
Republicans argued on the House floor Thursday morning about changing the rule. With a large bloc of establishment Republicans clearly supporting restoring the Speaker Nancy Pelosi-era rule that would weaken conservative opposition to Johnson’s agenda, Johnson’s statement clearly asserts not enough Democrats support changing the rules at this time.
With conservatives objecting to the package, Johnson will need Democrat support to bring forward the rule to allow his foreign aid package with tens of billions for Ukraine to come to the floor (somewhat confusingly, this is a rule from the House Rules Committee governing legislation brought to the floor, not a rule governing broader House operations like the rule prescribing the motion to vacate). But as Breitbart News has extensively reported, it is highly unusual for the minority party to vote for a procedural rule brought forward by the majority party, even if the minority party supports the underlying legislation.
It is widely speculated that Democrats will seek concessions from Johnson to vote for the rule allowing his massive Ukraine package to come to the floor, which cannot pass without Democrat votes.
Democrats, by withholding support for a rules change they want but that would save Johnson’s job, can exert maximum leverage on Johnson.
Breitbart asked Johnson if he and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) or anyone on his behalf had been in contact on the rules change, particularly why Democrats seem to be withholding support for a rules change they indeed support, but Breitbart did not receive a response.
Johnson’s office did not respond.
Bradley Jaye is a Capitol Hill Correspondent for Breitbart News. Follow him on X/Twitter at @BradleyAJaye.
The post Johnson: Motion to Vacate ‘Harmed this Office,’ But We Lack the Votes to Change the Rules for Now appeared first on Breitbart.
