The Home is predicted to vote Wednesday on whether or not to elect Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as its speaker, after he grew to become the fourth Republican decide for the job since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted three weeks in the past.
On Wednesday, McCarthy threw his help behind Johnson, calling him “a pal, fighter, and principled conservative” who “has my full help.”
But, Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated on CNN that Johnson “seems to be an extreme-right wing ideologue,” citing Johnson’s earlier positions on abortion, Social Safety, and the 2020 election.
“These are excessive views,” he stated, including that Democrats “would have been open to” empowering Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (R-NC), the speaker professional tempore, as a bipartisan olive department to reopen the Home and avert the election of a ‘far-right speaker.’
FLASHBACK: Primarily based new GOP Speaker Designate Mike Johnson requires Nancy Pelosi to be charged after ripping Trump’s State of the Union speech in half:
“She dedicated a felony when she ripped that paper up.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 25, 2023
Till the GOP will get it act collectively, the Home is successfully frozen from conducting legislative enterprise outdoors of holding hearings on payments that may’t be launched on the Home ground.
This implies we’re as soon as once more gliding into one other deadline for a authorities shutdown – this time slated for Nov. 17. The Home additionally desires to ship supplemental help to Ukraine, Israel and different international nations (oh no!), in addition to a myriad of must-pass payments, such because the Farm Invoice and reauthorizing the FAA, in response to the Washington Post.
What will we learn about Johnson?
He was beforehand defeated on an inside Home GOP poll by Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), nevertheless Emmer withdrew his candidacy final night time, simply hours after successful the GOP nomination for the function.
Johnson then emerged through the subsequent spherical of Tuesday night time votes.
Rep. Mike Johnson after being nominated for Speaker: “Democracy is messy generally, however it’s our system. This convention that you just see, this Home Republican majority, is united.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 25, 2023
He is additionally “one of many smartest and most principled opponents of the US Safety State (CIA/FBI) and its try to regulate on-line political speech,” in response to Glenn Greenwald.
We interviewed @RepMikeJohnson in July and – whereas we had a number of areas of significant disagreement – he is one of many smartest and most principled opponents of the US Safety State (CIA/FBI) and its try to regulate on-line political speech (begins 21:50):https://t.co/kc4K9bkXPb pic.twitter.com/DLmEicS6g2
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 25, 2023
As Axios notes;
Johnson, 51, has been a member of the Home of Representatives since 2016, and is at present serving his fourth term within the Home.
- He represents Louisiana’s fourth congressional district, which incorporates practically 760,000 residents. Johnson received the seat with the most important margin of victory in his area in additional than 50 years, in response to a biography on his web site.
Of observe: After incomes each a bachelor’s diploma and a legislation diploma from Louisiana State College, Johnson spent practically 20 years working towards constitutional legislation.
- Johnson then served within the Louisiana Legislature from February 2015 to January 2017.
- He and his spouse, Kelly Johnson, have been married since 1999 and have 4 kids.
Johnson is at present serving as vice chair of the Home Republican Convention for a second time, after a unanimous re-election final yr.
FLASHBACK: MIKE JOHNSON “We have had report ranges of unlawful immigration, a speedy decline in deportations, skyrocketing fentanyl deaths throughout our nation — and the Secret Service… cannot decide who left cocaine on the White Home?”pic.twitter.com/Eridv8Gk49
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 25, 2023
In a weekend letter to colleagues, Johnson stated it is the responsibility of Home Republicans to “chart a brand new path,” and that he has a “clear imaginative and prescient and plan for find out how to lead.”
Now if he can simply get the job!
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