Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday predicted that the House will “probably” change the rules around the motion to vacate in the next Congress, months after eight Republicans banded with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) using the procedural maneuver.
Johnson — speaking at a kickoff press conference during the House GOP’s annual retreat in West Virginia — said he is not personally advocating for a change to the motion to vacate, but added it’s being openly discussed among lawmakers.
“The motion to vacate is something that comes up a lot amongst members and discussion. … I expect there will probably be a change to that as well. But just so you know, I’ve never advocated for that; I’m not one who’s making it into this issue, because I don’t think it is one for now,” Johnson said.
More like you reap what you sow.
This is a question of recently changed House rules. McCarthy was so desperate to have a tenure, any tenure, as Speaker that he stripped all the insulation that even a hyperpartisan speaker normally needs to get routine business done. This has been a drag on Republicans, as congressional obstructionism is red meat for the base, but plays against them in particular with swing voters, so the speaker needed political cover to do the bare minimum to look like they’re functional legislators.
Any Freedom Caucus idiot can demand a vote now, and since Democrats have absolutely zero motivation not to vote for their preferred candidate, a narrowly divided house requires almost unanimous support from the GOP. This means you’ve got 7 or 8 unusually ripe assholes (even by Congress standards) holding up stuff that could easily have 80-90% support even in this political climate.