A group of House conservatives is threatening to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., as they seek assurances on government funding and aid to Ukraine. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., met with Johnson behind closed doors for a two-hour discussion on Monday afternoon. The conservatives are demanding several points, including no more funding for Ukraine and halting Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into former President Trump.
Additionally, they are pushing for Johnson to adhere to the Hastert rule, which requires majority support from House GOP members for any legislation to receive a House-wide vote. They are also advocating for the Massie rule, which would trigger automatic federal spending cuts if an agreement is not reached on fiscal year 2025 funding by the Sept. 30 deadline.
While the conservatives have not disclosed details of the meeting, they plan to continue discussions with Johnson. Representative Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who also supports the motion to remove the speaker, expressed a desire for Johnson to have more time to address their concerns.
Greene is spearheading the effort to oust Johnson due to conservative frustrations over his bipartisan approach to critical legislation. Democrats have vowed to block any vote to remove Johnson, potentially leading to further tensions within the House.
Johnson acknowledged the frustrations of the conservatives and emphasized the challenges of governing with a slim majority. He described the meeting with Massie and Greene as constructive and expressed a willingness to work towards addressing their concerns.
The situation remains fluid as discussions continue between the House conservatives and Speaker Johnson. The outcome of these negotiations could have significant implications for future legislative decisions and the stability of the House leadership.
