GOP Struggles: One-Sided Governance?
A furious Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) challenged his colleagues on the House floor today. He demanded that they present “one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done” that he can take back to his constituents. With intensity in his voice, Roy belted out, “One!”This call for action holds great significance because it sheds light on the bitter divisions within the Republican Party. As House Republicans head home early for Thanksgiving recess, the spotlight is on Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) three weeks in office, plagued by the same internal conflicts that plagued his predecessor.
In recent news, Johnson pushed the next government shutdown deadline into early 2024. However, his heavy reliance on Democratic votes to achieve this outcome infuriated conservatives, similar to the frustrations that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) faced. As a result, 19 GOP hardliners rebelled and defeated a procedural vote on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This prompted Johnson to cancel the remaining ballots and send everyone home.
It’s a strange predicament for a MAGA-aligned Republican like Johnson, who describes himself as an “arch-conservative.” Yet, it perfectly encapsulates the consistently ungovernable nature of the GOP conference. Johnson’s first week as Speaker was undeniably successful, leading to a surge in GOP fundraising, the passage of an Israel aid package, and cuts to IRS funding.
However, since then, GOP leadership has faced setbacks due to threats from the party's moderate and conservative wings. Three votes on appropriations bills had to be pulled, and there has yet to be floor action on a bill funding the Department of Agriculture and the FDA. This is mainly because moderates derailed a vote in September over language restricting access to abortion pills. The Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill remains in limbo, as Johnson has chosen to regroup after Thanksgiving rather than risk another embarrassing defeat on the House floor.
In defense of his leadership, Johnson, who has been in the job for less than three weeks, claimed that his novel “two-step” stopgap approach would be a victory for conservatives. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) countered by stating, “It should be obvious to anyone who is watching that House Republicans are unable to govern on their own, period, full stop.”
Looking ahead, there are only 21 legislative days until the next government funding deadline in January 2024. Johnson, who has vowed not to pass another short-term spending bill, is quickly depleting his political capital. While the scars from the GOP’s speaker vacancy have provided Johnson with some job security, his honeymoon period has halted.
In conclusion, Rep. Chip Roy’s passionate challenge to his colleagues highlights the ongoing struggles within the Republican Party. As Speaker Mike Johnson navigates the complexities of party divisions, setbacks, and frustrations have marked his early weeks in office. The road ahead remains uncertain, and the GOP’s ability to govern independently is being questioned. House floor today. He demanded that they present “one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done” that he can take back to his constituents. With intensity in his voice, Roy belted out, “One!”This call for action holds great significance because it sheds light on the bitter divisions within the Republican Party. As House Republicans head home early for Thanksgiving recess, the spotlight is on Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) three weeks in office, plagued by the same internal conflicts that plagued his predecessor.
In recent news, Johnson pushed the next government shutdown deadline into early 2024. However, his heavy reliance on Democratic votes to achieve this outcome infuriated conservatives, similar to the frustrations that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) faced. As a result, 19 GOP hardliners rebelled and defeated a procedural vote on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This prompted Johnson to cancel the remaining ballots and send everyone home.
It’s a strange predicament for a MAGA-aligned Republican like Johnson, who describes himself as an “arch-conservative.” Yet, it perfectly encapsulates the consistently ungovernable nature of the GOP conference. Johnson’s first week as Speaker was undeniably successful, leading to a surge in GOP fundraising, the passage of an Israel aid package, and cuts to IRS funding.
However, since then, GOP leadership has faced setbacks due to threats from the party's moderate and conservative wings. Three votes on appropriations bills had to be pulled, and there has yet to be floor action on a bill funding the Department of Agriculture and the FDA. This is mainly because moderates derailed a vote in September over language restricting access to abortion pills. The Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill remains in limbo, as Johnson has chosen to regroup after Thanksgiving rather than risk another embarrassing defeat on the House floor.
In defense of his leadership, Johnson, who has been in the job for less than three weeks, claimed that his novel “two-step” stopgap approach would be a victory for conservatives. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) countered by stating, “It should be obvious to anyone who is watching that House Republicans are unable to govern on their own, period, full stop.”
Looking ahead, there are only 21 legislative days until the next government funding deadline in January 2024. Johnson, who has vowed not to pass another short-term spending bill, is quickly depleting his political capital. While the scars from the GOP’s speaker vacancy have provided Johnson with some job security, his honeymoon period has halted.
In conclusion, Rep. Chip Roy’s passionate challenge to his colleagues highlights the ongoing struggles within the Republican Party. As Speaker Mike Johnson navigates the complexities of party divisions, setbacks, and frustrations have marked his early weeks in office. The road ahead remains uncertain, and the GOP’s ability to govern independently is being questioned.
They were initially published at https://www.newsbreak.com.
