Speaker Mike Johnson’s bid to retain the Speaker’s gavel could be rockier than it looked just a short while ago, with at least one GOP House lawmaker suggesting that he lacks the votes.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) appeared on Tuesday’s edition of “Varney & Co.” on Fox Business where he expressed doubt that there is enough support to close the deal for Johnson, who President-elect Donald J. Trump has endorsed.
When asked by host Ashley Webster if the Louisiana Republican has the votes, Roy wasn’t optimistic and admitted that he personally hasn’t made up his mind.
(Video Credit: Fox Business)
“I remain undecided, as do a number of my colleagues because we saw so many of the failures last year that we are concerned about that might limit or inhibit our ability to advance the president’s agenda,” he told Webster. “I respect comments that President Trump supports Mike. I like Mike. He’s a good friend.”
“But let’s consider what happened the week before Christmas. We violated the 72-hour rule, which means we didn’t have time to read a bill we had to have. You want to have Elon in the back and the president and JD come in to kill a 1500-page monstrosity,” he continued, referring to the pork-stuffed continuing resolution that the billionaire X owner whipped up opposition to, forcing Johnson to bring forth a drastically smaller bill.
Roy also expressed dismay about more money being sent to Ukraine, the notoriously corrupt Eastern European country that seems to be of greater concern to most lawmakers than America is.
“My friend Victoria, she’s from Ukraine. She has a heart for the Ukrainians, but she understands giving 61 billion to Ukraine after my Johnson promised to secure the border first,” he said, referring to Ukrainian-born Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN). “That’s a problem.”
“So we need to have a plan before January 3rd, the speaker needs to speak to it if he wants to have all of our support,” Roy said, adding, “Right now, I don’t believe that he has the votes on Friday.”
He also mentioned the names of two possible alternatives to Johnson, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Rep. Jim Johnson (R-OH), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
“There are other members of leadership in the conference who could do the job. But what we need to do is unite around a plan to deliver for the president,” he said. “Right now, I do not believe the conference has that. The failure before Christmas, I cannot overstate, it’s a glimpse to come, if we don’t organize the conference.”
One GOP lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is a definite no, having branded Johnson as the “next Paul Ryan;” not a compliment.
Mike Johnson is the next Paul Ryan.
On January 3rd, 2025, I won’t be voting for Mike Johnson.
I hope my colleague will join me because history will not give America another “do-over.”
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 30, 2024
With the GOP’s razor-thin majority, Johnson can only afford to lose one more vote and as Roy said, he’s not yet onboard. Also, potential no’s are Spartz, Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ), and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD).
The embattled Johnson has angered and disappointed members of his caucus by failing to drive a hard bargain with Democrats despite his party’s majority, most recently on the spending bill to keep the government open. It could cost him critical votes and potentially delay the certification of Trump’s election win which is set to take place on January 6, 2025.
- Dem diva AOC melts down on eve of Trump’s ’21st Century fascism’ - January 20, 2025
- Wow! Trump says he’ll release JFK, RFK and MLK assassination files ‘in coming days’ - January 20, 2025
- Kevin O’Leary says he’s put $20B ‘cash’ on the table for embattled TikTok - January 18, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.