May 18, 2024

Motion to Vacate ‘Harmed this Office,’ Lack the Votes to Change the Rules

Speaking out against the current regulations, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA ) lamented that he lacks the authority to change them at this time, and made the decision on Thursday to oppose them.

Johnson made clear he opposed the existing rules and recognizes the value of changing them, even though he avoided outright calling for a rule change that might save his hand.

Johnson posted to his official X bill,” The House law allowing a Motion to Depart from a single member has harmed this company and our House majority since the beginning of the 118th Congress,” according to Johnson. “Recently, some members have encouraged me to embrace a new guideline to increase this threshold. Although I fully understand the significance of that notion, a majority of the entire House is required for any change to the law. We may continue to rule in accordance with the law. ”

Rep. Thomas Massie pointed out Johnson ’s misleading statement, responding to it on social media.

The Speaker attempted to alter the rules to override the motion to veto, but he did n’t have the votes today, ” Massie wrote on X.

After receiving a majority of Republicans ‘ objections, Johnson’s office was contacted by Breitbart News to inquire whether he would agree to change the action to change the rules.

Republicans debated changing the law on Thursday night on the House floor. Johnson asserts that not enough Democrats are in favor of changing the rules at this time, given that a large number of establishment Republicans are unwaveringly in favor of reinstatering the Speaker Nancy Pelosi-era law that would lessen liberal opposition to Johnson’s plan.

Why do Democrats then object to changing a concept they unanimously rejected in January 2023 puzzles them? The Pelosi-era movement to vacate was changed by that vote to the House rules package for the new Congress, restoring it to the historic threshold for a one member to make a motion to depart. Just a few years prior, Pelosi had raised the threshold to guard her position of authority and ensure that all of her Democrats were aligned.

Given that conservatives oppose the package, Johnson may have Democrat support to advance the rule that would let the House Rules Committee to pass legislation that governs larger House operations, such as the one that governs the motion’s vacate. However, as Breitbart News has documented heavily, it is uncommon for the majority party to support a procedural rule introduced by the majority party, even if the minority party is in favor of the actual legislation.

According to popular speculation, Democrats may ask Johnson for concessions in exchange for a vote to pass the enormous Ukraine package without Democratic support.

Democrats, by withholding support for a rules change they want but that would keep Johnson ’s work, can exert maximum leverage on Johnson.

In response to a question from Breitbart, Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY ) or anyone else on his behalf had been in contact regarding the rules change, especially given how Democrats appear to be withholding support for a rules change they actually support, but Breitbart did not receive a response.

Breitbart even inquired about whether changing the motion to quit rules would serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Democrats to pass the international aid package or any other priority of Speaker Johnson’s, and whether Speaker Johnson would agree to abstain from packaging a rule change that might save his job along with a congressional rule or underlying bill, such as the foreign aid package.

Johnson ’s department did not respond.

Breitbart News ‘ Capitol Hill journalist, Bradley Jaye. Follow him on X/Twitter at @BradleyAJaye.


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