Democrats warn Mike Johnson: We won't save you again

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Posted on 12/24/2024 5:03:36 AM PST by george76

House Democrats are sending an early warning signal to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that he shouldn't count on them to rescue him again.

Why it matters: Johnson will have the barest of majorities next year — and he's staring down growing unrest within the Republican conference.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has said he will vote against Johnson's reelection as speaker on Jan. 3, with several other Republicans saying they are undecided.

With a majority as narrow as 219-215, Johnson may only be able to afford to lose one vote.

State of play: Johnson last week abandoned a federal funding package he negotiated with Democrats and introduced a pared-down version with a debt limit extension demanded by President-elect Trump.

House Democrats bitterly accused Johnson of going back on his word and declared themselves a "hell no" on the revised version of the bill.

Johnson eventually succeeded in passing a version of the bill without a debt ceiling increase, but the damage was already done.

Driving the news: At a caucus meeting on Friday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) signaled to his members that relations with Johnson had entered a new, significantly worsened phase.

He pointed to Johnson reversing on the funding deal and letting communications go dark at times during the week, according to three lawmakers and a fourth source present for his remarks.

House Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said that he will not personally ask Democrats to bail out Johnson going forward as they did in May.

Jeffries said Sunday on MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki" there is a "real risk" of Johnson failing to become speaker on Jan. 3, and that "there will be no Democrats available to save him."

What they're saying: More than half a dozen House Democrats who voted to bail out Johnson in May told Axios on Sunday that they agree with Jeffries that Johnson can no longer count on their votes.

"I will follow leadership," said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), one of the party's most centrist members.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), another arch-centrist, told Axios of the speaker election: "I'm voting for Hakeem Jeffries."

"He is correct," Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) said of Jeffries' comments on MSNBC.

Zoom in: Johnson's reelection bid is currently backed by Trump and his conference unanimously renominated him for speaker last month, but even if he wins in January he will face the challenge of keeping his gavel.

House Republicans increased the threshold for introducing a "motion to vacate" — a measure to remove the speaker — but any nine lawmakers would still be able to force such a vote.

And Johnson is facing growing anger from both his right flank and the GOP's right-wing grassroots outside of Congress, who are demanding he do more to cut government spending.

Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), who is undecided on voting for Johnson, told Axios last week the speaker will need to rely on Democratic votes to keep his job.

What we're hearing: "I have thought multiple times that I would help Johnson in a tough Speaker vote because he was true to his word even in hard times," said one swing-district House Democrat.

"That has absolutely changed now. Trust is all we have in these negotiations. I thought Johnson was truly different. He's no better than McCarthy. He's getting no help from me and I know many of my colleagues feel the same."

Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), a progressive who voted against ousting Johnson in May, told Axios: "He has betrayed our trust and we will never trust him again to hold to any agreement."

The bottom line: "It's up to the Republicans to lead on governance now," said Stevens, noting that Democrats were voted fully out of power in November.

"If they need us they have to really make it worth our while, but [it] doesn't seem likely that they will," she added.

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1 posted on 12/24/2024 5:03:36 AM PST by george76

To: george76

2 posted on 12/24/2024 5:05:03 AM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)

To: george76

3 posted on 12/24/2024 5:05:27 AM PST by jpl ("You are fake news.")

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