A House Democrat suggested Tuesday that any Republican lawmakers who favor a Senate-passed foreign aid bill could remove Speaker Mike Johnson, even temporarily, so the House can vote on the $95 billion measure.
Rep. Wiley Nickel, North Carolina Democrat, said during a House floor speech on Tuesday that there were likely enough House Republicans who agreed with the 22 Senate Republicans who voted for the package that includes aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
He noted that “any one member” could raise the motion to vacate on the House floor, which is the same move that Republicans used to boot Mr. Johnson’s predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Mr. Nickel said it would only take four Republicans to anoint a new speaker.
“I believe, though, there is support for a temporary speaker, a moderate, to move bills that can get 60 votes in the Senate, and move those through the House, maybe a temporary speaker for two or three weeks, that’s what the nation wants,” Mr. Nickel said.
House Republicans, including Mr. Johnson, have universally panned the Senate’s foreign spending package, which passed the upper chamber early on Tuesday.
Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, signaled that he would likely not bring the legislation up for a vote in the House.
“Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Mr. Johnson said.
Mr. Johnson also has faced similar threats from his right flank.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, previously threatened to initiate the motion to vacate against Mr. Johnson if he considered sending more money to Ukraine.
His decision to not bring the spending package to the floor will likely spare him from arch-conservatives who are adamantly opposed to more Ukraine funding — the latest iteration of the foreign aid package would send $60 billion to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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