Green and Massie have worked tirelessly for weeks to hold Speaker Mike Johnson accountable. Wednesday, they made their move.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) have worked tirelessly for weeks to hold Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) accountable. Wednesday, they made their move.
The duo pulled the trigger Wednesday night to force a vote on their motion to “remove the Uniparty speaker,” as Massie said afterward.
Greene read her resolution on the floor before Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) forced a vote to table the resolution.
An astounding 163 Democrats voted to continue Johnson’s coalition government with Democrats in a 359 to 43 vote.
After the vote, Massie shared the text of Greene’s resolution, which earned jeers and interruptions from who Greene fingered as “the uniparty.”
Here is the full text of @repmtg’s motion to vacate the office of Speaker of the House. I support the motion to remove the Uniparty speaker.
H. RES. 1209
Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 8, 2024…
Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 8, 2024
The full text of the resolution, which excoriates Johnson’s record, is here:
H. RES. 1209
Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 8, 2024
Ms. GREENE of Georgia submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules.
RESOLUTION
Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.
Whereas, the House Republican Conference elected Mike Johnson on October 25, 2023, after three-and-a-half weeks of trying to decide on a new Speaker of the House.
Whereas, Mike Johnson sent the Republican Conference a letter making promises as to what type of Speaker he would be and outlining his plans going forward. Mike Johnson put forth seven tenets that would guide the Conference under his speakership:
1. Restore trust by ensuring total transparency, open processes, and regular order.
2. Advance a comprehensive policy agenda supported by Conference consensus.
3. Promote individual Members, and thus the whole team, by working to understand and emphasize each Member’s unique strengths, district dynamics and challenges, and individual goals and objectives.
4. Engage Members in productive working groups to formulate solutions in key policy areas and enhance our internal communications and team building.
5. Effectively message to persuasively inform the Republican base and the American people of our policy agenda, why we are pursuing it, and how it will ensure liberty, opportunity, and security for all Americans.
6. Build and utilize external coalitions in the conservative ecosphere, including think tanks, policy groups, and other allied organizations that can contribute to our efforts.
7. Develop and grow our majority by building upon our resources and expanding the base to successfully advance our conservative vision and agenda.
Whereas, Speaker Johnson has not lived up to a single one of his self-imposed tenets.
Whereas, Speaker Johnson allowed the Conference only one day, rather than 72 hours, to review a 1000-plus page bill to which no amendments could be offered, rather than “ensure total transparency, open processes, and regular order.”
Whereas, Speaker Johnson worked with Democrats to produce appropriations texts, NDAA text, and other legislative items, rather than with Republicans “to understand and emphasize each Member’s unique strengths and [engage with] them.”
Whereas, Speaker Johnson relied on majority Democrat support to pass a two-part omnibus spending bill, rather than “advancing a policy agenda supported by Conference consensus.”
Whereas, on December 1, 2023, Speaker Johnson failed to protect the Republican majority when he allowed multiple votes to remove another Republican from the House of Representatives. It was unprecedented for a Member to be removed from Congress by a two-thirds vote prior to conviction of a crime.
