Democrats make no promises about bailing out Mike Johnson again

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

10 hours ago


House Democrats aren't committing themselves to saving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) should Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) take another shot at removing him.

Why it matters: Greene caught colleagues in both parties by surprise by forcing an ouster vote on Wednesday, leading some lawmakers to fear she's not above repeated attempts.

"I talked to probably 30 or 40 members, nobody expected it," said one senior House Democrat.

The lawmaker told Axios that a "question that came up quite a bit" on the Democratic side during the vote was "how many times can she do this?"

Driving the news: Greene forced a vote on what is known as a motion to vacate against Johnson, with Republican leadership to moving to "table" – kill – the measure.

The measure was blocked 359-43, an overwhelming bipartisan rejection of Greene.

Just 11 right-wing Republicans and 32 mostly progressive Democrats voted to allow a vote on ousting Johnson, with another seven Democrats voting present.

What we're hearing: Democratic leadership, which had previously made clear they would vote to table the motion, did not actively whip the vote on the House floor, according to multiple Democratic lawmakers.

All they did was "let us know how they were going to be voting shortly before the vote," said one House Democrat.

The lawmaker said that "a lot of people who had been conflicted" about their vote were swayed to kill the measure after Greene's "absurd" speech

.

What they're saying: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), asked at a press conference after the vote what Democrats would do on potential future votes, responded, "haven't given it a thought."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/05/09/democrats-mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate

[OrlandoDem2]

1. Democrats should force Johnson to hold a vote on the border bill for protection.

If a Motion to Vacate happens again they need to play hardball.

[former9thward]

2. Any Democrat can make a motion to vacate.

So they could make one and demand a border bill.

[OrlandoDem2]

7. I did not know that. Thank you.

[Ray Bruns]

3. I'm betting this was a hard decision for democrats.

Who do I hate more, MTG or Mike Johnson?

[republianmushroom]

4. Mike has been playing both end against the middle it seems.

[Traurigkeit]

5. Not well

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. Good. Let MAGAt Mike sweat a bit. Might keep him honest, at least with respect to negotiations.