Can Speaker Johnson Turn Back the House Freedom Caucus?
MAGA firebrand and conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) defends the House’s rejection of renewed military aid for Ukraine as the serving the will of the majority. MTG’s rationalization — perhaps too generous a term for it — is that Republicans hold a majority in the House and the majority do not want more aid for Ukraine.
As the last of U.S. aid for Ukraine’s defense against Russia ran dry late last year, it appeared that the anti-Ukraine position was gaining, among Republicans and even among some independents. MAGA’s “America First” mantra was gaining traction as the tab for arms for Ukraine (most of it purchased from America’s military complex) topped $100 billion.
Since then, Ukraine’s military has been running out of arms and ammunition as the Russian invasion enjoys its greatest success so far, as it “seems to inch closer to Ukraine’s second-largest city,” Kharkiv, according to the Kyiv Post.
Now, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is ready to push ahead and bring a supplemental bill to the House floor Saturday, no doubt with reassurances from the Democratic Party he will have support for the $95.2-billion Ukraine package. They may also support him against the inevitable “motion to vacate” threatened by MTG and her fellow pro-Russia Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
“If I operated out of fear of motion to vacate, I would never be able to do my job,” Johnson told reporters Thursday.
Johnson is not the most obvious Republican to fight for arming Ukraine. While he refuses to call himself a “Christian Nationalist,” Johnson has pinned an “Appeal to Heaven” flag associated with the movement outside his office. Vladimir Putin’s opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights (positions Johnson also personally holds) has been cited as the reason why so many conservative evangelicals support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Do the Math
Forty-one House Republicans, including MTG and Massie, make up the House Freedom Caucus — hardly a “majority,” even among fellow House Republicans. The number of Republicans opposing Johnson’s aid for Ukraine will be greater than that — 97 Republicans voted against delaying a government shutdown last February 29, according to The Washington Post. His four bills, which are to be combined into one after they get past procedural votes Saturday, will garner far more than 97 of the 213 House Democrats.
Pro-Ukraine Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), whose last day after he announced an “early retirement” from the House thanks to all the Republican infighting was to be Friday, will stick around an extra day to support Johnson’s supplemental.
But Then?
That means Gallagher will not be around when MTG and Massie issue their motion to vacate Speaker Johnson. With the Republican majority down to one member by then, Johnson will probably need something like 100-125 Democrats to vote to retain him as speaker. That should be an easy choice over reinstating Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-SC) for interim speaker, if only there were no politics involved. The increased House Republican paralysis makes for a handy Democratic campaign argument.
What are your thoughts on Speaker Johnson’s efforts to pass aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan/Indo-Pacific? Leave a comment here or email editors@thehustings.news and please indicate in the subject line whether you lean left or right.