House Rules Package Changes Dynamics for Speaker Removal Votes

The House rules package unveiled on Wednesday raises the bar for ousting the Speaker of the House, now necessitating the support of a majority party member along with eight other Republicans to initiate a motion to vacate. The change aims to protect Speaker Mike Johnson from being ousted, as previously only one lawmaker was needed to initiate the motion.

President-elect Donald Trump wrote, “LETS NOT BLOW THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration. Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”

Despite the endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump, some conservatives doubt Johnson’s support within the party, with several members expressing intentions to vote against him.

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) said, “Republicans need to get assurances that Johnson will not sell them out to the Washington, DC, swamp.”

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), the ranking member of the House Rules Committee, said, “Their proposed changes would, for the first time in American history, shield the Speaker from accountability to the entire chamber.”

McGovern added, “The American people did not vote for whatever the hell this is — and you better believe that Democrats will not let Republicans turn the House of Representatives into a rubber stamp for their extremist policies.”

The new rules have drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue it undermines accountability in the House. The House will convene on Friday to elect a Speaker and vote on the rules package.