WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing stark challenges as he tries to navigate between different factions in Congress. Some right-wing members want to block government funding and a Senate deal that toughens immigration laws and supports Ukraine.
Johnson also needs to work with Democrats who control the Senate and White House to pass any legislation.
This pressure is increasing as the presidential primary season kicks off in Iowa, adding more politics to the mix. Some members of the House, unhappy with Johnson’s leadership, are considering removing him from his position. “Our top-line agreement remains,’ Johnson told reporters Friday.”
Johnson met with conservatives who oppose the spending deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, but he’s sticking to the agreement for now.
There’s talk among some Republicans about removing Johnson from his role as speaker, but it’s not clear how much support there is for this. “To buy more time, Johnson and Schumer released a short-term funding bill.”
But sticking to the spending deal could make it harder for Johnson to support a bipartisan Senate immigration deal, which some in his party oppose.
Johnson is leaning towards a more restrictive House bill on immigration, adding tension to the situation. “Absolutely not,’ Johnson responded.”
Johnson is telling fellow Republicans they have more leverage by avoiding a government shutdown and working on appropriations bills. On immigration, he’s holding firm on his position but isn’t revealing specifics on what the House would accept from a Senate deal.
This isn’t the first time a Republican Speaker has faced these challenges. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced a similar situation and was eventually replaced after refusing to shut down the government. “Our top-line agreement remains,’ Johnson told reporters Friday.”
Johnson’s allies think some Republicans may vote against the spending deal but don’t believe there’s enough support to remove him from his position.