So, the new session just kicked off, and guess what? They passed a rules package that pretty much solidifies Speaker Mike Johnson’s grip on power. Yep, it was a nail-biter of a vote—215 to 209, all along party lines. That’s a clear reflection of the slim Republican majority and the internal drama bubbling within the GOP.
Here’s the deal: under these new rules, it now takes nine members of the majority party to kick off a “motion to vacate.” That’s a big change from before when one lone member could stir up trouble and force a vote. Remember when Kevin McCarthy got ousted last year? Yeah, that was partly thanks to that one-member rule. Johnson’s looking for stability here—can you blame him?
Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) jumped into the fray defending these changes. She said it loud and clear: “When you win the majority, you do have the opportunity to make the rules.” And she wasn’t shy about brushing aside criticism from Democrats or even some grumbling within her own ranks.
Now let’s talk factions for a sec—the Freedom Caucus and Main Street Caucus are still at it. They often pull each other in different directions like kids fighting over a toy. The Freedom Caucus used to love that one-member rule but seems to be losing its grip as Johnson pushes for more unity.
Check this out—a tweet from The Epoch Times sums it up: “House Votes to Protect Speaker in Approving New Rules,” which really hits home how this is all about keeping Johnson safe in his seat.
And speaking of safety, Johnson snagged his reelection with some last-minute help from former holdouts—all thanks to President-elect Trump working his magic behind the scenes. He pulled off 218 votes against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ 215 without breaking a sweat!
But not everyone in the GOP is sipping on that Kool-Aid. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) weren’t exactly thrilled with everything going down in this package—especially language about sanctions against the International Criminal Court regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions. Massie took to social media saying he didn’t see how that fit into their priorities at all.
Oh, and don’t forget—they also limited expedited “suspension measures” to specific days now, which could streamline things but might also tie their hands when they need flexibility.
So what does all this mean? With these new rules set in stone, Johnson’s looking to steer this ship forward under his leadership. But will it bring them together or split them apart even more? Only time will tell!
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