A number of conservatives in the House of Representatives criticized the $1.2 trillion spending package passed last week to avert a government shutdown. The move also prompted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to file a motion to vacate against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for his support of the bill.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) cited the nation’s nearly $35 trillion in debt.
“Both parties are equally to blame over that time. Both parties. The uniparty, the entire establishment in Washington, keeps spending money we don’t have, racking up debt to advance policies that are undermining our safety and well-being,” he said in a recent CNN interview.
Speaker Mike Johnson: "We've got to keep the government funded. We have to keep the train on the tracks." pic.twitter.com/JzTk6Yyqlj
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 21, 2024
Johnson did get one significant concession in the large spending bill. The bill President Joe Biden signed included a provision that barred U.S. diplomatic buildings from flying non-official flags, including the LGBT Pride flag.
Despite the bill’s passage, more than 100 House Republicans voted against the measure. After its passage in the House, the bill quickly went through the Senate and to Biden’s desk for a signature.
Johnson’s place as speaker could be tenuous after the passage of the spending bill. He was voted into the position after multiple rounds of voting and other candidates who could not receive majority support in the House.
Greene filed a motion to vacate, which could result in a House floor vote to remove Johnson.
“It’s more of a warning than a pink slip,” said Greene. “There’s not a time limit on this, it doesn’t have to be forced… But I’m not saying that it won’t happen in two weeks, or it won’t happen.”
Some House Democrats have indicated that they would support Johnson if there was an effort by some Republicans to remove him from the speaker’s chair.
Eight House Republicans led the successful effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last year over his support for a similar spending bill. McCarthy criticized some of those who ousted him during a weekend media appearance.
