House Republicans put aside their differences on Wednesday to elect Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) the 56th speaker of the house, ending more than three weeks of infighting that has dominated the conference since the Oct. 3 ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Johnson, the first House speaker from Louisiana, received support from all 220 Republicans present for the first and only vote.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) was the only GOP House lawmaker to miss the vote after he flew to Israel amid the Jewish state’s ongoing war with Hamas terrorists.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) received 209 votes from House Democrats, with three conference members absent — Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Lou Correa (D-Calif.) and Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.).
Johnson, 51, is the fourth candidate nominated in the 22 days since McCarthy’s departure, as Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) each won conference votes, but failed to get the gavel.
Jordan failed in three consecutive speaker votes last week, while Scalise and Emmer both withdrew before putting their nominations up for a House floor vote.
Republicans unanimously elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) as the 56th Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday’s vote. AFP via Getty Images The unanimous vote by 220 GOP House lawmakers ended more than three weeks of contention that has dominated the conference since the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).AFP via Getty Images
The new speaker urged Republicans and Democrats to “find common ground” in his opening remarks to the lower house and thanked McCarthy for his previous nine months of service in the majority.
“My office will be known for trust, transparency and accountability, for good oversight,” Johnson told members in his first address from the speaker’s chair, promising to unite warring factions in the GOP caucus.
“Once upon a time, [Americans] have great pride in this institution, but it is now in jeopardy,” he said, citing conflicts abroad, a “fractured” southern border and runaway federal spending.
Johnson, 51, is the fourth candidate to be nominated in the 22 days since McCarthy’s departure.Getty Images
In its first order of business with Johnson as speaker, the House passed a resolution affirming Israel’s right to self-defense by a vote of 412-10.
“Let the enemies of freedom around the world hear us loud and clear: The House of the People is back in business,” Johnson declared.
In a brief press conference after Johnson was sworn in, Scalise said of his fellow Louisianan: “I’ve seen this guy in action since I’ve been a state representative.”
The new speaker asked Republicans and Democrats to “find common ground” in his opening remarks to the lower house and thanked McCarthy for his service.Getty Images
“For people who don’t know Mike Johnson — maybe they’re Googled, maybe they’re looking somewhere else — but those who have known Mike Johnson for a long time,” Scalise said, “I’ve seen a commitment, a self-serving commitment to something bigger than himself .”
“Mike is a man of strong faith, a constitutional conservative and a fierce fighter for the common-sense Republican agenda,” Emmer added, calling on Johnson to lead congressional negotiations and “force the Biden White House and the Schumer Senate with us as we govern.”
“He has been an important leader in our conference for nearly three years as vice chair, and as speaker I know Mike will keep our majority united as we continue to deliver on the commitments we have made to our constituents.”
“Let the enemies of freedom around the world hear us loud and clear: The People’s House is back in business,” Johnson declared.Getty Images
Johnson added that he was “humbled” by showing support from his fellow Republicans and, in keeping with his Southern Baptist roots, quoted verses from the Bible.
“I was reminded of the verse that says suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance produces character, and character produces hope,” he said. “What we need in this country is more hope.”
“We’ve gone through a little bit of character building,” Johnson added, referring to the more than three weeks of gridlock that has plagued his caucus, “and you know that’s produced more strength, more resilience and a lot more hope — and that’s what we’re going to convey to the American people.”
“I’ve seen a commitment, a self-serving commitment to something bigger than himself,” Scalise said in support of his fellow Louisiana Republican.Getty Images
President Biden congratulated Johnson after his selection as speaker and pledged to work with him “in good faith on behalf of the American people, while urging the speaker” to move quickly to address our national security needs and avoid a shutdown in 22 days. “
“As House Republicans spend the last 22 days deciding who will lead their conference, I have been working on those pressing issues, proposing a historic supplemental funding package that advances our bipartisan national security interests in Israel and Ukraine, securing our borders, and investing in the American People,” Biden said in a statement.
“It is time for all of us to act responsibly, and put the good of the American people and the everyday priorities of the American family above any partisanship.”
Jordan failed in three consecutive speaker votes last week, while Scalise and Emmer both withdrew before putting their nominations up for a House floor vote.Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement that “I look forward to meeting with Speaker Johnson soon to discuss the path forward to avoid a government shutdown. When I meet with him, I will convey that bipartisanship is the only how we can deliver results for the American people. The only way to avoid a government shutdown, pass critical additional funding, and deliver investments that make sense to the American people is bipartisanship.”
Ahead of the vote, Johnson launched an “ambitious schedule” to avoid a partial shutdown on November 17 by passing a series of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024, according to a copy shared by CNN.
If the marathon legislative session proves too difficult, he pledged to support a stopgap measure to fund the government at current levels until Jan. 15 or April 15, if that is the consensus of the Republican conference.
Johnson added that he was “humbled” by showing support from his fellow Republicans and, in keeping with his southern Baptist roots, quoted verses from the Bible. AFP via Getty Images
Johnson insisted that his spending would “make sure the Senate can’t block the House with the Christmas omnibus.”
Passing such a stop bill, known as a continuing resolution, is one of the grievances cited by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in his call to vacate McCarthy’s speakership.
Florida Republican hardliners have accused McCarthy of scrapping a “secret side deal” with Biden to provide further US aid to Ukraine after the House passed a bipartisan measure to fund the government on September 30.
Passing the stopgap bill, known as a continuing resolution, is one of the reasons cited by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in his call to vacate McCarthy’s speakership.AP
Gaetz’s motion to vacate passed Oct. 3 with 208 Democrats and eight Republicans voting in favor, lifting Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) to the speaker’s chair to preside over the House temporarily.
McHenry refused to move the legislation at the time, saying he had consulted with House MPs and was advised he did not have the authority.
Johnson also laid out his top priorities as speaker for the entire 118th Congress in his spending proposals, including negotiating with the Senate to approve defense spending for the next two fiscal years and passing the Farm Bill.
Further allocations for energy and water development are expected to be debated and amended on Wednesday evening.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
