The House rules package released Wednesday raises the threshold for removing the Speaker of the House, as some conservatives consider a move to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
The House rules package raises the threshold to introduce the motion to vacate, a parliamentary procedure to remove the Speaker of the House. The new threshold requires that a member of the majority party — in this case, Republicans — and eight additional members of that same party sign onto the motion to vacate to remove the Speaker.
This is a drastic change to insulate Johnson from being potentially ousted. The prior rule required only one House lawmaker to introduce the motion to vacate.
While some Republicans have considered supporting a potential move to oust Johnson, President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Johnson on December 30 after letting the Speaker twist in the wind for 11 days.
Trump wrote in a relatively boilerplate language:
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!!! […]
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