* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Beyond the Stage: 8 Performing Arts Centers Driving Entertainment and Education – Livability.com

    Beyond the Stage: 8 Performing Arts Centers Transforming Entertainment and Education

    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Charlie Hunnam Reflects on Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story – Yahoo

    Charlie Hunnam Reveals the Dark Challenges of Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    Why Taylor Swift Name-Dropped Elizabeth Taylor in Her New Album – Yahoo

    Here’s Why Taylor Swift Dropped Elizabeth Taylor’s Name in Her New Album

    Al Roker Gives Olivia Dean an Unexpected ‘New Job’ on the ‘Today’ Show – Yahoo

    Al Roker Shocks Olivia Dean with an Exciting New Role on the ‘Today’ Show

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts – Financial Times

    US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts – Financial Times

    Is Light-Speed Analog Computing the Future of Technology? – BIOENGINEER.ORG

    Could Light-Speed Analog Computing Transform the Future of Technology?

    ARM Institute opens technology project call to speed submarine manufacturing – The Robot Report

    ARM Institute Unveils Cutting-Edge Technology Project to Revolutionize Submarine Manufacturing

    Forget Cowbells. Cows Wear High-Tech Collars Now. – The New York Times

    Ditch the Cowbells: Discover the High-Tech Collars Transforming Cattle Care

    What the Recent Price Surge Means for Figure Technology Solutions After SEC Settlement – Yahoo Finance

    What the Recent Price Surge Reveals About Figure Technology Solutions Following SEC Settlement

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Beyond the Stage: 8 Performing Arts Centers Driving Entertainment and Education – Livability.com

    Beyond the Stage: 8 Performing Arts Centers Transforming Entertainment and Education

    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Charlie Hunnam Reflects on Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story – Yahoo

    Charlie Hunnam Reveals the Dark Challenges of Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    Why Taylor Swift Name-Dropped Elizabeth Taylor in Her New Album – Yahoo

    Here’s Why Taylor Swift Dropped Elizabeth Taylor’s Name in Her New Album

    Al Roker Gives Olivia Dean an Unexpected ‘New Job’ on the ‘Today’ Show – Yahoo

    Al Roker Shocks Olivia Dean with an Exciting New Role on the ‘Today’ Show

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts – Financial Times

    US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts – Financial Times

    Is Light-Speed Analog Computing the Future of Technology? – BIOENGINEER.ORG

    Could Light-Speed Analog Computing Transform the Future of Technology?

    ARM Institute opens technology project call to speed submarine manufacturing – The Robot Report

    ARM Institute Unveils Cutting-Edge Technology Project to Revolutionize Submarine Manufacturing

    Forget Cowbells. Cows Wear High-Tech Collars Now. – The New York Times

    Ditch the Cowbells: Discover the High-Tech Collars Transforming Cattle Care

    What the Recent Price Surge Means for Figure Technology Solutions After SEC Settlement – Yahoo Finance

    What the Recent Price Surge Reveals About Figure Technology Solutions Following SEC Settlement

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

How Mike Johnson won a key vote – and handles reins of speakership

March 23, 2024
in Science
How Mike Johnson won a key vote – and handles reins of speakership
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It’s hard to overstate how steep Mike Johnson’s learning curve has been since taking over as speaker of the House five months ago.

“When you’re in uncharted waters, as we are – dark skies on the horizon and all that – you have to know where the fixed points on the horizon are,” said the Louisiana conservative. That means sticking to what he calls America’s foundational principles, from fiscal responsibility to “peace through strength.”

Why We Wrote This

The House speakership has always been a prime post of power. Now, due to Republicans’ slim majority and battles within their ranks, Speaker Mike Johnson’s job is also riding a vortex.

Speaker Johnson’s ability to keep the ship – whether it’s his speakership, the Republican Party, or Congress itself – from running aground was put to its biggest test yet this week. A 1,012-page bill with $1.2 trillion in government funding had to pass both the House and Senate before 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, or much of the government would shut down. 

Mr. Johnson, who needed two-thirds of the chamber’s support for the bill, narrowly cleared that hurdle thanks to nearly all Democrats and about half of Republicans voting in favor. The passage marks a substantial achievement for the rookie speaker, who has so far managed to hold his fractured party together even as discontent simmers. Supporters credit his calm disposition and willingness to listen.

“I’m hard-pressed to see who could do it better,” says Doug Heye, a former GOP leadership aide.

If Americans were asked to pick the Speaker of the House out of a lineup, few would likely point to the short man in horn-rimmed glasses staring at the floor and pursing his lips.

Even Mike Johnson himself sometimes looks as if he can’t quite believe he’s the most powerful politician in the U.S. House of Representatives. When preparing to brief reporters, he can often be seen taking a deep breath, lifting his chin, and putting on a dignified expression – as he did Wednesday, when House GOP leadership gathered for a press conference ahead of yet another potential government shutdown.

Asked to expound upon his first five months on the job, the Louisianan chose a hurricane metaphor.

Why We Wrote This

The House speakership has always been a prime post of power. Now, due to Republicans’ slim majority and battles within their ranks, Speaker Mike Johnson’s job is also riding a vortex.

“When you’re in choppy seas, when you’re in uncharted waters, as we are – dark skies on the horizon and all that – you have to know where the fixed points on the horizon are,” he said. That means sticking to what he calls America’s foundational principles, from fiscal responsibility to “peace through strength.”

Speaker Johnson’s ability to keep the ship – whether it’s his speakership, the Republican Party, or Congress itself – from running aground was put to its biggest test yet this week. A 1,012-page bill with $1.2 trillion in government funding had to pass both the House and Senate before 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, or much of the government would shut down. 

Mr. Johnson, who needed two-thirds of the chamber’s support for the bill, narrowly cleared that hurdle thanks to nearly all Democrats and about half of Republicans voting in favor. The 286-134 passage marks a substantial achievement for the rookie speaker, who has managed to hold his fractured party together even as discontent simmers beneath the surface. 

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who had urged the speaker not to bring a bill supported by far more Democrats than Republicans, filed a “motion to vacate” the speaker’s chair on Friday morning. However, with Congress headed for a two-week break and Ms. Greene telling press it was “more of a warning,” an ouster of Mr. Johnson does not currently appear imminent.

He has already reluctantly approved four stopgap spending measures, three more than the one that triggered his predecessor’s removal. His party’s majority is down to a two-vote margin, and that’s about to narrow further; on Friday Wisconsin GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher announced he intends to leave Congress next month. Meanwhile, the national debt is growing by nearly $100,000 a second, and the right has been demanding cuts.

In some ways, the new speaker had little room to maneuver – but neither did his rebel flank. With Democrats controlling the Senate and White House, Mr. Johnson had to compromise. And while that rankled hardline Republicans, even they have shown little appetite for a shutdown, or for a repeat of the weeks-long crisis that ensued after they abruptly ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Still, there is no guarantee that the untested Mr. Johnson can continue to keep things from going off the rails. For now, supporters credit the new speaker’s calm disposition and willingness to listen.

“I’m hard pressed to see who could do it better,” says Doug Heye, a former GOP leadership aide.

Veteran Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who chairs the influential Rules committee, goes further. Given the circumstances, he says, Speaker Johnson is doing remarkably well.

“I’m very proud of what he’s been able to do,” says Chairman Cole. “He’s in a more secure position than most people seem to think.” 

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/AP

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, shown at a House Rules Committee hearing in the U.S. Capitol Dec. 12, 2023, says Speaker Johnson has had fewer “carrots and sticks” to use as leverage with his members than his predecessor.

Learning on the job

It’s hard to overstate how steep Mike Johnson’s learning curve has been.

“He went from moving at 5 m.p.h. to 100 m.p.h. very, very quickly,” says a one-time aide to former GOP Speaker John Boehner. While rank-and-file members of Congress may face a handful of consequential decisions over the course of a term, the speaker faces numerous ones every day – with constant scrutiny not only from the press but from fellow members.

A key question has been how to handle a group of about 20 conservatives, mostly but not entirely from the House Freedom Caucus, who have pushed hard to rein in spending and change the way the House does business. 

They have repeatedly engaged in what GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, once considered among the most rebellious of House Republicans, dubs “procedural violence” to stymie their own party leaders. 

Former Speaker McCarthy, whose prodigious fundraising and indefatigable stumping for GOP candidates helped his party win back the House in 2022, arguably had more leverage over his caucus, including the ability to make committee appointments. Mr. Johnson, who took over in October has had fewer bargaining chips.

“He doesn’t have carrots or sticks,” says Representative Massie. “It’s like having a substitute teacher and the class figuring out they can kind of push the teacher around.”

Democrats say the House under Mr. Johnson’s leadership has been “a mess” and “much more chaotic” than under Mr. McCarthy – a state of affairs that has greatly reduced the chamber’s ability to pass legislation on behalf of Americans around the country. As of January, this two-year Congress was on track to pass the fewest number of bills since the Great Depression.

“They are so busy fighting with themselves, aligning with the most extreme members of their conference, that the American people are left out of the picture,” says Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts. 

The frustration over budgets 

For years, conservatives have been unhappy about the budget process, which members on both sides of the aisle agree has broken down. One big sticking point has been the reliance on stop-gap funding measures, which continue funding the government temporarily at previously agreed levels – in this fiscal year, that means levels set by the previous Democratic majority. A second is the last-minute cramming of multiple appropriation bills into a single larger bill, called an omnibus or minibus. A third is failure to allow sufficient opportunity to review or amend spending bills. 

A key rule change conservatives won last year was restoring the 72-hour review period for legislation – a rule Speaker Johnson waived in order to pass the funding package by Friday at midnight, since the text was only released at 3 a.m. on Thursday.

This “minibus” includes funding for the departments of Labor, Education, Treasury, and Homeland Security. The last proved the thorniest in negotiations, as border security and immigration has become the No. 1 election issue. Among the provisions are a 25% increase in border technology spending and half a billion dollars to hire 22,000 more Border Patrol agents, as well as 12,000 special visas to bring Afghan former interpreters for the U.S. military and their families to the U.S.

Speaker Johnson speaks with GOP Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington (center) and Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas (left) before the State of the Union address.

Speaker Johnson shares many conservative principles with the Freedom Caucus. But he has taken issue with their tactics. And he appears to have concluded that he doesn’t need their support to get this funding passed. Before Ms. Greene filed her resolution Friday morning, there had not been any serious talk of a move to oust him by bringing a “motion to vacate” the speaker’s chair, as Rep. Matt Gaetz did with Mr. McCarthy.

A listener who can also be unbending

Observers say that goes to show that the real issue with Mr. McCarthy was personal; Mr. Johnson, by contrast, is generally well-liked and trusted. 

“He doesn’t act like the smartest person in the room,” says GOP Budget committee chair Jodey Arrington of Texas, a friend. “But his mind, his character, and his leadership qualities are huge.” Foundational to his approach, adds Mr. Arrington, is the speaker’s deep Christian faith and a sense of peace and purpose derived from feeling called to take on this role.  

Democrats credit Mr. Johnson for his civility, but they express deep concerns about the extent to which he – a constitutional lawyer who earlier in his career advocated against abortion and same-sex marriage – brings his religious views into his work in Congress. Others describe him as unbending in his views. 

“He has a gentility to him, but he also has a rigid perspective on history,” says Rep. Deborah Ross, a North Carolina Democrat who served with him on the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and said they couldn’t have been further apart on the issue of voting rights.

Among conservatives, the criticism is not personal but focused on negotiating tactics and procedure. 

“We could have fought harder to achieve the objectives we set out to achieve,” says Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a Freedom Caucus leader, who nevertheless calls the speaker “a good man, a good friend.”

One huge missed opportunity, says Mr. Massie, was not leveraging a provision Mr. McCarthy had secured in a deal he struck with the White House last summer, which would cut the budget by 1% if a funding deal wasn’t agreed to by April 30. That would have enabled the GOP to negotiate with Democrats not against the threat of a shutdown – which can be politically detrimental – but against the threat of a 1% cut that passed into law with strong Democratic support.

Up next: U.S. role in global security

The pressure won’t let up anytime soon. Now that Mr. Johnson got the budget passed – albeit nearly halfway through the fiscal year – his next challenge will be figuring out what to do about aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which President Joe Biden requested as a package last fall. To many lawmakers, it’s an existential security issue –and one he should be willing to take a stand for even if it costs him his job.

“I’m imploring him to be decent and honest and do the right thing for funding our government and protecting democracies around the world,” says Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, who served with Mr. Johnson on the Armed Services committee. “I know him to have a good character, and I believe that he should be the speaker for all of us and not just the speaker for the Republican Party.”

Multiple Democrats interviewed for this story said he didn’t appear interested in listening to them or their party. But Rep. Robert Aderholt, an Alabama freshman who chairs one of the Appropriations subcommittees, says when he has brought concerns to Mr. Johnson, the speaker is always ready to listen. 

“He’s never been dismissive,” says Representative Aderholt, adding that the concerns he voiced about one appropriations bill were ultimately resolved. However, Mr. Aderholt voted against the $1.2 trillion bill, criticizing Senate Democrats for filling it with “woke easter eggs.” 

“The best speaker is a good listener, and Mike Johnson definitely has that ability,” the former Boehner aide says, adding: “I think this could have gone sideways in any number of ways.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated midday Friday to reflect the vote in the House of Representatives on a $1.2 trillion spending bill.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : The Christian Science Monitor – https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2024/0321/How-Mike-Johnson-won-a-key-vote-and-handles-reins-of-speakership?icid=rss

Tags: handlesJohnsonscience
Previous Post

Is GOP losing its grip on Ohio? Primary could be a signal of things to come.

Next Post

Congress unveiled a spending package. What made Dems and Republicans agree?

Blackwater photos suggest new symbiosis between fish and anemones – EurekAlert!

Breathtaking Blackwater Photos Unveil an Unexpected Alliance Between Fish and Anemones

October 8, 2025
WATCH LIVE: The winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry is… – PBS

Breaking News: Unveiling the Latest Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry!

October 8, 2025
Soar through a 1,000-mile-long maze on Mars in this mesmerizing new satellite video – Live Science

Discover a Breathtaking 1,000-Mile-Long Maze on Mars in This Mesmerizing New Satellite Video

October 8, 2025
Video: Dog Sighs in Different Situations Like ‘He Works 9-5′ – Yahoo

Watch This Dog’s Hilarious Sighs That Perfectly Capture Everyday Life Moments

October 8, 2025
US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts – Financial Times

US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts – Financial Times

October 8, 2025
Wings, booze and heartbreak – what my research says about the hidden costs of sports fandom – The Conversation

Wings, Booze, and Heartbreak: The Untold Price of Being a Devoted Sports Fan

October 8, 2025
Create Your Own Private Garden and Escape the World – Signals AZ

Design Your Own Private Garden Sanctuary and Escape the Everyday

October 8, 2025
Rethinking New York City’s Economy: “The Menace Of Prosperity” – Forbes

Rethinking New York City’s Economy: Confronting the Hidden Challenges of Prosperity

October 8, 2025
Beyond the Stage: 8 Performing Arts Centers Driving Entertainment and Education – Livability.com

Beyond the Stage: 8 Performing Arts Centers Transforming Entertainment and Education

October 8, 2025
Eagles Host Towson Wednesday for Mental Health Awareness Game – aueagles.com

Eagles Face Towson Wednesday in Impactful Mental Health Awareness Showdown

October 7, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (857)
  • Economy (877)
  • Entertainment (21,750)
  • General (17,474)
  • Health (9,919)
  • Lifestyle (890)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (879)
  • Politics (888)
  • Science (16,088)
  • Sports (21,378)
  • Technology (15,858)
  • World (860)

Recent News

Blackwater photos suggest new symbiosis between fish and anemones – EurekAlert!

Breathtaking Blackwater Photos Unveil an Unexpected Alliance Between Fish and Anemones

October 8, 2025
WATCH LIVE: The winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry is… – PBS

Breaking News: Unveiling the Latest Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry!

October 8, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version