One of the Most Annoying NYT Columnists Is Finally Leaving
I'm Sure The View Regretted Inviting John Fetterman for This Interview
Science Lover Jake Tapper Connects Climate & Earthquakes, and WaPo’s Bronze Star Paradox...
Why Are Politicians So Weak?
Trump Administration Energy Policy Imperatives
One Story That Says It All
Thanks to the Elites, College Is Now a Costly Path to Nowhere
Pearl Harbor and the Power of Unity
Kamala Harris and (the Lack of) California Competition
Is This the Golden Age for American Government Reform?
Kavanaugh 2.0
Cut Government, Save Animals: Here Are 3 Awful Agencies and Programs DOGE Can...
AOC Eying Top Democratic Role
'You're Disgusting:' Radio Host Unloads on Liberal After She Accuses Pete Hegseth of...
Why Are the Deepest Red State 'Republicans' the Most Opposed to Trump’s Cabinet...
Tipsheet

GOP Moves to Make It Harder to Invoke Motion to Vacate Speaker of the House

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

House Republicans announced new rules that would make it nine times harder to remove the Speaker of the House from its seat as the GOP gets ready to vote on its new speaker. 

Advertisement

According to a report from CNN, the House Freedom Caucus and governing-focused GOP Main Street Caucus have agreed to allow changes to the motion to vacate, which would raise the threshold to trigger a motion to force a vote to remove the Speaker of the House from one member to nine.

Although the motion to vacate is rarely used, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted from his chair in 2023 in a motion filed by now-attorney general Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Seven other Republicans backed the motion, ultimately leading to now-Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) filling his seat. 

Then, only months later, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to remove Johnson from his seat. However, it failed. 

A CNN report noted that if Johnson successfully raised the threshold, it would eliminate a crucial problem for him in the next Congress. 

The conservative House Freedom Caucus and governing-focused GOP Main Street Caucus had been in talks — along with Speaker Mike Johnson – about changes to the motion to vacate, according to three Republicans involved in the discussions. An internal party rule change would defuse the procedural weapon used to remove Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, from power. In exchange, GOP lawmakers would not push for changes that would punish members for voting against rule.

If Johnson can successfully raise the threshold, it would eliminate a key problem for him in the next Congress, where CNN projected on Wednesday that Republicans will have a majority in the House. The GOP conference would need to approve the deal on Thursday.

Advertisement

Member of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), said the agreement would “eliminate the controversial issues” to “deliver on” Trump’s agenda. 

“We had an opportunity to set the motion to vacate at a higher than number one; that motion to vacate will be set at nine in return for getting rid of some amendments that probably would have divided this conference. Andy did a good job of explaining to Main Street leadership why those amendments would have divided the Republican conference,” Johnson said. 

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement