House Democrats are pushing back furiously against a proposed change to House rules that would allow only Republicans to force a vote on removing the speaker of the House.
Why it matters: Top Democrats are arguing the move would inhibit bipartisanship and effectively make House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) answerable only to his members — not the entire House…
Driving the news: The 36-page rules package for the 119th Congress, unveiled on Wednesday, raises the threshold to introduce what is called a motion to vacate in multiple ways.
- Whereas in the last Congress, any single House member could introduce such a motion, now eight others have to co-sponsor the measure.
- But all nine of those lawmakers have to be members of the majority party — which will be the Republicans in this Congress.
- The rule change is part of a deal struck by House Republicans’ internal factions in November as the party renominated Johnson for speaker.