House Republicans plan to hold a second impeachment vote against Alejandro Mayorkas following Ron Johnson’s recent embarrassment
House Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Setbacks in Impeachment Votes
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) experienced a major blow on Tuesday as Republican dissenters caused upsets in two crucial floor votes. The first vote was on the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, while the second was on a billion-dollar aid bill for Israel.
In the impeachment vote, Mayorkas narrowly escaped being indicted by the House, with four Republicans voting against the measures. However, there is still hope for GOP leadership, as House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expect the resolution to be brought back for a vote next week.
The impeachment vote against Mayorkas was rejected by a narrow margin of 214-216. Despite two Republicans announcing their defections, GOP leadership remained confident in the success of the impeachment. However, the unexpected appearance of Rep. Al Green in a wheelchair after surgery disrupted their plans.
During the vote, Johnson was seen meeting with Republican members on the floor in an effort to change the minds of the three GOP members who voted against the impeachment. Majority Leader Steve Scalise was absent due to health problems, and Green’s last-minute appearance tipped the scales in favor of the Democrats.
The fourth GOP member who voted against the impeachment, Rep. Blake Moore, later changed his vote to allow for a procedural maneuver to bring up the articles again in the future.
Republicans are determined to retake the issue next week when they have the necessary votes for passage. Scalise is expected to return this month, which would give Republicans a narrow majority to push through the impeachment vote.
Republicans Look Forward to a Second Vote
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed the possibility of bringing the articles against Mayorkas back to the floor next week, eagerly awaiting Scalise’s return. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents a district along the southern border, also supports a second vote for impeachment.
Despite the failure of the impeachment vote, House Republicans remain determined. Rep. Gonzales stated, “I will not STOP until Secretary Mayorkas is IMPEACHED. House Republicans will hold the administration accountable, no matter how many votes it takes!”
The Department of Homeland Security criticized House Republicans for their continued efforts to impeach Mayorkas, calling it baseless and unconstitutional. They urged Republicans to support a bipartisan national security agreement in the Senate instead.
Failure of the Aid Bill for Israel
The second vote that failed was a $17.6 billion aid bill for Israel in its fight against Hamas. The bill required two-thirds of the House to support it but fell short with 14 Republicans voting against it and 166 Democrats. President Joe Biden’s veto threat also played a role in the bill’s failure.
Johnson blamed Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for the aid bill’s failure, as Democrats rallied against supporting Johnson’s bill due to its exclusion from the bigger Senate bill that included funding for Ukraine.
Despite the setbacks, Johnson remains committed to aiding Israel and expressed disappointment in the decision to reject the bill, calling it a rebuke to our closest ally in the Middle East.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, warned Republicans against continuing their impeachment efforts, stating that it had no foundation in the Constitution and would do nothing to secure the border.
How can House Speaker Mike Johnson address the divisions within the Republican party on issues of impeachment and government spending?
Advantage in future floor votes.
The second setback for Johnson came in the form of a billion-dollar aid bill for Israel. The bill, which aimed to provide funds for missile defense systems and other security measures, was rejected by a vote of 205-208. This marked a significant blow to both Johnson and to the Republican party’s support for Israel.
The rejection of the aid bill was largely due to Republican dissenters, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Matt Gaetz, who voted against it. Their opposition was based on concerns over the national deficit and government spending. Despite the setback, Johnson remains optimistic that the aid bill will be revived in the future.
The setbacks Johnson faced in these two crucial floor votes highlight the challenges he and the Republican party are currently facing. The divisions within the party, particularly on issues of impeachment and government spending, are becoming increasingly apparent. Johnson’s attempts to rally support and change the minds of dissenting members have so far proven to be unsuccessful.
However, it is important to note that these setbacks do not necessarily indicate a complete failure for Johnson and the Republican party. The narrow margins by which the votes were rejected suggest that there is still hope for future success. With the return of Majority Leader Steve Scalise and the potential for Republican unity, Johnson and his colleagues may be able to turn the tides in their favor.
Overall, the recent setbacks faced by House Speaker Mike Johnson in the impeachment vote against Alejandro Mayorkas and the rejection of the aid bill for Israel represent challenges for the Republican party. However, they also serve as opportunities for reflection and reevaluation. The coming weeks will be crucial for Johnson and his colleagues as they strive to regain momentum and advance their agenda.
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