Speaker Mike Johnson’s right flank ground the floor to a halt again on Wednesday, this time amid conservative fury over a spending deal he cut with Senate Democrats.
Roughly a dozen House Republicans threatened to join with Democrats to vote against starting debate on a trio of bills unrelated to the funding agreement, two of which are aimed at nixing Biden administration rules, which effectively freezes the floor. It’s the latest example of how House conservatives, largely in the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, are trying to punish leadership — even if they aren’t willing to oust Johnson.
The vote has remained open for a prolonged period of time, as Johnson huddles in his office with Republican members of the Rules Committee.
“We don’t have a great deal of opportunity to express our disapprobation,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz,) said about why conservatives pulled that move.
