House to vote on Johnson's foreign aid bills as GOP rebels' ouster threat looms

The House of Representatives is holding a uncommon Saturday ballot to see Speaker Mike Johnson’s overseas assistance plan, which has spurred calls for his ouster by a mini group of GOP rebels.

Three of nan 4 bills money Ukraine, Israel and nan Indo-Pacific, totaling astir $95 billion. A 4th measure includes nationalist information priorities for illustration nan House’s precocious passed crackdown connected TikTok’s ownership, arsenic good arsenic nan REPO Act, which would liquidate seized Russian assets and springiness that backing to Ukraine.

Each is expected to person a last ballot sometime later this day aft lawmakers measurement amendments to each but nan Israel bill, which House leaders decided must enactment arsenic is.

Among nan amendments up for information is 1 by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., 1 of nan House GOP’s fiercest overseas assistance skeptics, to portion each costs from nan $60 cardinal Ukraine assistance bill. It’s not apt to pass, but it could get a important magnitude of Republican support pinch a increasing number of right-wing lawmakers opposed to nan U.S.' engagement successful Kyiv’s warfare pinch Moscow.

DEMS SAVE JOHNSON'S $95B FOREIGN AID PLAN FROM GOP REBEL BLOCKADE

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing mounting threats to his activity domiciled complete his push for overseas aid. (Getty Images)

Johnson's handling of overseas assistance and authorities spending spurred Greene to record a solution calling for a ballot to oust him from power, known arsenic a mobility to vacate nan chair. Since revealing nan specifications of his scheme earlier this week, 2 much Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. — person formally backed her effort.

Foreign assistance has proven to beryllium 1 of nan astir politically fraught fights Johnson has faced successful his short tenure arsenic speaker. As has been nan lawsuit for astir analyzable issues, he’s caught successful a two-front conflict betwixt nan Democrat-controlled Senate and White House, arsenic good arsenic outspoken conservatives successful his ain convention — namely nan House Freedom Caucus and their allies.

The erstwhile group had been pressuring Johnson to return up nan Senate’s $95 cardinal supplemental assistance package arsenic 1 item, while nan second objected to overseas assistance without spending offsets aliases separator information measures.

HOUSE TAKES KEY TEST VOTE FOR JOHNSON’S $95B FOREIGN AID PLAN AFTER DEMS HELP IT ADVANCE

To assuage GOP separator concerns, Johnson is besides holding a ballot connected a separator information and migration measure connected Saturday — though it’s improbable to pass. Republican rebels blasted that move arsenic a meaningless display, arguing that Johnson knows it has nary chance successful nan Senate if not paired pinch overseas aid. 

The overseas assistance connection passed a cardinal procedural hurdle connected Friday greeting known arsenic a norm vote, which now allows for statement and transition of nan last bills.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., joined a push to oust Johnson aft his overseas assistance scheme passed a procedural hurdle connected Friday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rule votes person traditionally fallen crossed statement lines, pinch lawmakers connected some sides pursuing their activity to let for a ballot connected authorities moreover if they don't work together pinch its contents.

However, members of nan ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus person deliberately sunk GOP norm votes respective times this Congress successful protestation of House Republican leadership's decisions.

In a stunning move of events not often seen successful modern U.S. politics, Democrats leaped to nan overseas assistance proposal's rescue and provided much than capable support to antagonistic nan 55 Republican defections — thing that further irked Johnson's right-wing critics.

TENSIONS ERUPT ON HOUSE FLOOR AS CONSERVATIVES CONFRONT JOHNSON ON $95B FOREIGN AID PLAN

Not only did Democrats ballot for nan rule, they outnumbered Republicans successful support. It sewage 165 Democratic "yes" votes compared to 151 Republicans, for a full 316 to 94 margin.

"We agreed pinch nan objective," Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., nan erstwhile House mostly leader, told reporters erstwhile asked astir nan overwhelming Democratic support. "I deliberation Democrats are going to proceed to prevention nan country. And erstwhile nan speaker proposes thing that we deliberation is bully for nan country, we're not going to arbitrarily reason it because it happens to beryllium a Republican proposal."

Former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Democrats helped nan scheme walk a procedural hurdle because they "agreed pinch nan objective." (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., accused Johnson of dividing nan Republican Party but distanced himself from calls for his ouster.

"Funding Ukraine divides nan country. It divides Republicans tremendously, divides nan Republican conference, arsenic evidenced by nan ballot today, conscionable a infinitesimal ago. And truthful that should not beryllium our starting point, to do what nan Democrats want to do," Good said.

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Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas, 1 of nan House's GOP nationalist information hawks, said he was "absolutely" relieved that nan bills precocious connected Friday but that he was "confident" they would.

Unlike his colleagues who were criticizing nan show of bipartisanship, Ellzey said he was gladsome to spot Democrats subordinate norms to support nan rule.

"I deliberation that, this is simply a bully point for america now, for our nationalist security, and nan assurance of our friends and friends crossed nan world, that we are a dependable partner, and it's bipartisan. Americans travel together successful times for illustration this," he said.