Bitter divisions erupt after Johnson shuts House floor over Republican mutiny
House Republicans are still embroiled in a divisive internal struggle after proceedings came to a screeching halt on Tuesday over a contentious move by a small group of GOP lawmakers to block Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., from altering chamber procedures. The stalemate reached a boiling point when nine House Republicans joined forces with Democrats to block a routine procedural vote, known as a “rule vote,” from passing on Tuesday afternoon. This unexpected turn of events occurred after House leaders slipped an unrelated provision into the measure that aimed to thwart Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., from pushing for a vote on allowing new parents in the House to cast their votes remotely.
Speaker Johnson expressed his disappointment at the outcome and made the decision to abruptly end the House’s legislative week early, sending lawmakers back to their respective districts two days ahead of schedule and canceling the remaining votes. The unexpected disruption left many on both sides feeling frustrated and disillusioned with the current state of affairs in the House of Representatives.
The rift between Johnson and Luna over the issue of proxy voting for new parents has only deepened, with accusations and counter-accusations flying back and forth. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., took to social media to express her displeasure with the situation, criticizing Republicans who sided with Democrats and calling for a united front within the party. On the other hand, Republicans who opposed Luna’s efforts argued that allowing proxy voting for new parents goes against the will of the House GOP majority and the American people.
The clash between Johnson and Luna intensified when the speaker accused Luna and her supporters of stalling the Trump administration’s agenda. Luna, however, defended her position by pointing out that Johnson could have removed the provision blocking her measure from the “rule” and held a separate vote, where it likely would have passed. The back-and-forth between the two lawmakers has only served to further divide the House Republicans and raise tensions within the party.
Despite the discord, some Republicans stood by Johnson’s decision to end the legislative week early, citing the need to protect the integrity of the House and prevent abuse of proxy voting privileges. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., voiced her support for Johnson’s actions and expressed hope that the House would be able to come together and resume business as usual in the near future.
The disagreement stemmed from a provision added to the “rule” that would have restricted lawmakers’ ability to file discharge petitions, a mechanism used to force the consideration of legislation even against the wishes of the House leadership. Luna had utilized a discharge petition to push for a vote on a bill allowing new parents in the House to vote remotely during the first 12 weeks after a child’s birth, a move that had garnered support from both Democrats and some Republicans.
As the standoff continued, Johnson met with members of the House Rules Committee to address the situation, but no definitive decisions were made. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., one of the conservatives opposed to Luna’s push, emphasized his concern about the potential consequences of proxy voting and expressed a desire to find a resolution that would satisfy all parties involved.
Moving forward, Johnson hinted at the possibility of introducing a new “rule” early next week, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing debate. The House Republicans remain divided on the issue of proxy voting for new parents, with tensions running high and no clear resolution in sight. The internal strife within the party highlights the challenges of governing and the complexities of balancing competing interests within the House of Representatives.
