Members of Congress have a few basic expectations for whoever holds the speaker’s gavel, and Rep. Mike Johnson isn’t meeting them.
Johnson is failing on multiple fronts: Lawmakers don’t know what the House will work on each week and the chamber’s schedule frequently falls apart. Republicans are forced to take uncomfortable or pointless votes. They don’t have much clarity into Johnson’s strategic thinking. The only area they think Johnson is doing particularly well in right now is fundraising.
“Everybody’s frustrated. I’m frustrated,” Florida Rep. Byron Donalds told reporters. GOP leaders, Donalds argued, should strategize further in advance, make firm decisions and stick to them.