A group of eleven conservative members from the House Freedom Caucus have issued a stern warning to Speaker Mike Johnson, expressing their discontent with his leadership.
This comes as a surprise, given their recent support for his re-election to the position.
According to The Post Millennial, the group, spearheaded by Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris and Representative Chip Roy, penned a letter to their Republican colleagues. In this correspondence, they detailed their apprehensions about Johnson's leadership and laid out their expectations for the future. Speaker Johnson must prove he will not fail to enact President Trumps bold agenda, the letter asserted.
The caucus members clarified that their endorsement of Johnsons speakership was rooted in their steadfast support of President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors. However, they also expressed their reservations, stating, We did this despite our sincere reservations regarding the Speakers track record over the past 15 months.
The letter underscored several policy priorities that the group insists Johnson must champion. These include border security, inflation reduction, and legislation that would prohibit members of Congress from trading stocks. Personalities can be debated later, but right now there is zero room for error on the policies the American people demanded when they voted for President Trump the ones necessary to save the country, the letter declared.
The caucus members criticized Johnson for his lack of commitment to several principles. These include ensuring that no bills progress without the backing of a majority of Republicans and avoiding dependence on Democrat votes for approval. They also expressed their belief that Johnson should have pledged to not increase federal borrowing before real spending cuts are agreed to and in place.
This criticism follows a December vote on a short-term spending bill that incorporated a debt ceiling increase. While President-elect Trump urged Republicans to raise the debt limit to prevent Democrats from using it as a bargaining chip once he assumes office, that version of the spending bill ultimately fell through. A significant number of Republicans rejected it due to concerns about spending hikes without corresponding cuts.
The letter was also signed by Representatives Andy Biggs, Scott Perry, Clay Higgins, Michael Cloud, Andy Ogles, Eli Crane, Eric Burlison, Ralph Norman, and Andrew Clyde. These representatives, like their colleagues, are seeking a more conservative approach to governance, one that aligns with the principles and policies championed by President Trump.
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