Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) hinted on Sunday that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) might benefit from the House’s bipartisan approval of a substantial foreign aid bill this week. At least three members of Johnson’s GOP conference are currently threatening to remove him from his position as Speaker.
During an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt,” Ivey was asked if he and other Democrats would support Johnson in the event of a motion-to-vacate. While acknowledging the progress made on Saturday, Ivey remained noncommittal and did not reveal his stance.
When asked about the future prospects, he responded, “We will have to wait and see.” However, he expressed his positive outlook on the recent developments. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between Speaker Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, emphasizing their joint commitment. He also mentioned the significance of the bipartisan legislation FIDA, acknowledging its importance and successful completion.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-La.) brought forward a motion last month to remove Johnson from his position as Speaker of the House due to concerns about his handling of Ukraine aid and government spending. Last week, tensions escalated when Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) announced their support for the motion.
It is still unclear whether Greene will bring the threat of her ouster to the floor for a vote or disclose the conditions that would prompt her to do so.
The House passed a foreign aid package on Saturday, encompassing various national security measures and providing financial support to several countries. The package includes approximately $61 billion allocated for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the package includes measures that could potentially result in a ban on the TikTok app.
Ivey made the argument that the bipartisan vote for the package on Saturday, as well as the recent reauthorization of the nation’s warrantless surveillance powers, showcases significant progress.
“So, it seems like we’ve reached a moment where we can achieve progress by collaborating in a bipartisan manner,” Ivey expressed. “In fact, nearly all significant accomplishments in this Congress, such as keeping the government operational and fulfilling our financial obligations, have been achieved through bipartisan efforts. Democrats are willing to collaborate with him, and he has demonstrated his willingness to work with us as well. This could potentially be a positive development.”
The Senate is expected to vote on the foreign aid bill later this week after it passed through the previous stage.
