Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said a group of Democratic lawmakers could prevent Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) from ousting Speaker Mike Johnson by not voting on a motion to leave office.
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Transcript: MSNBC/Inside, Jen Psaki:
PSAKI: Even before that, there are Republican lawmakers who are threatening to oust Chairman Johnson. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course.
And the real possibility is that the alternative may be worse. I mean, these are crazy times we live in. Would you support him and vote for him as speaker if it were up to you? Or do you think other Democrats would, too?
SCHIFF: What do you think would happen if they pushed this initiative to oust him because he funded Ukraine? Then there would be a large enough group of Democrats who would simply walk away and not vote. Honestly, that's probably the right result.
I don't think it does the speaker any good to have Democrats take on the responsibility of rescuing him. But Republicans will essentially vote for the speaker. Just because the voting threshold has been lowered, the votes of crazy people, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gosar, etc. won't in any way prevent the House of Representatives from governing.
video:
Adam Schiff says Democrats could help Mike Johnson keep his job by not voting on a motion to leave office. pic.twitter.com/l5KhH2rc9B
— Sarah Liz Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 30, 2024
A group of Democrats could decide not to vote on the motion to leave office, which could lower the number of votes Johnson needs to keep his job and ensure Democrats don't have to vote for the Republican chairman.
Democrats can wash their hands of the whole thing and walk away and make it a Republican problem. Republicans hold the majority. They have to figure it out. It is their job to select and maintain speakers.
This solution makes the most sense and wins overall because it takes away Marjorie Taylor Greene's power. The House continues to operate and Greene loses.
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Jason is the editor-in-chief. He is also a member of the White House Correspondent and Congressional Correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. His graduate studies focused on public policy, specializing in social reform movements.
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Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association.