A group of House Republicans who had previously been skeptical of House Speaker Mike Johnson have now come around and delivered a dramatic win on the first ballot. The 11 House Republicans, including Rep. Ralph Norman, released a letter outlining a list of demands for Speaker Johnson now that he holds the gavel.
In their letter, the lawmakers called on Johnson to add more session days to the House calendar, ensure that any reconciliation package includes significant spending cuts, and avoid putting bills on the floor that heavily rely on Democratic support or that are brought up before the 72-hour review period for legislation.
The lawmakers emphasized that their decision to support Johnson for Speaker was driven by their unwavering support for President Trump and the need for the timely certification of his electors. Despite their reservations about Johnson's track record over the past 15 months, they felt compelled to vote in his favor.
Highlighting their legislative priorities, the lawmakers made it clear that Johnson has no margin for error moving forward. They are pushing for a more conservative approach to session scheduling, fiscal responsibility in reconciliation packages, and a commitment to allowing ample time for members to review proposed legislation.
