A third Republican member of the House of Representatives has joined the push to remove Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana from his position due to his proposed $95 billion foreign aid plan.
Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona issued a statement following a key procedural vote on the House floor, criticizing the plan which received more support from Democrats than Republicans. Gosar expressed frustration over the lack of linkage between the foreign aid proposal, particularly funds allocated to Ukraine, and measures addressing U.S. border security.
In his statement, Gosar voiced concerns that the House of Representatives, under Speaker Johnson’s leadership, is on the brink of approving substantial funds for Ukraine without addressing border security issues. He emphasized the need for a speaker who prioritizes American interests over what he referred to as “the reckless demands of warmongers, neo-cons, and the military-industrial complex.”
Gosar endorsed a resolution introduced by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, aimed at challenging Johnson’s handling of foreign aid and government spending. This resolution, known as a motion to vacate, requires only one lawmaker to file it to prompt a House-wide vote on removing the speaker.
Another Republican, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, also backed Greene’s resolution earlier in the week, threatening to call for Johnson’s removal if he did not step aside following the expected House floor vote on the foreign aid plan.
The proposal put forth by Johnson has faced opposition from within the Republican Party, particularly regarding the allocation of $60 billion to Ukraine. Additionally, conservative members criticized the decision to combine multiple bills into one comprehensive package, arguing that it resembled a previous foreign aid package passed by the Democrat-majority chamber earlier in the year.
In response to the growing discontent, Representative Eli Crane of Arizona acknowledged the sentiment among colleagues and emphasized the importance of demonstrating a commitment to fighting for the interests of the American people.
As tensions remain within the Senate and the Senate is split like never before, the foreign aid plan is unlikely to be implemented.
