Newt Gingrich, who led House Republicans for much of the later portion of Bill Clinton’s presidency, is supporting Mike Johnson, the embattled speaker.
“I tell everybody that I was a pretty good speaker. Gingrich informed John Catsimatidis of 77 WABC that he could never do his job. “He has no margin. Any two or three members may rebel at any time.”
The House will meet on Friday to choose a speaker. And, with Republicans anticipated to hold a razor-thin 219-215 majority, Johnson can only afford one defection if he wants to preserve his position.
Rep. Thomas Massie has already announced that he will vote for someone else. And both previous and current House Freedom Caucus leaders, Reps. Scott Perry (R-Penn.) and Andy Harris (R-Md.), have questioned the direction of their votes.
“I think Mike has done an admirable job under difficult circumstances, but I’m going to keep my options open,” Perry stated last Friday on Fox Business. “I want to have a conversation with Mike.”
Unruly Republicans have centered their ire on Johnson’s handling of a short-term December government funding bill that needed Democratic help to pass the House. 34 Republicans opposed the plan.
The plan supports the government until March 14 and provides more than $110 billion in disaster relief.
Gingrich described it as a success story.
“When you have no margin, and you have to maneuver and listen and maneuver and listen, that is how the Constitutional process works,” according to him.
