Can new House Speaker pass legislation?
I wish newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson great success in what has turned out to be a difficult journey for the Republicans. For now, the speaker’s chair is no longer “vacant.”
Did everyone get what they wanted? Or did everyone lose?
Let’s review. The MAGA Republicans bullied their way to this position. After Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan — who they were set on — failed three times on three separate days, a record, they picked the one guy who had not been in Congress long enough to develop enemies within his own ranks. Plus, Johnson had been certified by the Trumpsters, and had not alienated himself from other Republicans.
The jury is out on how he will manage his new responsibilities, but I am encouraged by any man who leads first by invoking God in his success and vision. As a member of Congress in the ’90s I too went to church daily. My adversaries called me “lucky.” Yeah, right. I applaud Speaker Johnson on this point. It will help.
The first area of concern is keeping the government open. Johnson may need an extension on this one and will get one, as part of his unofficial honeymoon period. Passing each Appropriation Bill separately is a must.
This is something that every speaker in the 21st century has failed to do miserably. We have been forced not to watch the making of sausage (legislation), but instead the warming up of old sausage in the microwave for a generation via repeated Continuing Resolutions.
Funding for Israel, Ukraine, and for our crisis at the U.S. border with Mexico are the other immediate and major challenges.
Border funding and assisting Israel are no brainers. After the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas, the world witnessed the fundamental importance of protecting one’s border. (Prayers go out to the families affected by such atrocities, and for the safe release of the innocent hostages.)
Kudos do go out to Speaker Johnson for seeking to establish a bipartisan group to deal with the ever-growing problem of entitlements in government spending.
And then it’s that pesky matter known as the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden.
So, Democrats, did it play out like you wanted? Did you get anything you wanted, other than allowing Republicans to embarrass themselves in public?
You had two chances. One you handled well. You joined with the majority of Republicans to keep the government open. But the other pitch was a curveball, and like Mickey Mantle in his later days with the Yankees, you whiffed it. Instead of voting “present,” you joined with the leaders of the group you most despise in Congress and with your unanimous support removed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Now you have a MAGA Republican, possibly your worst nightmare, occupying the speaker’s chair.
But I trust that Speaker Johnson will opt to be a productive speaker, not one who merely makes “principled points.” When you do not have the numbers in the House or Senate being overly “principled” is a waste of precious time.
We have lost over three weeks coming up with a new speaker. Time. Usually a speaker would have almost two months to prepare from selection in November to being sworn-in in January. Johnson does not have this benefit.
Wasting time, being distracted, and being unproductive seems like what the crew leaders on the Titanic were doing before they hit the iceberg. You cannot change the direction of the country (or boat) if you can not move the vessel in any direction at all. We would simply continue to glide in the same (wrong) direction until it is too late.
May God Bless America and her allies. I am sure Speaker Johnson will be repeating this prayer often, as should we all.
Gary Franks served three terms as U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 5th District. He was the first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years and New England’s first Black member of the House./ Tribune News Service