Working ‘to turn an aircraft carrier’

During a recent news conference, Johnson defended his position as a sign he is working “to turn an aircraft carrier” of how Washington deals with the yearly appropriation funding, which “takes a long time” to do right. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., who previously chaired the Freedom Caucus, then put his arm around Johnson and defended him, reminding those present he was constrained by parameters agreed to before he was elected speaker.

Republicans familiar with Johnson’s thinking said he is much more comfortable selling this funding plan and pushing back against critics than before because he helped shape the bills. Others see it as a speaker naturally growing into the job. But some Republican lawmakers

privately mused Johnson was much more decisive because he had run out of time to tackle the spending issue and had no alternatives.

“He wants to get this behind him, which one could argue he probably should have done this like five months ago,” one rankand-file Republican said.

Still, Johnson’s supporters are heartened by moments over the past week that they believe show he is more willing than previously thought to sideline detractors in an effort to find workable solutions.

“As a speaker, you have to execute a play. Up to now, he had too many people giving him plays, and it seems now that he’s gotten time under his feet and understands the process, he’s calling the plays and starting to tell these folks that we can’t meet all your demands — on both sides,” Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, said, acknowledging Johnson has also rebuffed some asks by moderates.

Several Republican lawmakers and aides noted the change in Johnson’s tone upon their return to Washington last week, with some pointing to an exchange in mid-February at a retreat in Miami. That gathering of the House Republicans’ Elected Leadership Council, convened by Johnson, brought together several governing-minded Republicans and hard-liners to discuss the conference’s priorities.

As several lawmakers in the pragmatic wing spent a meeting offering conservative policy compromises, most were rejected by farright members at the table, according to several people familiar with the meeting. At one point, Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good, R-Va., was asked whether he and other hard-liners would follow the speaker’s lead in future decision-making moments. Good’s answer was not a definitive yes.

Days later, the first signs of a shift in Johnson’s demeanor came during a call with House Republicans where he warned that if they were “expecting a lot of home runs and grand slams” in compromise bills, they weren’t going to get them with a Democratic Senate and White House.