House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday evening that House Republicans had reached a deal to raise the threshold for the motion to vacate, a procedure that allows lawmakers to remove the speaker from office.
Under the new agreement, the threshold for forcing a vote to oust a speaker will be increased from one member to nine members. This change makes it more difficult to remove a speaker, following the turmoil caused by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster last year, which was triggered by a single vote.
The agreement, negotiated by Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris and Main Street Caucus Chairman Dusty Johnson, aims to unify the Republican conference. The two chairs emphasized that the change would help Republicans move forward with their agenda while avoiding divisive amendments.
Although the new threshold makes it harder to remove a speaker, the threat of removal still exists. The agreement is expected to be ratified by House Republicans in a meeting Thursday morning, after which they will vote on their rules package in January 2025.
Peoplesmind
