Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) floated "process reforms" in an effort to bolster his bid to keep his gavel on Jan. 3.
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Why it matters: Johnson's comments to Fox News indicate he is ready to commit himself to his Republican critics as they demand he adopt a stricter stance on government expenditure and fight the impulse to negotiate bipartisan agreements.
One House Republican told Axios of the speaker's critics, "they were offended with how the year-end stuff came to the floor."
Among Johnson's most outspoken holdouts, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) "wants more commitment to member-driven and socialized proposals," the lawmaker said.
Johnson noted in a "Fox and Friends" interview that the Friday speaker election is a "numbers game," pointing out he is set to have a 219-215 majority and will have "a margin of probably two votes."
Johnson claimed he has been calling the approximately twelve House Republicans who have not pledged to vote for his reelection.
"Over the holidays, I have chatted with every single one of those colleagues and friends. We'll be discussing House process reforms, he said without indicating exactly what those changes might be.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already promised to vote for a substitute for Johnson, thus the speaker most certainly cannot lose one more vote.
Many right-wing House Freedom Caucus members—including former chair Scott Perry (R-Pa) and chair Andy Harris (R-Md)—have indicated they are unsure.
Perry grumbled to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Johnson "has not been artistic" in forwarding the "Trump agenda."
In zoom in: Johnson is arguing that he will be more free to pursue laws that satisfy his right side since Republicans are poised to seize control of the Senate and White House.
"We are entering a brand-new paradigm, thus I believe the reason they all will vote yes is this. Starting tomorrow, we have unified government," Johnson said.
" Delivering on the American First agenda excites us. It starts on the first day tomorrow.
Furthermore alerting him and his supporters is the possibility of a speaker's absence delaying the Jan. 6 certifying of President-elect Trump's victory.
Between the lines: Johnson has changed one rule that, far from Democrats' wrath, could help him concentrate on internal GOP concerns at the expense of bipartisanship.
Under the proposed rules package for the 119th Congress, only a group of at least nine Republicans can force a vote on ousting the speaker instead of any one member of either party being able to.
Said House Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), "instead of electing a Speaker of the House, they have decided to elect a Speaker of the Republican Conference — held captive by their most extreme members."
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