| | | | |  | | By Daniella Diaz | | Presented by |  | | | With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team
|  Speaker Mike Johnson made clear Thursday he’s no John Boehner. | AP | MTV UNPLUGGED When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a resolution to oust the sitting speaker Friday just as House lawmakers left the Capitol for a lengthy recess, it was a deja vu moment for many congressional veterans. In July 2015, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) was a largely unknown second-term back-bencher before he dusted off an even more obscure procedural move — the so-called “motion to vacate the chair,” which had been last used in 1910 — and filed it against then-speaker John Boehner just before the summer recess. Boehner was under pressure from Meadows and the nascent House Freedom Caucus not to cut a budget deal with Democrats. When lawmakers returned from recess six weeks later, the pressure on the right mounted. Then — the day after Pope Francis addressed a joint meeting at Boehner’s invitation and a few days before a shutdown deadline — the devout Catholic speaker called it quits, singing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” at his farewell news conference. (The shutdown was avoided and the budget deal passed about a month later, just before Boehner’s resignation became official.) So almost nine years later, with the “motion to vacate” now a household term, Greene’s move has us thinking about this moment in Congress — and whether past might be prologue for Speaker Mike Johnson. What’s the same: Just as Boehner was embroiled in constant drama inside his own conference in 2015, Johnson is battling hard-line conservatives who want to see him fight harder for spending cuts — something that’s proven to be incredibly difficult (or downright impossible) to do in a divided Congress. Greene’s move to file the ouster resolution but not raise it on the floor as privileged business — thus requiring a quick floor vote — is also reminiscent of Meadows’ tactics. At the time, fellow Freedom Caucus member Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) referred to the move as a “sword of Damocles” hanging over Boehner. Greene described her move in similar terms Friday, calling it a “warning” to Johnson as the House moves to take up Ukraine aid, surveillance powers and other matters. And then there’s the timing: Greene making her threat just before a two-week recess gives us the same vibes as Meadows doing the same just before summer break. What’s very different: For one, the scar tissue. Back in 2015, the motion to vacate was a novelty. In 2024, it’s reality, having been used just six months ago to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle still have heartburn from that episode — and the marathon succession battle that ensued. Hard-right members, notably, aren’t in lockstep behind Greene. While members of the Freedom Caucus said this week they strongly disagree with Johnson’s handling of fiscal 2024 appropriations, none have come forward and joined Greene in supporting his removal. Moreover, some House Democrats — who voted en masse to remove McCarthy — have said they might vote to table Greene’s resolution should she call it up, perhaps in conjunction with a deal on Ukraine funding. And finally, Johnson made clear Thursday he’s no Boehner. The four-term Louisianan has spent just a few months with the gavel in hand, while Boehner was at the tail end of a 24-year House career that included nearly five years as speaker. “Speaker Johnson always listens to the concerns of members, but is focused on governing,” said Johnson spokesperson Raj Shah. “He will continue to push conservative legislation that secures our border, strengthens our national defense and demonstrates how we’ll grow our majority.” — Daniella Diaz
| | | | A message from Coinbase: It’s estimated over 50 million people in the US and 400 million people globally own crypto. As its use has grown, so has its utility. 87% of Americans feel the current financial system needs an update, as they see the current system clogged with middlemen, high fees, delays, and other inefficiencies that make the system hard to access and unfair. The future of money is more open, free, and efficient, and it’s powered by crypto. | | | GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this unusually exhausting Friday, March 22, which is NOT over yet. LATEST ON SENATE TIMING The Senate’s in a holding pattern right now, just hours before the midnight shutdown deadline, as the party leaderships figure out how exactly to give in to GOP demands for amendment votes. Nearly a dozen amendments are under discussion for possible votes, Republican senators report, but all 100 members must come to an agreement to speed up passage of the $1.2 spending package. Many of those amendment requests are related to border and immigration issues — a topic Republicans are eager to pin on Democrats on ahead of the November elections. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed a cloture motion Friday afternoon, meaning if no agreement is reached, the bill is on track for passage sometime Sunday. Our prediction: Senators are eager to get out of town as soon as possible for the two-week recess. Democratic leaders will likely allow some amendment votes to speed up final passage, but if the talks falter and the timing spills past the midnight deadline, the practical effects will be minimal: Any shutdown will most likely be over by Monday. — Ursula Perano and Daniella Diaz
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | WHY TODAY’S SPENDING VOTE USED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE It used to be unthinkable that the House would pass major spending legislation under suspension of the rules, an expedited process typically used for uncontroversial bills that limits debate and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. One of our favorite Congress-watchers, Josh Huder, reminded us of another reason why Friday’s vote was unusual: Before big (and under the radar) changes to the suspension process first made in 2020, the vote simply would not have been possible. Down memory lane: Motions to suspend the rules used to only be allowed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays unless the House Rules Committee sent a special rule to the floor allowing consideration on other days. Power expanded: But during the depths of the Covid pandemic, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave herself the temporary emergency power to call up suspensions at any time during the 116th Congress. Those rules changes were then adopted as regular practice in the 117th Congress, and Republicans kept them at the start of the 118th. Power inherited: Because Johnson inherited the expanded authority, he didn’t need to get authorization from the House Rules Committee to consider the big spending bill under suspension on a Friday — which is good, because he might not have gotten the panel’s approval given its current makeup. — Katherine Tully-McManus
| | | | A message from Coinbase:   | | | | | BAGEL CAUCUS UPDATE: Nick filled in as bagel correspondent today to report from Rep. Dan Goldman’s latest bagel caucus meeting. The New York Democrat, holding an everything bagel from Brooklyn Bagels topped with cream cheese, tomato, capers and lox from Russ & Daughters, told him that getting the 300 bagels to D.C. was a “labor of love” by his staff. Nick, for his part, tried a pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese from Terrace Bagels and was a fan of its chewiness. Among the lawmakers spotted swinging by: Reps. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). Republicans celebrated the passage of Gary Palmer’s (R-Ala.) bill with a cookie cake. Looks like the hints were there for Mike Gallagher’s (R-Wis.) early resignation from Congress. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) said on social media he voted against the appropriations package — but his vote tally says otherwise. The legislative branch portion of the minibus will dismantle the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion, with the team dissolving as soon as March 22. Some of the services provided will be picked up by the House Chief Administrative Officer’s new Office of Talent Management. The House launched the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in 2020.
| | | | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | | QUICK LINKS Longtime PA Dem silent on support for freshman 'Squad' member after his name is quietly removed from site, from Emma Colton at Fox News House Speaker’s Unpopularity With Rich Donors Widens Republicans’ Fundraising Gap, from Steven T. Dennis, Bill Allison, and Billy House at Bloomberg News Granger announces plans to leave powerful spending perch early, from Caitlin Emma Johnson's margin drops to one vote as Gallagher heads for early exit, from Eleanor Mueller and Olivia Beavers House Dems could have Johnson's back on ouster threat — if Ukraine aid gets a vote, from Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz Rep. Issa calls for charges to be dropped against Southland man who interrupted State of the Union, from Sarah D. Wire at The Los Angeles Times TRANSITIONS Taylor Deacon is joining Rep. Don Davis’ (D-N.C.) office as deputy comms director. She was previously the press secretary for Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). SATURDAY IN CONGRESS The House is out. The Senate is ??? SATURDAY AROUND THE HILL TBD (hopefully cricket-y)
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Find out more from Coinbase’s CEO Brian Armstrong here. | | | | | THURSDAY’S ANSWER: Kevin Diestelow correctly guessed first that Patrick Leahy was the last of the “Watergate Babies” to retire. TODAY’S QUESTION, from Kevin: Which Supreme Court justice, who was succeeded by George Washington’s nephew Bushrod Washington, was the first justice to die in office? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com. GET INSIDE CONGRESS emailed to your phone each evening. Follow Daniella on X at @DaniellaMicaela. | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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