Mike Johnson Can’t Run the House Without Democrats

“When Republicans won control of the House in November 2022, the big question was whether they would be able to govern with one of the smallest majorities in history. The answer so far is no, at least not by themselves—and that has put their leaders in a perilous bind,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Today the House, where Republicans have a 218-213 margin, is functioning more like an informal coalition government than a GOP-run chamber, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) buffeted by warring factions within his own party and dependent on Democrats to pass major legislation, including Friday’s vote on a $1.2 trillion measure to keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year…”

“The state of play has broad implications for Congress, both in limiting what kinds of legislation can be passed and putting Republicans’ agenda at the mercy of their political opponents.”