Staff Reports
In a stunning turn of events, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) celebrated a major victory as the Senate border deal he fiercely opposed teetered on the edge of failure. With a triumphant tone, Johnson addressed reporters, declaring the deal to be “on life support in the Senate” and welcoming its potential demise. Just hours later, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) conceded that the compromise had “no real chance,” attributing its downfall directly to the speaker’s efforts in declaring it “dead on arrival” in the House.
This swift and decisive defeat of the border agreement was undoubtedly a setback for President Joe Biden, who had given his blessing to the deal and even delivered a speech calling for its passage on the same day. However, Johnson suffered a blow of his own when a vote to impeach Biden’s border chief narrowly failed on the House floor. Minutes later, Democrats thwarted Johnson’s plans to pass aid for Israel after Biden threatened to veto the legislation.
Johnson reckons with twin defeats to Biden after border victory https://t.co/vMjv28effS
— David Sivak (@DISivak) February 7, 2024
Impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary responsible for the crisis at the southern border, would have represented a political indictment of Biden’s policies, which Republicans hold responsible for the surge of immigrants. Nevertheless, the failed vote provided the White House with an opportunity to portray the effort as a mere partisan maneuver.
The political calculations surrounding the Israel vote added further complexity to the situation. Biden sought to see funding for Ukraine, a point of contention among Republicans, combined with at least $14 billion in assistance for Israel. Despite the pressure to decouple the two, the two-thirds majority Johnson needed for the measure to pass doomed it in the lower chamber, leaving him licking his wounds on what should have been a triumphant day for him politically.
Despite these setbacks, Johnson’s failures are not insurmountable. He could attempt to move the Israel aid through regular order, requiring only a majority vote to pass. Additionally, Johnson can hold another vote on the Mayorkas impeachment, once Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) returns to Washington, potentially as soon as next week.
However, the chaos on the House floor has raised doubts about Johnson’s judgment and abilities as he battles a president with extensive political experience. With questions looming about his next steps, it remains to be seen how Johnson will navigate the thorny topic of Ukraine and potential additional assistance, especially given the opposition from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in relation to the defense bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
In essence, Johnson has emerged as a formidable opponent to President Biden and the Democratic Party, effectively torpedoing any chance of addressing border security before the upcoming November election. As the political landscape continues to shift, Johnson’s fight for conservative values and policy outcomes remains at the forefront of the ongoing battles in Washington.
