'Temper tantrum': GOP mocked for calling off work after losing fight against new mom bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) suffered a stinging defeat Tuesday as a handful of Republicans broke ranks to stop leadership from passing a rule change that would prevent consideration of a bipartisan discharge petition to allow members of Congress who just gave birth to cast votes from home temporarily — a policy Johnson has adamantly called unconstitutional even though he voted remotely numerous times himself during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defeat comes after far-right Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), a new mom who has joined ranks with Democrats to fiercely advocate the rule change, left the House Freedom Caucus in disgust over their decision to side with leadership against her. And House GOP leaders are responding by shutting down the entire rest of the work week, with a threat that they will hold another vote to block Luna's petition from being considered first thing next week.

The move by Johnson and his allies was promptly buried in mockery on social media, with both political commentators and House Democrats ridiculing the GOP's dysfunction.

ALSO READ:'Not much I can do': GOP senator gives up fight against Trump's tariffs

"House Republicans canceling votes for the rest of the week means they wont be around for Trump's tariff day tomorrow," wrote Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman.

"Republicans really hate moms," wrote Daily Kos staff writer Emily Singer.

"Not being present for votes is bad policy so therefore we are canceling all votes for the week so no one is present in Washington," wrote The Bulwark's Joe Perticone.

"House work week was 0.08 Scaramuccis," wrote Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), a long-running inside joke about how Trump's first-term White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci lasted 10 days in the role.

"Speaker Johnson tried to block a bipartisan resolution to allow new moms and dads to vote remotely while caring for their newborns. He failed," wrote Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). "Now he canceled votes for the rest of the week to delay a vote on this resolution. Why is Speaker Johnson so against supporting our families?"

"The House GOP just canceled an entire workweek for themselves after Speaker Johnson failed in his attempt to block new moms from casting votes in the House," wrote Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY). "Instead of doing the people’s business, Mike Johnson is throwing a temper tantrum — something new moms know plenty about."

"Democrats were ready to work this week until Speaker John blocked a bipartisan resolution allowing new parents to vote remotely so they can care for their newborns," wrote Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA). "Republicans would rather sink their own agenda than let new moms vote."