The honeymoon period for newly-minted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is over and Republicans now want him to pick a side over some contentious issues, Politico reported.
Among those issues are border security, Ukraine aid, government surveillance, and his Republican colleagues want him to step things up.
“When you try to please both [sides], you never please anybody,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) told Politico. “Maybe that’s just his personality? I don’t know. My thought was always we could shore him up, but I’m not so sure.”
According to Politico's report, GOP hardliners are reportedly "displeased" with Johnson's attempts to avoid political fights "and they’re poised to make real trouble for him if he doesn’t start making hard calls."
Also read: Tantrum-prone GOPer warns House not to send Senate half-baked impeachment plan
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) said Johnson is "trying to satisfy all of our conference."
“But you gotta remember this is the first time he’s been in this role, not even as an assistant majority leader, so it’s like drinking from Niagara Falls," Simpson said.
“Mike’s done a good job listening to people … but to execute, you’ve got to smash people together in the room and say this is what we’re going to do,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).
Nevertheless, some conservatives think Johnson is better than his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Read the full report over at Politico.
