Speaker Mike Johnson fears “some loser” leaking grievances to the media will undermine his efforts to pass a government funding bill fellow GOP lawmakers hate, according to a new report.
Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) told Politico Wednesday the beleaguered speaker strategy meetings leaks will undermine the already difficult task of getting the House behind his bill.
“I think the speaker’s been concerned about some loser in conference [that] is live-streaming or passing on to media what’s happening in conference as we try to discuss strategy,” Bishop, a Freedom Caucus member, told Politico.
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Johnson (R-LA) faces a daunting task of pushing forward a $1.66 trillion budget deal, made with Democrats Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, under the shadow of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, ousted last year as he tried to avert a government shutdown.
For days, Johnson has been biting his nails over media coverage of bipartisan negotiations he fears will exacerbate problems with his own party, according to the report.
Politico found more proof of party problems from Rep. Max Miller, who argued Republicans who voted to boot McCarthy should face consequences.
Miller reportedly said, “We need disciplinary action — removing committee assignments, cutting off access to fundraising or things of that nature and actually making them pay for their actions.”
