House centrists are warning Speaker Mike Johnson to not cut side deals with conservatives to win the gavel.
The verbal red flag comes as Johnson is heading toward a showdown over keeping his speakership, with a vote set to begin shortly after noon. He doesn’t appear to have the votes to secure it on the first ballot, as one Republican vows to oppose him and about a dozen others are publicly undecided.
Johnson’s right flank is making several demands, including seeking commitments on slashing spending. But it’s one significant ask — a bid to give Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) the Rules Committee gavel — that is sparking the biggest heartburn. Unlike most top committee spots, who gets the Rules gavel is up to the speaker alone. That powerful panel controls what party-line legislation heads to the floor.
It’s like “putting Stalin in charge of Amnesty International,” centrist Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said about giving Roy the gavel.
Members of the Freedom Caucus are pushing for Roy to get the Rules chairmanship — with some going so far as to publicly say if Johnson gives into the demand that he will win the speakership on the first ballot.
But Roy hasn’t made his vote in the speaker's race contingent on getting the Rules gavel, according to two people familiar with his thinking who were granted anonymity to speak frankly. One added that the Texas Republican relayed that message in a closed-door Freedom Caucus meeting on Friday.
Johnson has said that he is open to talking over “process changes” but has warned that he won’t cut deals in order to secure the gavel.
“I don't make deals with anyone, there’s no quid pro quo here. I don't do anything in exchange for a vote other than commit to make this institution work as effectively and efficiently as possible,” he told reporters.
Johnson allies are also adamant that he won’t cut a deal to make Roy chair of the panel in order to secure his speakership, and centrists have also privately warned that he should generally avoid making the types of deals that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy did. Many of those agreements with conservatives ultimately paved the way for McCarthy’s ouster just months later, and significantly weakened House GOP leadership generally.
“It will cause problems elsewhere,” said one Republican lawmaker, granted anonymity to speak candidly.
Bacon added that members of the GOP business-oriented Main Street Caucus ”are in lock step: No side deals. [Conservatives] move the goalposts.”
Daniella Diaz and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
