Republicans Still Not Letting Johnson Off The Hook
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) made it clear this week that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) must present a detailed plan to fulfill President Trump’s agenda if he hopes to win her vote for the Speaker of the House. In an interview on Fox and Friends, Spartz expressed concerns about Johnson’s track record, specifically his failure to push forward a meaningful agenda during his previous tenure as a leader in the House.
Spartz was direct in saying that without a Speaker who demonstrates courage, vision, and a concrete plan, the Republican Party will not be able to advance the goals set by President Trump. “If Speaker Johnson wants my vote, he needs to show us the plan to deliver on Trump’s agenda. We can’t keep going in circles with vague promises and no real action,” Spartz stated. She pointed to Johnson’s past commitments, such as his promise to establish a fiscal commission to address the debt ceiling, a proposal that ultimately went nowhere.
The congresswoman also criticized Johnson for his inability to bring critical budget measures to the House floor. “We’ve seen little accomplished under his leadership, aside from a post office bill. That’s not what we need if we want to move the country in the right direction,” she added.
While Trump has endorsed Johnson for Speaker, Spartz remains cautious. On social media, she acknowledged the importance of Trump’s backing but emphasized that the new Speaker must guarantee that he won’t betray conservative principles and allow the “swamp” to dictate policy. “We need a Speaker who will stand firm and deliver real reforms, not someone who will fold under pressure,” Spartz wrote.
To win Spartz’s vote, Johnson will need to make specific commitments to reform the legislative process. Spartz’s statement outlined several key demands, including public commitments to overhaul the House’s fiscal policies, audit government spending, and establish permanent structures for authorizations and reconciliation processes. She stressed that these changes are necessary to avoid further dysfunction and to push through the policies that Trump promised to the American people.
With a slim majority in the House, Johnson cannot afford to alienate any more Republican members. He needs 218 votes to secure the position, and members like Spartz and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who have expressed reservations about Johnson, are important swing votes. Spartz made it clear that if Johnson fails to deliver on these critical issues, other options for Speaker may emerge. “We will have a Speaker by the time Trump takes office,” she assured, signaling that Republicans have other potential candidates in mind.
In the coming days, Speaker Johnson’s ability to unite the party and demonstrate his commitment to Trump’s agenda will be tested. If he fails to do so, the Republican House majority could face more division, jeopardizing the conservative priorities that voters expect them to deliver.