'I'm sick of this': Mike Johnson's rare outburst exposes growing GOP disagreements
WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has spent days convincing skeptical conservative supporters to back the third reconciliation bill, is now reportedly fed up with persistently rebellious GOP members.
The unusual moment of outburst for the otherwise calm speaker came during the closed-door debate as members of Congress clashed over a bipartisan veterans bill.
Mike Johnson explodes during closed-door GOP meeting
Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly lost his cool with his fellow Republicans, blurting out, “I’m sick of this s**t!” during a closed-door meeting as a few members of his party clashed over a recent veterans bill, according to a report.
When Rep Anna Paulina Luna allegedly grew angry with the speaker, he blew his top, NOTUS reported, citing “multiple sources in the room.”
According to the report, after yelling and using profanity during the closed-door meeting, Mike Johnson realized that Rep Gabe Evans' young son had witnessed the exchange. He specifically turned to the child and apologized for using inappropriate language.
He had already apologized to Luna for the heated moment.
Johnson removed the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act from the House floor after the GOP disagreed over it and said that it would not return for votes for weeks.
As the Republican Party has a narrow majority in the House, it can't afford to lose many votes.
Republicans voice frustration as disagreements deepen
NOTUS also reported that Republicans themselves are frustrated over growing disagreements, as it is making it difficult to pass legislation.
Johnson's outburst is being portrayed as a sign of that growing frustration and the party's struggle to govern effectively.
“The Republican conference is a diverse gathering of people, some of whom are really effective at getting things done and others who are more interested in knocking things down,” Rep Dusty Johnson (R-SD) told the outlet.
Rep Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said most House members are “team players who do not appreciate the minority, the small minority, that does that,” meaning those who have repeatedly blocked legislation.
“I don’t appreciate it, but we live in that reality that they can leverage it. So there are the vast majority of us who don’t like that. We’re team players,” he added.
“It’s the hardcore conservatives against everybody else,” Rep Tim Burchett (R-Tenn) added.
