After weeks of instability in america Home of Representatives, Republicans elected Mike Johnson, R-La., as Home speaker.
Nonetheless, Democrats who will not be on board say the Home’s new chief poses a menace to democracy, and that his legislative report casts doubt on his skill to work with the opposing occasion to get issues carried out in Washington.
Specifically, critics are calling out the brand new conservative speaker eager to criminalize abortion, minimize funding to social applications corresponding to Social Safety and Medicare, and roll again rights for members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
“It’s nice that Home Republicans lastly bought their act collectively,” stated Rep.Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y. She advised theGrio, “The one query is whether or not the newly elected speaker can work in a bipartisan method.”
Congresswoman Clarke added, “We have to get again to work for the American individuals, and there’s no extra time for the acute partisan nonsense that bought us into this case within the first place.”
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., and different CBC members issued an announcement that condemned Home Republicans’ choice of Johnson as speaker.
“It’s unlucky and unsurprising that the candidate Home Republicans selected…is a MAGA extremist who plotted with former President Trump to overturn the 2020 election,” stated Horsford.
“This alone ought to disqualify anybody from changing into Home speaker and sitting second in line to the presidency, and but for the Republicans, it was not.”
In an announcement obtained by theGrio, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., stated, “The dysfunctional Republican Caucus has unanimously settled with an anti-democracy, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-abortion extremist as their chief.”
Bush continued, “At the moment is the primary time that many individuals have even heard of Congressman Mike Johnson, however as individuals throughout our nation will quickly come to seek out out, he’s harmful.”
She added, “He has devoted his political profession by pushing an excessive MAGA insurrectionist agenda.”
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., stated in an announcement offered to theGrio that Johnson’s promotion to speaker “was a defeat for democracy and the American individuals.”
“We wanted a speaker who may have stood up for all individuals, not a speaker who voted to close down the federal government final month, makes it a precedence to criminalize abortion, and tries to show the clock again on LGBTQ+ rights,” stated Kamlager-Dove.
“Mike Johnson is unhealthy information and can allow a far-right financial agenda that features devastating cuts to Social Safety, Medicare, and vitamin help applications.”
Johnson’s election comes greater than three weeks after Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker, leaving the Home paralyzed and the nation on the point of a attainable authorities shutdown.
Home Democrats criticized the brand new conservative speaker for his controversial monitor report of eager to criminalize abortion, minimize funding to social applications corresponding to Social Safety and Medicare and roll again rights for members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Middle for Reproductive Rights, advised theGrio, “Congress wants to repair the disastrous penalties of the Supreme Court docket’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, however as a substitute the Home Majority doubled down and elected as Speaker a fierce opponent of abortion rights.”
“Earlier than changing into a member of Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson, as an lawyer, fought in opposition to the Middle for Reproductive Rights in courtroom to close down abortion clinics in Louisiana,” she stated. “In Congress, he has cosponsored laws that may prohibit all abortion care ‘from the second of fertilization.’”
Preston Mitchum, LGBTQ+ rights activist and CEO of PDM Consulting LLC., a Black queer-owned consulting agency that goals to empower the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, advised theGrio he’s “deeply involved” about Speaker Johnson main the Home of Representatives.
“If the American public thought we couldn’t worsen than Kevin McCarthy, suppose once more…this selection has the potential to erode justice and democracy,” Mitchum advised theGrio.
He continued, “Congressman Johnson’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and gender fairness is deeply troubling. His historical past of opposing LGBTQ+ rights and advocating for discriminatory insurance policies goes in opposition to the ideas of equal safety and inclusion that our democracy ought to uphold.”
Rep. Johnson has been deemed an election denier for main efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The Louisiana lawmaker, who’s a supporter of former President Donald Trump, tweeted, “We MUST combat for election integrity, the Structure, and the preservation of our republic!” simply earlier than insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Mitchum advised theGrio Johnson’s “staunch help for former President Trump’s insurance policies and rhetoric raises issues about his dedication to the ideas of accountability and democratic norms.”
“It is important that our elected leaders prioritize the integrity of our democratic establishments and the rule of regulation, no matter their political affiliations,” he stated.
Though uncertain, Mitchum advised theGrio, he hopes that Johnson “will contemplate the various voices and views of the American individuals and work in the direction of a extra inclusive and simply society throughout his tenure as Speaker.”
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