Mike Johnson hasn’t had long to prove himself as speaker. But it’s enough time for some to say he’s a complete failure.
And House Speaker Mike Johnson is freaking out after one Republican made this accusation.
Not everyone is going to agree on everything up in Washington, D.C.
There are plenty of Republicans who disagree on certain policies, but are able to get along for the most part.
It looks like that may not be the case for House Speaker Mike Johnson and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
Sen. Rand Paul said House Speaker Mike Johnson has “completely changed” his conservative principles since obtaining the gavel, and he chastised the speaker for his recent support for a government monitoring program.
Paul, who has rarely criticized Johnson, condemned him during an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, implying that he may be no different from the Democrats.
“People have to be strong in their convictions. He was seen as a conservative before he came to the speakership,” Paul said.
“He’s completely changed and lost all his principles on the idea that we shouldn’t spy on Americans without a warrant.”
“Johnson hasn’t held his ground. He has power. He has a majority. Use the power of the purse, Speaker Johnson. Do something to make us think you are different than the Democrats, but so far, I don’t see a lot of difference.”
Last week, Johnson enraged hardliners in the Republican Party by pushing legislation through the House of Representatives to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 warrantless surveillance authority for another two years.
Paul has long been a critic of various federal government monitoring methods. The Section 702 permission was slated to expire on April 19.
“Absolutely not,” Paul said when asked if the government should be trusted with surveillance powers. “Americans shouldn’t be spied on by their own government.
“The Fourth Amendment was put in by our founding fathers to protect us. FISA doesn’t obey the Fourth Amendment,” he added. “Speaker Johnson was incredibly wrong.”
Section 702 authorizes the government to conduct targeted surveillance on foreigners believed to be situated outside the United States.
Johnson’s actions have encouraged right-wing opponents, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who last month floated a resolution to vacate the chair and expel him.
Greene has not ruled out calling for a vote on a move to vacate. She met with Johnson last week.
Paul also chastised the speaker over an appropriations deal reached with Democrats last month to finance the government into fiscal year 2024.
“The Democrats got everything they want[ed] in the spending,” Paul moaned.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
