Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that the next Congress could change the motion to vacate rules (Chip Somodevilla)
Ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., agreed to lower the threshold from a House majority to just one person being able to trigger a vote to recall the House leader as part of a deal with critics to win the gavel in January 2023.
He wound up being ousted in early October by eight House Republicans and all Democrats after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate against him. Johnson was elected by the GOP Conference three weeks later.
The Louisiana Republican said he never advocated for the rule change but expected that a majority of his lawmakers would want to move forward. Dozens of House Republicans criticized the eight that voted to oust McCarthy, arguing it projected historic levels of instability under their leadership.
TOP HOUSE REPUBLICANS FLEE CAPITOL HILL AMID RISING CHAOS, DIVISION: 'A BAD WORKPLACE'
Rep. Matt Gaetz triggered the motion to vacate against McCarthy last October (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He added that both Republicans and Democrats "openly" discuss the need to raise the motion to vacate threshold, adding, "They have a desire for a more normal process on the House floor again."
"We'll be looking at that on the House rules package, and in our respective caucus and conference packages as well going into the new Congress and that's just something we should do in due course to be good stewards of the institution," Johnson said.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-suggests-next-congress-change-motion-vacate-rules