(WAND) - Local lawmakers are reacting after Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana was elected as the 56th speaker of the House on Wednesday.
NBC News said, "It's a stunning rise for the conservative Donald Trump ally and low-ranking member of the GOP leadership team who is now second in line to the presidency. Johnson is arguably the most ideologically conservative person to serve as speaker since Newt Gingrich in the 1990s, and he played an instrumental role in the GOP's effort to overturn the 2020 election."
All 220 Republicans voted for Johnson, while all 209 Democrats voted for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) said, “After three weeks in limbo, four failed nominees and an embarrassing display of chaos, I’m glad that my colleagues in the majority have finally done their job and elected a new Speaker of the House. Unfortunately, their selection has spent his time in Congress attacking our democracy and pushing to undermine Social Security, Medicare, reproductive rights and the LGBTQ+ community. I’m concerned that his inexperience and extreme views will be destructive to Congress and to the country.
“Regardless of my reservations, I’ve pledged to work with anyone – Democrat or Republican – to get things done for my constituents in Central and Southern Illinois and I remain fully committed to bipartisanship. I urge Speaker Johnson to recognize the realities of a divided government and work in good faith with members of both parties to keep our government running for the American people and deliver critical assistance to the southern border and our allies abroad.”
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) said, “Speaker Mike Johnson is a thoughtful and compassionate leader with strong pro-life, pro-family values," Miller said. "I have had the privilege of marching with Speaker Johnson during the annual March For Life in Washington, and I join him weekly for a private prayer meeting with members where we pray for our country. He used his position as Republican Conference Vice Chair to lead debates on the House Floor in defense of the unborn and parental rights, and I was honored when he joined the Congressional Family Caucus to be an advocate for the nuclear family.
"I look forward to the House resuming our important work of securing Biden’s open border, stopping Biden’s rampant inflation, and impeaching Joe Biden for selling out the United States in exchange for cash from our adversaries.”
Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez said, “After weeks of dysfunction at the hands of House Republicans, an election denying, insurrection defending, Trump sycophant will sit at the helm of the lower chamber. Today's vote cements the Republican Party’s descent into MAGA extremism, having folded to the most radical members of their party at the expense of the American people. Mary Miller, Darin LaHood, and Mike Bost will force Illinoisans to pay the price of a self-serving speaker’s extreme agenda. Their choice is an abandonment of our democracy and a gross dereliction of duty.”
Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) said, "I am proud to support Mike Johnson as the next Speaker of the House. Mike is a family man who understands the importance of advancing conservative policies that promote individual liberty, rein in spending, and secure the border, while also conducting needed oversight of the Biden Administration. Mike can unite our Conference and I look forward to working with him to deliver results for central and northwestern Illinois.
"Over the past three weeks, we’ve witnessed the consequences borne from a small group of Members who put self over governing and the impact of the Motion to Vacate. Russia, China, and Iran are on the move to distort and defeat democracy, Israel, one of our strongest allies, is under attack from Hamas terrorists, and tensions are escalating in the Middle East. Our southern border is in complete chaos and government funding runs out in less than a month.
"The election of a new Speaker has been a messy process that has prohibited the House from advancing a conservative agenda for three weeks. It's time to get back to work under Speaker Mike Johnson, govern for the American people, and pursue solutions to the problems voters sent our Republican Majority to Washington to fix."
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) issued the following statement:
"I was proud to cast my vote today for the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Speaker Johnson is a consistent conservative with the steady hand to lead the People’s House through consequential times. I share his conservative vision for America and value the respect he inspires from all corners of the Republican Conference. We’ve got a lot of work to do, from securing the border to passing conservative spending bills and aiding Israel. The time to get back to work is now; and we’ve got the right leader for the job.”
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