Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) called on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to hear out the concerns of House Republicans on Friday as a possible leadership fight looms ahead of the 119th Congress.
“Nobody, at the end of the day, wants to have a leadership fight,” Malliotakis said in an appearance Friday on Fox Business’s Mornings with Maria Bartiromo. “I don’t see value in that, but if we’re going to be united in the next Congress, and we are going to deliver on President Trump’s agenda, there needs to be some changes.”
Representatives have a duty to listen to the concerns of their constituencies prior to elections, and Johnson has that same responsibility when it comes to laying out a plan for the next two years, according to the assistant whip of the House Republican Conference.
“The speaker, I think, should be doing the same thing right now and hearing out what our ideas are and how he can do things better to make sure that we’re successful and that we’re gonna be more united than ever,” Malliotakis said.
Lawmakers are set to vote on the House speakership on Jan. 3, but more communication is needed between the leadership and membership if House Republicans are to meet the needs of their constituents, she said.
“We should not see our speaker shaking hands on a deal without first coming to the conference and getting buy-in, making sure that we’re building consensus,” according to Malliotakis.
House Republicans have legislative priorities that should not need to be pushed to the end of the year in the hopes of being passed as part of massive bills, the congresswoman added.
“What will the leadership do to help us get these bills that don’t cost money, that are not contentious or have controversy, across the finish line throughout the year?” she asked. “I think that’s another thing I would like to see.”
Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) have warned that a leadership fight over Johnson’s position would be a hindrance to delivering President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.
“I don’t see anyone else who could do any better than what Mike Johnson has done,” Carter said. “The last thing we need right now is another situation like we had two years ago with Kevin McCarthy. Let’s hope that we don’t do that.”
“This is a distraction,” according to Zinke. “So, to have a speaker’s battle, all that does, is a distraction and delays getting the America First policy through.”
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Malliotakis recognizes the concerns of House members but said following up on Trump’s promises to voters is the most important task for the next Congress.
“We need to be in a position to make sure that we deliver on President Trump’s agenda,” she said. “Or else we’re gonna find ourselves in this very situation 100 days from now.”