'What the hell are you guys doing?' GOP rep says constituents are restless over inaction
07 February 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) suffered a humiliating defeat on Tuesday, February 6 when an effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was rejected in a 216-214 vote. Three House Republicans joined Democrats in voting "no": Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado, Tom McClintock of California and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have been lambasting Johnson for indicating that a bipartisan U.S. Senate bill tying enhanced border security to military aid to Ukraine is "dead on arrival" if it reaches the House.
Democrats have been slamming the speaker for leading a "do-nothing caucus," and some House Republicans in swing districts are expressing their frustration as well.
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One of them is Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), who told CNN's Manu Raju, "'I had many people reach out to me via text message and say, 'What the hell are you guys doing up there?' I think our base is a little frustrated... We may have the gavel, but we're not acting like we're in the majority."
Raju also interviewed Rep. Jen Kiggins (R-Virginia), who also voiced her impatience over her colleagues' obstinance.
Kiggins told Raju, "You know, we have work to do. It's frustrating for people like me…. I want to get things done; that's what I ran for Congress. And it's been a frustrating couple of days."
Raju noted that House Republicans have "essentially scuttled" the "border issue" at a time when Senate Republicans have "cut a deal with" the Biden White House.
READ MORE: GOP rep melts down on House floor over Republican failures
Watch the full CNN video below or by clicking this link.