The Washington, D.C., rumor mill is working overtime alleging House Speaker Mike Johnson reneged on a deal made with Rep. Matt Rosendale, Breitbart reported. Johnson had supposedly agreed to endorse Rosendale for Senate if the Montana Republican voted for an aid package for Israel.
Rosendale is planning to run against Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in November. The plan was that Rosendale would vote for Johnson's bill in exchange for a public endorsement for Rosendale.
However, after it hit the media, Johnson got flack from the GOP because it could jeopardize Republicans' attempt to retake the Senate. Just two hours after the reports surfaced about a possible endorsement, Johnson went back on his word.
The Speaker opted instead for a campaign donation for Rosendale. After all of the wheeling and dealing, the Israel aid package was shot down anyway after it failed to garner the two-thirds majority required to pass it in the House.
A spokesperson for Johnson denied that any of this backroom dealing took place. "That’s not true," the spokesperson said to the Daily Beast, which originally reported about the alleged forthcoming endorsement.
There was no discussion about an endorsement until after the floor was adjourned Tuesday night," the spokesperson added. Rosendale similarly dismissed the possibility.
"That is 100% false. It is offensive for anyone to even insinuate that my support for any legislation would be contingent upon the Speaker’s support," Rosendale said.
"The two subjects were never discussed at the same time or in connection with each other," he added. Another source said that the report of this deal was "an absolute lie" made up by people "so terrified of Matt Rosendale entering the U.S. Senate race in Montana that they’d make up an absurd fantastical story based on no evidence about trading an endorsement for a vote on a bill that wasn’t even close."
Still, other reports shared that members of the GOP "privately expressed concerns" that Johnson and Rosendale had made the agreement behind closed doors. "This was the modern-day Louisiana purchase," a source said.
Johnson has been accused of the same kind of deal-making and breaking in the past. Johnson sparked outrage in December when he changed plans to vote on a pair of bills concerning the government's ability to continue to spy on Americans, the Washington Examiner reported.
The House was supposed to vote on two bills reforming the program to decide which one would advance. However, Johnson decided to table the issue entirely, much to the chagrin of his colleagues.
"Typical Mike. Scared of his own shadow. Can’t ever tell someone no. He’s playing minor league baseball right now," a senior Republican aide said.
It's likely that these kinds of deals are routinely struck between lawmakers to get their pet legislation passed. However, it's problematic if Johnson is known for not sticking to his word.
The House Speaker is the head of the GOP in the lower chamber. It's his job to keep the Republican Party on track and working together, and that won't happen if he won't keep his word.
