Mike Johnson ignites GOP fury with hardball tactics

• "I think that it's awful," one House Republican told Axios on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about their party's leader.
• Said the lawmaker: "The speaker is definitely taking way too much power that he shouldn't have."

Driving the news: Luna succeeded in getting 218 House members to sign on to what is called a discharge petition, which forces a vote on any measure with or without support from leadership.

• Luna's proposed rule change would allow new mothers or fathers serving in Congress to vote by proxy for three months after their child is born.
• Johnson, who bitterly opposed COVID-era proxy voting rules, has poured political capital into trying to kill Luna's discharge petition.

What they're saying: Even Republicans who did not sign on to Luna's discharge petition expressed frustration that Johnson is forcing them to choose between the non-citizen voting bill and the proxy voting rule.

• "Rep. Luna followed the rules and deserves a vote on the merits of her proposal," said Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), who said he plans to oppose Johnson's maneuver.

• "Members who oppose her proposal should negotiate with her to amend it or persuade 218 members to vote no, rather than deny her a vote on the merits," he said.
• The lawmaker who spoke anonymously said Johnson has created a "state of fear" around the Tuesday afternoon vote: "I think this is a really bad, manufactured problem."

The other side: Johnson is sticking to his guns, telling reporters Tuesday morning, "We're not going to let it come up on the floor."