Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) asserts in a recent social media post that current Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is Speaker of the House in name only, just as so-called RINOs are Republicans in Name Only, as the MAGA slur has it. The real Speaker of the House, Swalwell, says is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Swalwell writes, without equivocation that “Hakeem Jeffries is the Speaker of the House,” backing his claim by reporting that “Every major piece of legislation this Congress — today, expanding the Child Tax Credit — has passed with more Democratic votes than GOP votes.”
Hakeem Jeffries is the Speaker of the House. Every major piece of legislation this Congress — today, expanding the Child Tax Credit — has passed with more Democratic votes than GOP votes. That’s #PeopleOverPolitics pic.twitter.com/JW1ZDQyUqB
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) February 1, 2024
Swalwell’s contention is not correct in any technical sense — Johnson won the gavel after a far-right GOP uprising ousted Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and became House Speaker on October 25, 2023.
Swalwell’s statement is instead a political jibe meant to communicate that measuring purely by legislative accomplishment — since Democrats have been the dominant voting party in passed legislation — Jeffries is the “de facto” Speaker, whereas Johnson, in Swalwell’s estimation, is merely Speaker “de jure.”
Jeffries: A few weeks after that, George Santos was expelled, removing the only gay astronaut ever elected to the US Congress.. Over the holiday, I had to ask what have I gotten myself into but then I looked on the bright side… I could be Mike Johnson pic.twitter.com/GnDthmoRVs
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 1, 2024
