By Gram Slattery and Michael Martina
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. Consultant Mike Gallagher will step down from Congress on April 19. his workplace stated on Friday, a transfer that can slender Republicans’ already razor-thin majority.
Gallagher, who chairs the Home of Representatives Choose Committee on the Chinese language Communist Get together, had already stated he wouldn’t be operating for re-election in November. However his choice to go away Congress early means the seat will probably be vacant for a time earlier than the subsequent election.
The Republicans presently maintain a 219-213 Home majority. Nevertheless, Republican Consultant Ken Buck is because of step down on Friday.
When Gallagher steps down, that can slender the bulk additional to 217-213, that means that Speaker Mike Johnson can solely afford to lose one vote with a view to go laws if Democrats stay united in opposition.
“I’ve labored intently with Home Republican management on this timeline and stay up for seeing Speaker Johnson appoint a brand new chair to hold out the necessary mission of the Choose Committee on the Chinese language Communist Get together,” Gallagher stated in a press release.
The fractious Republican majority has confirmed tough to handle, and Johnson has repeatedly relied on Democrats to go crucial measures, like a authorities funding invoice accepted by the Home on Friday. Anger over that led Republican hardliner Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene to threaten to name a vote to oust Johnson as speaker, six months after the get together booted its prior chief, Kevin McCarthy.
(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Modifying by Scott Malone)
