Absolutely Insane': Ex-GOP Congressman Rips Mike Johnson for Trying to Pretend That a Day Is Not a Day'

"(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) lost a key procedural vote on Tuesday night as he tried to delay future votes on President Donald Trump's ability to levy tariffs with a rule that rewrote what constitutes a day in order to delay a vote on Trump's tariff emergency. Trump's sweeping global tariffs rely on his use of the National Emergencies Act, which allows the president to use special powers often those explicitly granted to Congress during a time of crisis."

"19. Provides that each day during the period from February 10, 2026, through July 31, 2026, shall not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622) with respect to a joint resolution terminating a national emergency declared by the President on February 1, 2025, April 2, 2025, July 30, 2025, or August 6, 2025."

"The law requires Congress to permit a vote on Presidential emergencies within 15 days of being declared. Today the Speaker is trying to pass a resolution that literally says a day is not a day, just to avoid voting on the emergencies that underpin the tariffs. Smoke & mirrors! Former House Republican Justin Amash shared Massie's post and added, To vote yes on this would be absolutely insane, yet nearly every Republican voted to pretend that a day is not a day."

Speaker Mike Johnson lost a procedural vote after attempting to pass a House rule that would redefine 'day' to delay congressional consideration of presidential emergency declarations tied to tariffs. Trump's global tariffs depend on emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act, which requires congressional votes within 15 days and annual renewals. The proposed rule's Section 19 declared that days between February 10 and July 31, 2026, would not count as calendar days for terminating specified emergencies. Several Republicans criticized the maneuver, and three House Republicans joined Democrats to reject the rule so Congress could debate tariffs.

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