Republicans Disappear From Congress as Mike Johnson Asks Them to Vote
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House Speaker Mike Johnson has said some of the Republicans still refusing to back the One Big Beautiful Bill Act were not in the House chamber as he fought to secure their votes.
The roll call vote on the massive tax and spending cuts package that started late Wednesday was held open for hours as several Republicans refused to give their votes.
Johnson told Fox News late Wednesday that he "might keep [the vote] open a little while" because "among those 'no' votes, I've got a couple of folks that are actually off-site right now, had to attend family affairs or events this evening and so some of them are on the way back."
Among them was Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, who reportedly left the House chamber.
"Republicans are trying locate Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who delivered a surprising no vote on the mega bill rule. Likely to try to flip him," NBC News correspondent Melania Zanona wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"I told a member I saw him bolt out of the chamber and leave the area."
House Speaker Mike Johnson arriving at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson arriving at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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