House Speaker Mike Johnson’s two-step government extension plan will be debated this week. The next speaker has four days to prevent a government shutdown.
Johnson may need Democratic votes to pass the bill by the Friday deadline after conservatives swiftly blasted his idea on social media and promised to vote against it.
“The short-term funding proposal includes a 1-year Farm Bill extension without reform, status quo policies, and funding levels. As politely as possible, disappointing. Ohio Republican Rep. Warren Davidson said he would vote no. “Hopefully, the consensus will result in a more reasonable bill.”
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The bill was also criticized by conservatives, including House Freedom Caucus leader Chip Roy.
I strongly oppose the Speaker’s clean CR to the House GOP. Funding Pelosi-level spending and policies for 75 days for future ‘promises’” he tweeted Saturday.
Johnson’s first major bill may never pass the House because Democrats are undecided on whether to support it.
Last week, many called the two-step plan untidy and unnecessary. Multiple congressmen told me that lawmakers are open-minded given that the bill does not cut spending drastically, which is a red line.
Johnson’s Support to Military:
Johnson’s spending plan would support the military, Veterans Affairs, transportation, housing and urban development, energy, and water departments through mid-January. On February 2, funding for the remaining government departments expired again.
Although numerous Democrats have characterized it as a farce, they acknowledge the temporal constraints and the polarized nature of Congress.
“We are going to proceed in the Senate on a clean CR, without gimmicks, without ladders,” Sen. Chris Murphy told “Meet the Press.” I’m concerned that the House process compels you to deal with half the budget on one day and half on another. That seems like a prescription for disaster. I’ll listen to their case, but I’d rather do what the Senate is doing and support a continuing resolution that keeps the government open to the same date.” Sources said Democrats are waiting to see how Johnson manages his conference.
Speaker Kevin Vote:
Johnson must first pass a spending bill rule vote. Conservatives under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy often voted down GOP rules to make their point, but the majority party usually approves them.
It is unclear if they will give Johnson additional discretion or if their resistance to the rule will force him to suspend the regulations, which requires a two-thirds majority.
McCarthy lost his job as a result of his decision to suspend the rules in order to pass the most recent short-term spending measure.
Monday at 4 p.m. ET, the House Rules Committee will examine Johnson’s unique stop-gap bill. Roy, a GOP plan opponent, is on the committee, meaning Johnson can only lose three GOP votes.
Johnson told his members in a private call Saturday that the conference had lost crucial time during a three-week speaker’s race to pass individual spending bills and that a two-part short-term spending bill would give Republicans maximum leverage in negotiations over year-long spending bills next year. Mike also told members that if Senate Democrats rejected his plan, he would submit a year-long budget with non-defense program cuts, which Democrats would never support.
Mike Johnson to Members:
Johnson also told members that if Senate Democrats rejected his plan, he would submit a year-long budget with non-defense program cuts, which Democrats would never support.
House Republicans have failed to agree on spending this week, as under McCarthy. Last week, GOP infighting caused the removal of two year-long transportation, housing, financial services, and general government spending bills. Democrats think Republicans lack power in this fight.
“By adopting the Freedom Caucus’s extreme ‘laddered CR’ approach, Speaker Johnson is setting up a system that will double the number of shutdown showdowns,” DeLauro noted.
DeLauro said House Republicans won’t reach their extreme goal after wasting debate and dumping two poor budget measures this week.
“We are no closer to a full-year funding agreement than September. Congress must avoid a shutdown and enact a CR to rapidly pass full-year budget bills and emergency funding.
The White House dubbed Johnson’s proposal “unserious” over the weekend, while congressional Democrats remain silent.
White House press secretary Karine Jean said the idea “is just a recipe for more Republican chaos and more shutdowns,”. And House Republicans are “wasting precious time with an unserious proposal.”
But the White House has not spoken. If both chambers pass, President Joe Biden may sign or veto the act. The White House opposes this two-pronged bill, yet he may sign it.
Jean-Pierre and national security adviser Jake Sullivan will brief reporters later Monday afternoon.
The two-step continuing deal lacks essential Israel and Ukraine cash, according to the White House.
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