House GOP opposition tanks Johnson’s short-term funding plan
Speaker Mike Johnson’s six-month government funding plan failed on the House floor Wednesday amid yet another rebellion within the House Republican conference over spending.
The collapse, which was expected, follows a weeklong effort to shore up support for Johnson’s stopgap, which would leave federal agencies with largely static budgets through March 28. It also included legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, known as the SAVE Act. GOP leaders pulled the package from the floor last week amid the same internal party problems, pushing forward with a vote Wednesday despite dim prospects for passage.
Fourteen House Republicans ultimately joined most Democrats to sink Johnson’s stopgap proposal on Wednesday, culminating in a 202-220 vote, with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voting present. Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine), Don Davis (D-N.C.) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) were the Democrats who voted for the measure.
Johnson has repeatedly struggled this year to muster enough support to pass GOP funding bills, thanks to many of the same disagreements over spending currently plaguing his conference.
Those dissenting Republicans defied the calls of former President Donald Trump, who weighed in a few hours before the vote, redoubling his demands. “If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Although a government shutdown on Oct. 1 remains unlikely, Johnson and GOP leaders are now left without a fallback plan to stave off a funding lapse in less than three weeks. The failure increases the likelihood that House Republicans will wind up with a three-month stopgap spending bill, free of any divisive policy add-ons. Senate appropriators are readying their own spending patch through December but haven’t made a move while Johnson sorts through his options.
“I assume that if [House Republicans] can’t pull it off today, then they pivot to something else and hopefully process it in time for them to vote next week and for us to vote next week and make sure it’s all done before September 30,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said earlier Wednesday.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), a senior Republican appropriator, said it would be wise to have a backup plan, adding that he would support a stopgap into December — the option endorsed by some Republicans, Hill Democrats and the White House.
“There always needs to be a Plan B and a Plan C because we don’t want to shut the government down,” he said, adding, “We have another chamber we’ve got to satisfy as well.”
Once again, Johnson finds himself in the likely position of having to rely on Democrats to shepherd must-pass spending legislation through the House, as he did back in March with passage of two fiscal 2024 government funding packages. Some conservatives have said they’re unwilling to support a short-term spending patch, no matter what.
“We do not need today’s vote,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democratic appropriator in the House, who said the lower chamber could have passed a “clean” stopgap through December last week. “But we’ll go through this ritual.”
Republican appropriators left a meeting with Johnson on Tuesday night saying they’re in lockstep with the speaker, supporting his six-month plan paired with the SAVE Act. But privately, they’ve been urging Johnson to call a vote on a so-called continuing resolution through December, stressing that the six-month option is untenable, especially for the military.
Spending leaders on both sides of the aisle also want the stopgap to buy only enough time to wrap up fiscal 2025 government funding talks by the end of the calendar year, leaving a clean slate for a new administration and the next Congress in January.
“The goal is to make sure that the speaker has as much leverage as possible,” said Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), a senior Republican appropriator, before meeting with Johnson on Tuesday night. “A short-term CR is what I’d like to get for him, for the Republicans.”
Lawmakers are also weighing add-ons to the stopgap spending bill for agencies and programs that can’t limp along on flat budgets in the coming months. That includes disaster aid and a potential funding boost for the Secret Service following two failed assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, although some lawmakers are skeptical that more money will address the agency’s needs.
There’s bipartisan agreement, however, on the need for language allowing the Secret Service to spend money at a faster rate.
Jennifer Scholtes and Joe Gould contributed to this report.
Date: |
Topics
-
Politico - Politics
Dems hold slight edge in California swing House districts
A new public poll offers a rare glimpse into battleground races across the state.Yesterday - California -
Politico - Politics
Dems hold slight edge in California swing House districts
A new public poll offers a rare glimpse into battleground races across the state.Yesterday - California -
Politico - Politics
House Republicans pivot to fast-tracking funding bill amid conservative opposition
Yesterday - Republican Party -
CBS News - Politics
House moves to avoid government shutdown amid conservative opposition
After sidestepping the House Rules Committee, Speaker Mike Johnson will have to rely on Democrats to pass a short-term funding bill.Yesterday -
The New York Times - Business
Women Entrepreneurs Are Hitting a Funding Wall
For women starting new businesses, early funding from venture capital firms led by other women is vital. But few are large enough to lead subsequent rounds of financing.Yesterday -
CBS News - Politics
GOP nominee for governor in NC bleeds staff, ad buys after report of racist comments
After a report alleged North Carolina's Mark Robinson, GOP candidate for governor, years ago posted racist comments on a porn website, he lost a number of his staff, and ad buys for him won't be ...Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
‘One pistol clip can change the balance of power’: Congress is wholly unprepared for a mass casualty event
Leaders of both parties have ignored pleas to prep.Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Lawmakers back in Washington with short-term government funding bill atop to-do list
2 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Fetterman on pager attack in Lebanon: ‘If anything, I love it’
"I thought what Israel chose to do about blowing up the pagers and walkie talkies and after targeting and eliminating membership and leadership of Hezbollah, I absolutely support that,” Fetterman ...3 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Lobbyists exploit massive loophole to wine and dine lawmakers, aides at fancy getaways
Leading the way is the nonprofit Congressional Institute, which is run by veteran Republican staffers and funded by $3 million in annual dues from private interest groups.3 days ago -
The New York Times - Business
Retiring Solo: How to Plan When You’re on Your Own
More Americans are entering their later years without people they can automatically turn to for assistance with their health and finances. Here’s how to start.4 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Elon Musk steps up political giving with 6-figure donation to House Republicans
The August contribution is more than Musk has previously given to a party committee.4 days ago - Elon Musk -
Politico - Politics
House passes bill to bolster presidential nominee security
5 days ago -
Politico - Politics
House set to vote on bill to increase Secret Service protection for presidential candidates
5 days ago -
The Wall Street Journal - Business
Warner Music Increases Layoff Plans
The entertainment conglomerate now expects to cut its workforce by 13%, or about 750 employees—up from a 10% reduction.5 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Lawmakers expect Johnson will greenlight clean spending bill into December
6 days ago -
The Wall Street Journal - Business
Tucker Carlson, Taking Aim at Zyn, Plans New Nicotine-Pouch Brand
The conservative media star said he decided to launch Alp nicotine pouches because Zyn maker Philip Morris couldn’t take a joke.6 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Senate clears $3B veterans funding patch amid larger shortfall
6 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Johnson’s spending path ahead unclear after short-term bill failure
6 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Secret Service tells House task force that agency has increased Trump’s security
6 days ago -
Politico - Politics
Hours before vote, Trump again presses House GOP on short-term spending bill
September 18 - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
Johnson dodges on government shutdown if spending bill fails
September 18 -
The Wall Street Journal - Tech
Amazon's Return-to-Office Plans Spark Concern and Debate Among Employees
Corporate staffers grumbled after the e-commerce giant told workers to be in the office full time starting next year.September 17
More from Politico
-
Politico - Politics
House GOP launches investigation into Zelenskyy's Pennsylvania visit
3 hours ago - Ukraine -
Politico - Politics
Congress poised to pass short-term funding bill ahead of campaign’s final stretch
8 hours ago -
Politico - Politics
‘A perfect storm of stunning failure’: Senate probe finds huge Secret Service errors at Trump rally
11 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
Senate strikes agreement to clear funding patch on Wednesday to thwart government shutdown
19 hours ago -
Politico - Politics
House GOP moves toward holding Blinken in contempt of Congress
Yesterday