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(The Guardian) Big day for Mike Johnson as government funding bill faces vote in the House
It’s a big day, and the first real test, for Republican new House speaker Mike Johnson as the chamber votes on his proposal to keep the government funded.
He’ll need the help of Democrats to get his CR (continuing resolution) bill through and ensure there’s money to keep the wheels turning after 17 November. It’s an issue that helped topple Johnson’s predecessor Kevin McCarthy: Republicans angry at his consorting with the “enemy” to get a stopgap funding bill passed in September ousted him three days later.
There is, however, growing confidence that Johnson’s two-tier, “clean” CR bill (dealing only with government funding) will find enough favor on both sides of the chamber to reach the 290 votes it needs to pass.
Senior Democrats don’t love it, but also don’t want to shut down the government heading into the Thanksgiving break. House Republicans meet this morning to plan their strategy. Either way, it’ll make for a lively day.
House Freedom Caucus opposes Johnson spending bill
It was a poison chalice for Kevin McCarthy, but his successor as House speaker Mike Johnson is calculating that working with Democrats to get a government spending bill through the chamber today will have a better personal outcome.
There were growing indications last night and Tuesday morning that Republican Johnson’s CR (continuing resolution) bill to keep the government funded beyond 17 November will be able to reach the 290-vote threshold it needs to pass.
That doesn’t mean his unconventional two-tier proposal – funding chunks of government operations separately until January and February – is wildly popular. The Republican House Freedom Caucus, which has roughly 50 members, announced on Tuesday morning it opposed the plan. And several senior Democrats are apprehensive, Maryland congressman Steny Hoyer calling it “a bad process” according to Punchbowl.
Johnson’s decision to introduce the bill under what’s known as suspension of rules, bypassing traditional procedural hurdles but requiring a two-thirds majority to pass, also indicates underwhelming support from the Republican side.
Yet the speaker is sensing that enough members on either side want to get a deal done, and that there’s still enough goodwill from his own ranks to avoid McCarthy’s fate: his predecessor was ousted from the speaker’s chair by angry Republicans last month three days after his own stopgap spending bill passed with Democratic support.
Crucially, Tuesday’s statement from the House Freedom Caucus included the line: “… we remain committed to working with Speaker Johnson”. The wider Republican House membership was also meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss its strategy.
It’s a big day, and the first real test, for Republican new House speaker Mike Johnson as the chamber votes on his proposal to keep the government funded.
He’ll need the help of Democrats to get his CR (continuing resolution) bill through and ensure there’s money to keep the wheels turning after 17 November. It’s an issue that helped topple Johnson’s predecessor Kevin McCarthy: Republicans angry at his consorting with the “enemy” to get a stopgap funding bill passed in September ousted him three days later.
There is, however, growing confidence that Johnson’s two-tier, “clean” CR bill (dealing only with government funding) will find enough favor on both sides of the chamber to reach the 290 votes it needs to pass.
Senior Democrats don’t love it, but also don’t want to shut down the government heading into the Thanksgiving break. House Republicans meet this morning to plan their strategy. Either way, it’ll make for a lively day.
House Freedom Caucus opposes Johnson spending bill
It was a poison chalice for Kevin McCarthy, but his successor as House speaker Mike Johnson is calculating that working with Democrats to get a government spending bill through the chamber today will have a better personal outcome.
There were growing indications last night and Tuesday morning that Republican Johnson’s CR (continuing resolution) bill to keep the government funded beyond 17 November will be able to reach the 290-vote threshold it needs to pass.
That doesn’t mean his unconventional two-tier proposal – funding chunks of government operations separately until January and February – is wildly popular. The Republican House Freedom Caucus, which has roughly 50 members, announced on Tuesday morning it opposed the plan. And several senior Democrats are apprehensive, Maryland congressman Steny Hoyer calling it “a bad process” according to Punchbowl.
Johnson’s decision to introduce the bill under what’s known as suspension of rules, bypassing traditional procedural hurdles but requiring a two-thirds majority to pass, also indicates underwhelming support from the Republican side.
Yet the speaker is sensing that enough members on either side want to get a deal done, and that there’s still enough goodwill from his own ranks to avoid McCarthy’s fate: his predecessor was ousted from the speaker’s chair by angry Republicans last month three days after his own stopgap spending bill passed with Democratic support.
Crucially, Tuesday’s statement from the House Freedom Caucus included the line: “… we remain committed to working with Speaker Johnson”. The wider Republican House membership was also meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss its strategy.
