House GOP Ends Speaker Johnson’s Honeymoon Early
- House Republicans are currently facing difficulties due to disputes over government funding, causing the removal of two spending bills from the floor. This issue, which echoes the struggles that led to the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, threatens to cause a government shutdown if not resolved before the funding deadline.
- New Speaker, Mike Johnson, faces the immediate challenge of passing a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown before the Nov. 17 deadline. Two main options are on the table: a “ladder” approach, funding portions of the government through staggered dates, or a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) that includes conservative policy priorities. The Republican party is divided on which option to choose.
- Complicating matters, conservatives are demanding spending cuts and other provisions to which moderates object., These differences appear in a bill funding the Treasury Department and the General Services Administration, which included a policy that would have nullified a Washington, D.C., law aimed at preventing employer discrimination based on reproductive health care decisions. Moderates opposed this language, while some conservatives opposed the bill because it did not bar funding for a new FBI headquarters.
House Republicans Grapple with Government Funding Battles
House Republicans, led by new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), find themselves entangled in disputes over government funding similar to those that led to the abrupt downfall of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
This week, two spending bills were pulled from the floor due to disagreements on spending and contentious policy items. With less than a week to breach a government funding deadline, the GOP seems hopelessly split on preventing a shutdown.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) expressed disappointment on Thursday when GOP leaders withdrew a funding bill from the floor, indicating that Johnson’s leadership honeymoon might be ending prematurely.
For months, right-wing members of the party have stifled their leader’s attempts to pass partisan funding bills, which they claim would strengthen their negotiating position with Senate Democrats.
Centrist House Republicans who previously conceded to right-wing demands under McCarthy are now showing resistance under Johnson’s leadership. “Us mainline guys in the Biden districts… we’re not going to be walked over anymore,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) remarked, calling for compromise.
Johnson’s immediate challenge is the passage of a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown before the Nov. 17 deadline. He has two main options: a “ladder” approach to fund the government partially through one date and the remainder through another, or a cleaner resolution with conservative priorities. However, Republicans are divided over these options.
Johnson faces the challenge of satisfying his party members while pushing through a stopgap measure that can pass the Democratic-controlled Senate by Friday’s end. Bacon mentioned that he and other moderates are working on an alternative stopgap that could secure Democratic support.
The withdrawn bill would have funded the Treasury Department and the General Services Administration and included a policy rider that would have nullified a Washington, D.C., law aimed at preventing employer discrimination based on reproductive health care decisions. Moderates opposed this bill over this language, particularly in the wake of Tuesday’s elections, blamed primarily on the Republicans’ handling of abortion.
A group of moderates earlier in the week raised issues with another funding bill that proposed significant cuts to Amtrak funding. “They can’t just work with those 20 guys on the other side,” said Bacon optimistically, implying changes next week could improve the bill’s chances.
Significant spending cuts required by conservatives continue to be an obstacle, especially with regards to the Department of Transportation funding bill. It emphasizes the monumental task Johnson faces to appease various party factions amidst the ongoing government funding problem.
Moderates and conservatives continue to disagree on the outstanding bills, complicating leadership’s efforts to secure votes on funding bills. Meanwhile, the Senate and the House have started to consider larger funding packages for their remaining bills.
Despite eager support for Johnson from Republicans at the end of the three-week Speaker saga in October, underlying tensions remain unresolved. “Mike’s got a tough job. Got to pray for him this weekend,” said Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas).
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