New Speaker Mike Johnson appears better prepared for government showdown
WASHINGTON — The last time Congress tried to fund the government to prevent a federal shutdown, it cost House Speaker Kevin McCarthy his job.
This time, new Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana appeared on track Tuesday for a temporarily better outcome as the House prepared to vote on a stopgap package to keep the government running into the new year. If approved, the Senate would act next, ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline.
But the new Republican leader faces the same political problem that led to McCarthy’s ouster —angry, frustrated, hardright GOP lawmakers rejecting his approach, demanding budget cuts and determined to vote against the plan. Without enough support from his Republican majority, Johnson would be forced to rely on Democrats to ensure passage to keep the federal government running.
“We’re not surrendering,” Johnson assured after a closeddoor meeting of House Republicans at the Capitol. “But you have to choose fights you can win.”
Johnson, who announced his endorsement Tuesday of Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president, was working furiously and hit the airwaves to sell his approach. He met privately the night before with the conservative Freedom Caucus.
Under his proposal, Johnson is putting forward a unique — critics say bizarre — two-part process that temporarily funds some federal agencies to Jan. 19 and others to Feb. 2. It’s a continuing resolution, or CR, that comes without any of the deep cuts conservatives have demanded all year. It also fails to include President Joe Biden’s request for nearly $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, border security and other supplemental funds.
Johnson says the innovative approach would position House Republicans to “go into the fight” for deeper spending cuts in the new year — but many Republicans are skeptical there will be any better outcome in January.
The conservative House Freedom Caucus announced its opposition, ensuring dozens of votes against it.
“I think it’s a very big mistake,” said Rep. Chip Roy, RTexas, a member of the hardright group of lawmakers.
“It’s wrong,” said Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party was “carefully evaluating” the proposal from the Republican leadership before giving approval.
But Democrats remain concerned about the two-part approach. Veteran lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called it cumbersome, unusual and unworkable.
Jeffries in a letter to Democratic colleagues noted that the GOP package met the Democratic demands to keep funding at current levels without steep reductions or divisive Republican policy priorities.
“Extreme MAGA Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated that they cannot govern without House Democrats,” Jeffries said on NPR. “That will be the case this week in the context of avoiding a government shutdown.”
With the House narrowly divided, Johnson cannot afford many defections from his Republicans, which is forcing him into the arms of Democrats.