House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a tough challenge as he seeks Democratic support for a short-term spending bill after the House Rules Committee declined to advance the measure.
At a Glance
- House Rules Committee rejected a vote on a short-term spending bill
- Speaker Johnson needs Democratic support to pass the measure
- Proposed three-month continuing resolution would fund government through Dec. 20
- Multiple Republicans opposed the measure, leading to its exclusion
- Bill will require a two-thirds majority to pass under suspension of rules
GOP Resistance Forces Johnson to Seek Bipartisan Support
The House Rules Committee’s decision not to vote on a short-term spending bill has put House Speaker Mike Johnson in a precarious position. With government funding hanging in the balance, Johnson now must turn to Democrats for support to pass the measure and avert a shutdown. The proposed three-month continuing resolution (CR) aims to maintain government funding through December 20, but faces opposition from within the Republican party.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voiced strong criticism of the timing, suggesting it was designed to manipulate lawmakers. Massie stated, “Why Christmas? So he can pressure Members to vote for a bill they haven’t read, by using their desire to see their families on Christmas Eve against them.”
Procedural Hurdles and Bipartisan Necessity
Without approval from the Rules Committee, the bill will be brought to the floor under a suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority to pass. This procedural change highlights the necessity for bipartisan support, given the GOP’s slim majority in the House. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has announced plans to bring the CR to a vote on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances,” Johnson wrote in a letter to colleagues. “As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”
The need for Democratic support has not gone unnoticed by the opposition. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized the Republicans’ ability to govern, stating, “It’s not clear that House Republicans have the ability to undertake the basic responsibilities of governing, which should tell the American people all they need to know.”
Previous Attempts and Ongoing Challenges
This latest development comes after an earlier six-month CR proposal failed, partly due to its inclusion of provisions for voter identification. That bill was rejected by the House with a vote of 202 in favor and 220 opposed, highlighting the challenges Johnson faces in uniting his party. The failure of previous attempts has left lawmakers scrambling for solutions with less than two weeks until a potential government shutdown.
“Congress has an immediate obligation to do two things: responsibly fund the federal government and ensure the security of our elections,” said Mr. Johnson, who has made the voting registration bill a personal crusade.
As the clock ticks down, the pressure mounts on both sides of the aisle to find a compromise. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation, stating, “It’s the only thing that’s kept the government open every time we have faced a funding deadline. That’s what we’re willing and happy to do. And the clock is ticking.”
