As Congress approaches another government funding deadline, Speaker Mike Johnson thought a funding bill with a conservative voting law attached might do the trick.
With just 19 days until government funding runs out and federal agencies begin to shut down, Republican leaders are now trying to put together a plan to keep the lights on and the doors open.
Johnson’s proposal to do just that was released last Friday and caught the attention of party leader Donald Trump, who yesterday suggested that if the GOP legislation does not pass, then the House speaker should consider shutting down the government.
So Johnson decided not to put the government funding bill to a vote today, signaling that his conference needs to work out the details while the clock is ticking and Trump is watching their every move closely.
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is seen during a press conference with House Republican leadership on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Johnson scrapped his plan to hold a critical vote on Wednesday
Many Republicans are concerned that a government shutdown could hurt their chances for re-election in November, but party boss Donald Trump appears convinced that Congress is headed in that direction.
Trump is demanding passage of the SAVE Act, which restricts voting registration for illegal immigrants, ahead of his race against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Most Republicans support the strategy, although some have questioned the spending levels contained in the legislation.
With the margin between Democrats and Republicans so narrow in the House that Johnson can only afford to lose four Republican votes to Democrats, the president apparently decided the vote was too risky a move.
“There will be no vote today because we are in the business of building consensus here in Congress with small majorities,” Johnson said Wednesday.
Johnson is in a difficult position to manage the wishes of Donald Trump and his party.
Congress must pass a government funding bill by October 1 or the federal system will begin to shut down
On Tuesday, he indicated that the only way forward to fund the government was to use his proposal with the SAVE Act attached.
His opinion changed the next day when he spoke to his members and advisers.
“That’s what you do. That’s what I’ve been doing since I became House Speaker. We’re having thoughtful conversations and family conversations within the Republican conference, and I think we’ll get there.”
“People have concerns about all kinds of things. That’s just how the process works, and sometimes it takes a little bit longer,” Johnson continued.
Trump directly urged Republicans in Congress not to move forward with funding the government if the SAVE Act is not attached by Tuesday.
“If House and Senate Republicans do not get absolute assurances about election security, they should not, in any way, move forward with a continuing resolution on the budget.”
“Democrats are trying to ‘stuff’ the voter rolls with illegal immigrants. Don’t let that happen, shut them down!” he continued.
Trump has suggested that Johnson let federal funding expire if the SAVE Act is not passed.
Currently, of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, 220 are Republicans, while there are 211 Democrats. There are four vacancies.
Johnson can only afford to lose four votes from his Republican Party to pass the bill.
And one of those members told DailyMail.com: “No way,” he does not support the president’s funding plan.
“I will be voting resoundingly no on the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act this week,” Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said in a statement to DailyMail.com on Monday.
“I don’t care what shiny object is attached to him, or what fake fight we start and don’t finish.”
“Congress is spending a lot of money to drive our country into oblivion, and this bill does nothing to cut spending,” he concluded, consolidating his position against the bill because it does not address the explosive growth of the US national debt of $35 trillion.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was hospitalized Tuesday and his timeline for returning to the Capitol remains up in the air, adding a layer of complexity to Johnson’s funding plans.
And shockingly, one Republican member, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was suddenly hospitalized Tuesday night after experiencing “stroke-like symptoms.”
It is unclear when Wilson will be able to vote again.
Additionally, a handful of other Republican members made it clear publicly that they would not support the funding plan in its current form.
The clock is ticking and Johnson and his Republican leadership team have a lot of work to do and people to please.