GOP battles over new Speaker Mike Johnson’s ‘clean’ spending bill

Speaker Mike Johnson this weekend introduced a short-term government funding plan that has already drawn vocal opposition from right-wing Republicans. The non-traditional two-step relief bill is intended to avoid a government shutdown on November 18, but the plan means funding will remain at 2023 levels for a few more months – drawing the ire of budget hawks who want major cuts.

House Republicans have insisted that Congress actually pass 12 single-issue spending bills to fund each government agency separately. But with seven of the 12 party-line appropriations bills passed in the House of Representatives and none agreed upon by the Senate and House of Representatives, Johnson, like Kevin McCarthy before him, must buy more time.

Johnson’s continuing resolution, or CR, plan would push the funding deadline to January for some agencies and to February for others. The idea is that non-controversial appropriations laws are worked out first before the more onerous ones are tackled.

The bill does not include additional aid for Israel or Ukraine. It also includes a one-year extension of the agriculture law, which governs a number of agricultural and food programs. It could be voted on as early as Tuesday. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in ousting McCarthy, the last time he placed a so-called “clean” CR in the House of Representatives.

At least six Republicans have already pledged to vote no on Johnson’s plan, but they are expected to give his leadership more leeway to bring up the proposal after three chaotic weeks without a speaker. Johnson was among 90 Republicans who voted against McCarthy’s six-week CR in late September.

Democrats have already attacked the so-called “ladder plan” — with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calling it an “unserious proposal” and a “recipe for more Republican chaos and more shutdowns — period.” But some on the other side of the aisle are expected to vote for it. First, the House must approve the rule to start debate on the deal — which could be the hardest part. According to historical precedent, the party in the majority is usually responsible for adopting the rule. But some hardline Republicans have gathered line votes this year to protest the legislation.

Under Johnson’s CR funding for agencies covered by Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration; energy and water development; military construction and veterans affairs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development would end on January 19. Funding for the rest of the agencies would end just two weeks later on February 2. Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Marjorie Taylor Greene , Ga., Bob Good, R-Va., and George Santos, R-N.Y., have already pledged to vote against the CR.

“My opposition to the clean CR just announced by the @HouseGOP Chairman cannot be overstated. Funding Pelosi-level spending and policies for 75 days – for future ‘promises,'” Roy wrote on Saturday on will not be announced. But Democratic senators have not completely ruled out Johnson’s approach.

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