Speaker Mike Johnson insists his Republican conference is “united,” even as a vote to approve an emergency funding bill to prevent a government shutdown sharply divided them.
The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government on Thursday, but 106 Republicans voted against the measure in a show of defiance.
“We are all united,” Johnson emphasized about his Republican conference in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com during the snowy March for Life rally in Washington, DC, after the divided CR vote.
“People are frustrated that the government financing of the credit process has taken so long,” he explained.
“I’m more frustrated than anyone,” he told DailyMail.com, “but we have to take the time for that process to happen.”
The CR has set spending through March 1 for four agencies and through March 8 for eight other agencies at the 2023 level set under Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
It is the third CR Congress to succeed, as it once again paves the way for the government’s financing in the 2024 budget year.
“People are frustrated that the government’s financing of the appropriations process has taken so long,” the speaker said
Johnson still holds out hope that the extra few weeks will allow Congress to come together and negotiate 12 separate bills to fund each government agency.
He emphasizes that the additional time will allow Republicans to fight for conservative policymakers associated with these bills.
The CR ultimately approved 314-108 on Thursday afternoon, with 109 Republicans voting in favor and 106 against.
But Johnson faced a backlash from even his closest allies over the deal.
House of Representatives Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Johnson’s number three, voted against the bill. This also applied to nine of Johnson’s committee chairmen.
Stefanik, RN.Y., told DailyMail.com in a statement that she was “concerned” about the CR because it did not include border security measures.
“My northern border district has seen an astonishing 550% increase in apprehensions in the Swanton sector last year. “That is why I am concerned about this week’s continued resolution,” she stated.
“I know the Speaker is working tirelessly to secure the border in the next funding package,” the Republican leader continued.
Other notable “no” votes included House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, China Select Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green and a handful of other senior Republicans .
Some were frustrated, like Stefanik, that the speaker did not tie border security to the emergency funding bill. Others simply do not approve of CR governing at all.
The path for the House and Senate to meet on 12 separate appropriations bills within the next two months appears murky.
Speaker Johnson added to DailyMail.com that Republicans will have to “fight for our policies within these appropriations bills.”
The CR ‘allows us to keep the government open, gives us the opportunity to do that. So we’re moving forward.’
He struck an optimistic tone about what lies ahead for Republicans heading into the 2024 elections in November.
‘We have big things ahead and a big agenda. We’re going to keep this team together and govern, and I think we’re going to expand the majority,” he predicted.
“I think we’re going to win back the Senate for the Republican Party. I think we’ll win the White House too. We will have a much bigger and better celebration next January.”
Right-wing hardliners from the Freedom Caucus had tried to force Speaker Mike Johnson to attach HR 2, the Republicans’ tough border bill, to the deal — which would have sent the government into a shutdown.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., said he is furious with the speaker for passing a CR without boundary provisions and threatening to undermine other Republican-led bills in the future.
The hardliners even suggested that they would rather throw the government into a shutdown to demand border security provisions.
“If (Democrats) want to close the border, then it’s up to them to shut down the government,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told reporters.
“It’s GROUNDHOG DAY in the House chamber – always, every day. Once again, spending money we don’t have!’ complained Chip Roy, trying to urge his colleagues to vote “no” on the CR.
‘We know that the Budget Act of 1974 requires that the twelve budget bills must be introduced by the House of Representatives before June 30. And everyone just ignores that like it’s a recommendation,” Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont, told me. reporters.
‘It’s the law. And I’m disgusted that we’re still ignoring the process.”
Johnson resisted, relying instead on Democratic votes to make up for Republican Party defectors as a snowstorm raged toward DC and lawmakers looked to get out of town.
The bill was shelved by the House of Representatives – meaning it required a two-thirds majority to pass, but did not need to progress into a rules vote that typically only passes with the votes of the majority.
People attend the annual March for Life rally on the National Mall on January 19
Speaker Johnson added to DailyMail.com that Republicans will have to ‘fight for our policies within those appropriations bills’
A woman participates in the annual anti-abortion ‘March for Life’
Some hardliners threatened to undermine future rule votes to thwart the Republican agenda until Congress passed border security.
“That’s the discussion,” Burlison said of the idea. “If you’re ready to fight on the border. Let’s do it right now. Let’s not wait for a piece of trash to come back from the Senate.”
The Senate is currently spearheading a national security package that would include border provisions in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel.
The Senate had previously passed the continuing resolution by a vote of 77 to 18.