U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is taking on opposition from his fellow Republicans and relying on Democratic votes to pass a risky measure in order to prevent a government shutdown. The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on a stopgap spending bill that would extend government funding beyond Nov. 17, when it is due to run out.
Facing opposition from some right-wing Republicans, Johnson has decided to bring the bill directly for a vote on the House floor, avoiding a potential procedural roadblock. However, passing the bill will require a two-thirds vote for passage, meaning Democratic support will be crucial.
Johnson emphasized the importance of preventing a government shutdown, stating that it is a matter of conscience for all members of Congress. In order to avert a fourth shutdown in a decade, both the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-led Senate must reach an agreement on spending legislation that President Joe Biden can sign into law before current funding for federal agencies expires on Friday.
Democrats have tentatively expressed support for Johnson’s plan, stating their satisfaction with the absence of controversial policies on abortion or other hot-button social issues in the legislation. However, many Republicans are seeking steep spending cuts and border-security measures, which the bill lacks. Representative Kevin Hern estimated that 30 to 40 conservative Republicans could vote against it.
While some Republicans have expressed their support for the bill, others are concerned with a potential shutdown. Moody’s recently lowered its credit rating outlook on the U.S. to “negative” from “stable” due to ongoing partisan gridlock, noting that high interest rates would drive borrowing costs up.
Johnson, who was chosen as speaker less than three weeks ago, has minimal senior congressional leadership experience. With a slim 221-213 majority, he can only afford to lose three party votes on legislation opposed by Democrats, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed hope that the House will pass the bill and send it to the Senate, where he is working with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to move it quickly.
Johnson’s bill would extend funding for various programs through Jan. 19, with funding for other federal operations expiring on Feb. 2. The political strategy of relying on Democratic votes echoes that of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who was forced out of his position by hardline Republicans after passing a similar spending bill with Democratic support.
Despite the parallels, Republicans believe Johnson is unlikely to suffer the same fate as McCarthy. However, hardliners have been quick to draw comparisons between the two situations.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Additional reporting by Moira Warburton and Susan Heavey; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Richard Chang and Alistair Bell)
