House Speaker Mike Johnson Withdraws Funding Vote After Clash with Fellow Republicans

House Speaker Mike Johnson Withdraws Funding Vote After Clash with Fellow Republicans

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to avert a government shutdown hits a roadblock as he withdraws a crucial funding vote amid Republican opposition.

At a Glance

  • Speaker Johnson cancels vote on six-month stopgap funding measure due to GOP resistance
  • Nearly a dozen House Republicans planned to vote against the bill
  • The bill includes the SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote
  • Democrats oppose the bill, citing potential harm to essential services
  • Government shutdown looms on October 1 if no funding deal is reached

Johnson Faces Internal Opposition

In a surprising turn of events, House Speaker Mike Johnson has withdrawn a significant vote on a stopgap funding measure after encountering resistance from fellow Republicans. The decision, made just 19 days before a potential government shutdown, underscores the persistent divisions within the Republican ranks over budgetary policies and legislative approaches.

Johnson’s proposed legislation was designed to provide short-term financial resources to avoid a government shutdown. However, objections centered on concerns about fiscal accountability and rising government expenditure have posed a significant roadblock to securing cross-party consensus.

The SAVE Act and Republican Demands

At the heart of the controversy is the inclusion of the SAVE Act in the GOP funding measure. This act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote, has garnered support from former President Donald Trump but faces staunch opposition from House Democrats. Johnson, aligning with Trump, is attempting to block government funding unless Democrats agree to these hard-right demands.

“We are going to continue to work on this,” Johnson said. “The whip is going to do the hard work to build consensus and work on the weekend on that.”

The inclusion of the SAVE Act and proposed budget cuts have made it unlikely for the bill to pass in its current form, as both the Democratic-controlled Senate and the White House oppose these provisions.

Democratic Opposition and Concerns

Democrats argue that the bill’s spending cuts will negatively impact average-income Americans and essential services. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been vocal in his criticism of the proposed legislation.

Speaking with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said of the GOP government funding bill, “What is taking place right now is that the extreme MAGA Republicans are trying to jam extreme right-wing cuts down the throats of the American people and the bill that will be before the House of Representatives tomorrow hurts our military readiness. It hurts our veterans. It hurts the Social Security Administration. It will hurt seniors. And, of course, it’s going to hurt disaster relief efforts by shortchanging them, as well. We’re going to vote no against it.”

The Road Ahead

With the government set to shut down on October 1 unless a funding deal is reached, the strategy to prevent this outcome remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and some Republicans are advocating for a “clean” funding bill to keep the government open until December.

Johnson’s decision to cancel the vote has weakened his negotiating leverage and highlighted the challenges he faces in garnering Republican support. As the clock ticks down to the potential shutdown, all eyes are on the House Republican Conference to see if they can reach a consensus and avert a crisis.

“Sometimes you have to do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may,” Johnson told The Hill on Tuesday morning.

Sources:

  1. House speaker cancels vote on government funding bill amid GOP opposition
  2. Mike Johnson pulls CR amid GOP opposition
  3. Johnson forced to delay vote on stopgap funding plan as GOP opposition rises
  4. Johnson Scraps Vote on Spending Extension Amid Bipartisan Resistance
  5. Speaker Mike Johnson yanks government funding bill amid growing GOP defections

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