The rules committee advanced legislation on Monday night that would block votes to overturn the tariffs on countries such as Canada, China, and Mexico, among others, through July 31. The previous ban, which expired at the end of January, had prevented several Democratic-led resolutions that sought to repeal tariffs for months.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters on Monday night he was confident he had the votes to pass a procedural measure that includes the tariff-blocking language. But the speaker’s razor-thin, one-seat majority could make it difficult to pass the tariff ban, along with other bills.
Eyes will be on such GOP members as Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) or Mike Turner (R-OH) to see whether they will break ranks and oppose the procedural vote on Tuesday, which will ban votes on tariff repeals and advance the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025, and the Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act.
Both lawmakers, among other Republicans, have expressed skepticism in the past. Bacon recently told the Washington Examiner that he advocated Johnson not block tariff votes through a “rule” vote. The Nebraska congressman said the president’s recent rhetoric about acquiring Greenland by placing tariffs on European allies.
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“I don’t think the rule will pass again,” Bacon said.
Bacon was among those who negotiated with the speaker to secure a short-term block on tariff-repeal resolutions back in September 2025, telling the Washington Examiner he was reluctant to help leadership again.
