A handful of House Republicans are conceding they’ll need to pass another short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open while they finalize a budget proposal despite outrage from some of their conservative colleagues.
The disagreement within the party comes as some members are concerned they won’t have enough time before the Jan. 19 deadline to get the spending legislation through Congress, setting the stage for a possible stopgap measure to buy lawmakers more time.
Shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) secured the gavel, the Republican leader vowed he was “done” with pursuing short-term continuing resolutions.
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told reporters on Tuesday that “obviously, we’re going to have to pass a CR” and that it would be up to “the speaker and the majority leader to determine the length.”
And, after the Elected Leadership Committee meeting on Tuesday, Johnson did not shoot down the idea, instead saying that lawmakers need to put “pedal to the metal.”
“We’re going to get the job done, and everyone is determined to do that,” he said.
But now, with a partial government shutdown looming just 10 days away, many in the House GOP say there may not be a way to avoid the temporary lifeline.
“I don’t know how the hell we get there without one,” said Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who sits on the Appropriations Committee. “I mean, it’s just a matter of timing.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, arguing there may not be another option.
“I don’t see how we get there … unless we want a short-term shutdown,” said Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK).
“It’s not a bad idea,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) said of a stopgap spending measure.
But passing a short-term spending deal in the House could pose a challenge for Johnson, who is already in hot water with hard-line conservatives who are upset with the speaker for a $1.59 trillion top-line spending deal for fiscal 2024 he made with Senate Democrats over the weekend. The deal allowed lawmakers to begin negotiating their 12 separate appropriations bills to fund the government.
The move angered conservatives within the House Freedom Caucus, however, who criticized the deal as a “total failure” that didn’t go far enough to cut spending or address the crisis at the southern border. Several Republicans have already said they’ll vote against the deal, spelling trouble for Johnson as he seeks to keep his party in line.
In the leadership meeting on Tuesday, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA) had a “very heated exchange” with Johnson and “ripped his a**” three times about the top-line agreement, according to a source familiar.
Afterward, Good declined to discuss specifics in the meeting but said, “I support speaker Johnson, but it’s not personal when I criticize policy or don’t agree with it.”
“Past history would not indicate we are willing to fight for good policy or reduced spending,” Good said.
Some members have already begun talking about the motion to vacate to remove Johnson from the speakership, possibly repeating the fate of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy. On Tuesday, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) said on a radio show that the motion to vacate is not off the table.
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“I’m not gonna say I’m gonna go file it tomorrow night. I’m not saying I’m not gonna file it tomorrow. I think the speaker needs to know that we’re angry about it,” Roy said on the radio show.
The first batch of spending bills is set to expire on Jan. 19, after which the government will enter a partial shutdown and funding for several agencies will lapse. The second deadline is set for Feb. 2.
Cami Mondeaux also authored this report.
