House readies vote to prevent a government shutdown as Speaker Johnson relies on Democrats for help

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives prepared for a critical vote aimed at averting a government shutdown. This development came as Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, facing opposition from within his party’s hard-right faction, found himself compelled to seek support from Democratic members. This move mirrored the circumstances that led to the downfall of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, just weeks ago. Despite the internal strife, Johnson, a Louisiana representative, seemed poised to navigate these challenges successfully, unlike McCarthy. The next step would involve the Senate’s action before the looming Friday deadline.

Speaker Johnson emphasized the importance of maintaining government operations at a press conference, saying it was a collective responsibility owed to the American public. However, Johnson’s leadership is tested by the same dynamics that undermined McCarthy’s tenure. With hard-right Republicans adamant about budget cuts and opposed to Johnson’s strategy, he had no alternative but to form an alliance with the Democrats to ensure the continuation of government functions.

Johnson, who recently endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, proposed a distinctive, albeit criticized, two-part funding process. This approach would temporarily fund certain federal agencies until January 19th and others until February 2nd, without the substantial cuts demanded by conservative members or including President Biden’s request for additional funds for Ukraine, Israel, border security, and other areas.

Despite Johnson’s assurances, many Republicans remain skeptical of any significant progress in the upcoming January negotiations. The House Freedom Caucus publicly opposed his plan, with members like Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee openly criticizing the approach. This opposition left Johnson with little choice but to bypass the usual party-line vote and opt for a procedure requiring a two-thirds majority, including Democrat support.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed reservations about the plan but recognized that it met Democratic criteria by maintaining current funding levels without drastic reductions or contentious Republican policies. Jeffries remarked on NPR about the necessity of Democratic involvement for governance, especially in the context of preventing a shutdown.

This scenario places Johnson in a delicate position, reliant on bipartisan support, much like the situation that led to McCarthy’s removal. However, Johnson seems to be enjoying a temporary period of political grace in one of his initial significant tests.

On the Senate side, where Democrats hold a narrow majority, there is an openness to accepting Johnson’s proposal before the Friday deadline. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell viewed the House package positively, anticipating bipartisan passage. However, McConnell also noted the ongoing efforts to address Biden’s requests for military aid and other needs in separate discussions.

If passed, this resolution would mark a somewhat unremarkable conclusion to the House GOP’s first year in majority, where efforts to reduce federal spending have faced resistance from within the party. The current plan would continue government funding at levels set at the end of 2022, a bipartisan agreement. The future holds potential changes, with automatic 1% cuts across all departments looming if new budget terms are not agreed upon by spring, a consequence of a debt deal struck earlier in the year.

This report was supplemented by contributions from Big Big News writers Kevin Freking and Mary Clare Jalonick.

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More about government shutdown vote

• House Votes on Government Shutdown Prevention
• Speaker Johnson’s Bipartisan Strategy
• Republican Opposition to Funding Plan
• Democratic Response to House Proposal
• Senate’s Role in Government Funding
• Implications of House Funding Plan
• Background of House GOP’s Budget Struggle