Conservatives opposed to spending deal torpedo rules vote in latest warning sign for House Speaker Mike Johnson
Republican hardliners still seething over House Speaker Mike Johnson’s spending deal with Democrats blocked a procedural vote Wednesday in the latest warning sign that legislation averting a government shutdown could be in jeopardy.
In protest of the topline spending deal reached between Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), twelve conservative House Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against a rule for three bills scheduled for floor debate this week.
In a procedural move, Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), the vice chairman of the House GOP conference, became the thirteenth Republican to vote against the measure after switching his vote to “Nay” in order to bring the rule up again at a later time.
Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Anna Paulina Luna (R -Fla.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-Va.) were the members that revolted against House GOP leadership.
“We’re making a statement that what the deal, as has been announced, that doesn’t secure the border and that doesn’t cut our spending, and that’s gonna be passed apparently under suspension of the rules with predominantly Democrat votes is unacceptable,” Good told reporters.
“My hope is to persuade the Speaker and the leadership and the entire Republican conference to not follow through with the deal as it’s been announced,” he added.
Congressional leaders rolled out the approximately $1.66 trillion topline spending deal on Sunday, which includes $888 billion for defense, $704 billion in nondefense discretionary spending and an additional $69 billion in further spending.
The deal charts out a path for keeping the government open if Congress can ram through the 12 appropriations bills that need to pass before the shutdown deadlines of Jan. 19 and Feb. 2.
Johnson was optimistic that despite the rebellion, the topline deal would weather the storm.
“It’s gonna survive,” the Louisiana Republican said during an interview on Fox News.
“What I’ve told Ralph Norman and Chip Roy, who are my close friends, I’m also a conservative hardliner, that’s been my entire career in Congress and all of my years as a legislator. Cutting spending, this is a big priority for us, the Republican Party.”
“What we negotiated in the topline agreement for the appropriations going forward is an innovation,” he added.
“We’re trying to get back to 12 appropriations bills instead of ruling and governing by omnibus spending bills. We’ve done that, we achieved that at the end of last year and now we have to get into the individual spending bills.”
Johnson acknowledged he’s “frustrated” that the deal “doesn’t go far enough,” but argued it’s the best deal that would pass both chambers of Congress.
“Remember, we have a two-vote margin and only one chamber, only in the House is where we have the majority,” he said.
“And so we have to work with the numbers we have and get the best we can.”
GOP House leadership canceled afternoon votes in the aftermath of the 203-216 vote against the rules measure, which was unrelated to the spending deal.
