Republicans seem to be no closer to reaching a consensus on a funding agreement to avert a government shutdown than they were a month ago, despite their earlier success in temporarily postponing the standoff.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a move that posed a potential risk to his newly esteemed position, assured his GOP caucus last month that he wouldn’t seek their support for another short-term funding plan to avoid a government shutdown. The Louisiana Republican ascended to the speakership, in part, by pledging to eliminate continuing resolutions – those stopgap spending measures that played a role in the removal of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, risking his standing, had assured his GOP caucus that the last short-term funding plan he sought their support for would be the final one. Johnson’s ascent to the speakership was fueled by a commitment to eliminate continuing resolutions, the temporary spending measures that led to his predecessor Kevin McCarthy’s removal.
However, the situation has taken a turn reminiscent of the movie “Groundhog Day.” With just one week to avert a partial government shutdown scheduled for March 1 and no spending bills in place, Johnson faces a challenging scenario upon the House’s return from recess. The pressure intensifies as a full government shutdown looms on March 8, and failure to pass appropriations bills or an omnibus package by April 30 could trigger a 1% across-the-board cut on domestic spending.
Johnson had pitched the last funding patch as a means to provide appropriators additional time to finalize 12 spending bills with essential conservative policy riders. These riders cover issues like abortion, gender-affirming care, and border security. However, the inclusion of these riders complicates the path forward, with House Republicans insisting on measures that Democrats consider as potential deal-breakers.
Complicating matters further is Johnson’s slim majority in a caucus that is becoming increasingly unruly. With only a three-seat majority, House Republicans are navigating a delicate situation, especially with the House Freedom Caucus expressing a preference for another stopgap measure over an omnibus package.
The inability to progress on appropriations bills is compounded by the failure to secure many other Republican priorities, such as derailing a bipartisan immigration and border security bill and scuttling aid packages for Israel and Ukraine. Johnson’s leadership is also under scrutiny as the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden‘s foreign business dealings, a basis for impeachment attempts, faces challenges with a star witness’s indictment.
As the deja vu scenario unfolds, the pressure on Johnson increases, with House Freedom Caucus members urging him to defend conservative policy provisions. The possibility of facing renewed calls for removal through a motion to vacate adds to Johnson’s challenges, particularly if he relies on Democrats to pass another short-term spending deal. The looming government shutdown and the potential political ramifications heading into the 2024 election add further complexity to an already chaotic situation.