Speaker Johnson considers disrupting government spending dispute

Speaker⁢ Mike Johnson Injects Uncertainty into Government​ Funding Standoff

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had ⁤given hope in recent days that Washington⁤ could escape the kind⁤ of brinkmanship that has defined past standoffs over government funding.

He announced a deal ​Sunday with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ⁤(D-NY) on top-line spending‌ and even signaled he may reverse course on his vow​ not to pass another short-term spending bill.

With a Jan. 19 partial government shutdown ⁢looming, the compromise was welcome news​ in the Senate, where leadership wants a funding extension ​while the two‌ sides hammer out the details of that top-line agreement.

But‍ Johnson’s Thursday acknowledgment ‍that he is discussing whether to backtrack on the deal, just four⁤ days after announcing it, has injected uncertainty into what was already a tenuous⁤ process.

Notwithstanding a deal, Johnson is ⁣expected​ to push for policy riders‌ Democrats denounce as “poison pills,” a fight he is likely to lose but nonetheless represents an attempt to⁣ appease⁣ his right flank.

He extracted small victories from Schumer on IRS and COVID-19⁢ funding, but ‍the spending​ levels agreed to last spring as part of a fight over the debt ceiling remained intact.

Johnson’s deal signaled he would not ⁢be ⁢beholden to the hard-liners who wanted deeper cuts. ‍But his resolve apparently turned to indecision after meeting⁣ with conservatives on⁢ Thursday morning.

They walked out of his office suggesting Johnson had agreed to renegotiate with Schumer.

Johnson pushed back on those statements, ⁤telling reporters he had not​ made up his mind. “I’ve made no ‌commitment. So, if you hear otherwise, it’s just simply ‍not ​true,” he said.

But opening the door ⁤at all demonstrates the influence hard-liners have over Johnson if he wants to get anything done. Just​ one day earlier, 13 Republicans⁤ tanked a bill on the House floor in ⁣protest of the spending deal, ‌much like they did ‌under Speaker ‌Kevin McCarthy before him.

Johnson⁢ finds himself in essentially the⁤ same​ place as his predecessor. With a two-seat majority, he needs virtually all of his conference to keep ⁣the chamber running but is forced to compromise on must-pass legislation given Democrats’ control of the Senate and White House.

Such compromise, inevitably⁤ interpreted as⁢ surrender by hard-liners, led⁤ to the downfall of McCarthy. Johnson understands he could⁤ be next.

Schumer indicated on Thursday he expects Johnson to abide by the ‍deal. “We have a top-line agreement;⁤ everybody knows to get anything done, it has to be bipartisan,” he said.

And centrist Republicans have already begun to​ urge ‍Johnson​ to “stick with​ his guns.”

“He’s doing the right thing. The ‌vast majority, the 90% of us, know that it’s the best​ deal,” said Rep. Don Bacon ​(R-NE). “We can’t let⁢ a small group … control ​us.”

How Johnson proceeds could determine the trajectory of his speakership. But it also has real implications​ for government funding.

Withdrawing from the top-line spending ‌agreement ‌could be the key to conservatives greenlighting a ​funding extension, perhaps to March, but it would set up ​a bigger battle in the coming months.

The conservative Freedom Caucus wants to roll back spending to fiscal ‌2022 levels, tantamount ⁢to a $130 billion cut, while the debt ⁣limit agreement essentially kept spending flat.

The concessions Johnson got, accelerating $10 billion in cuts to the IRS and rescinding $6⁣ billion in COVID-19⁣ relief‍ funds, were interpreted ​as a fig leaf to conservatives, but Johnson would have trouble getting much‌ more given‌ Republicans marginally ‍control a single chamber of Congress.

Johnson has made much the same argument to his conference over the last week.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the⁣ top ⁤Republican on the Appropriations ⁤Committee, lamented Johnson’s remarks, warning that it would raise the chances of a ​government shutdown if he breaks the deal.

But the Senate⁤ at this point‌ has become so accustomed to House​ chaos that senators’ responses were by and large muted.

“The Republicans can’t govern. All they can ‍do ⁣is engage in political theater, and, frankly, that theater is getting pretty boring,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “It feels like the rerun‍ of a play that ‌wasn’t very good the first time around.”

Senate Minority Whip John⁤ Thune (R-SD) said the topic did not even come up​ at the conference’s lunch on Thursday.

Republicans fear the ⁣turmoil, in aggregate, could spoil their chances of keeping the House in⁣ November. The lack⁤ of unity also denies them leverage in ‍the very fight conservatives want to wage.

But Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a Democratic appropriator, predicted that Johnson would ultimately not back out of the‍ deal he⁤ made with Schumer.

“It’s not going to happen. I’m not at ⁢all⁢ worried,” Schatz said.

“He had a meeting with a​ bunch of right-wing people who will never vote for any spending bill,” he said, “and he politely accommodated them in‍ listening. He just said he made no ⁣commitments, and the only commitment he’s made is the top ⁢lines.”

Cami Mondeaux and Reese Gorman contributed to this report.

What impact is the uncertainty surrounding Speaker Johnson’s stance on⁣ the government funding standoff already having on financial markets and federal employees

Ng to pre-pandemic levels and is⁢ pressuring Johnson to take a hardline stance. ⁤While it is unlikely that Democrats would agree to such drastic​ cuts, the Freedom Caucus is not backing down.

Johnson’s decision-making process⁤ is further‌ complicated by the upcoming midterm elections. With control of the House hanging in the ⁢balance, Johnson is under pressure to appease both the conservative base and centrist Republicans. This delicate balancing act is a challenge that all speakers face, but is particularly difficult in today’s polarized political climate.

The uncertainty surrounding Johnson’s stance on the government funding standoff is already having‍ an impact. Financial markets are jittery, unsure of what the ​future holds for government spending and the economy. And federal employees, who have‌ already dealt with the hardships of previous ​government shutdowns,‍ are left in limbo, unsure if they will be furloughed once ​again.

It is imperative that Johnson and his counterparts in the Senate and White House find a ​way to navigate‍ this funding standoff. The consequences of a government shutdown during a pandemic are immense. Vital services ⁤could be disrupted, economic growth could be stunted,⁣ and the ⁤American people‌ would once again be left wondering if their elected officials can come together and govern effectively.

The responsibility now ⁤falls⁣ on Speaker Johnson to make a decision and stick with it. Regardless of the pressure from hard-liners or the tenuous balance of power in Congress, Johnson must prioritize the needs of the American people over any political calculations. It is time for him ⁣to⁣ lead ‍with conviction and find a path forward ‍that ensures the government remains⁣ funded and operational.

The next few days will be ⁣crucial. Speaker Johnson must demonstrate strong leadership and resolve⁤ if he⁣ wants to quell the‍ uncertainty and move ⁢the government funding process forward. The American people are counting ‌on him and the rest of Congress to put aside ⁤partisan squabbles and work together to find a solution. Only then can we truly move forward and ⁢address the pressing⁣ issues ​facing our nation.