In a divided Congress, House Republican and Democratic leadership are locked in a battle over Speaker Johnson’s plan to avert a government shutdown. The plan, proposed by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), offers a two-step interim spending bill that aims to avoid a shutdown. However, the “rule,” which is necessary to put the plan on the floor, is facing serious opposition.
If the House fails to approve the rule, the bill itself cannot even be debated or passed. There is uncertainty whether a bipartisan coalition of Republicans and Democrats could come together to bypass the rule process and put the bill on the floor as a “suspension.” This development has raised concerns about the future of the plan.
Speaker Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is heavily relying on Democrat support to ensure the success of his plan. However, Democrats have expressed reservations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called the bill “stunningly unserious” and has expressed doubts about its chances in the Senate.
One of the major concerns for Democrats is the exclusion of key priorities in Johnson’s bill, such as the renewal of FISA, the foreign intelligence collection program, and the WIC program, which provides supplemental food assistance to low-income women, infants, and children. Additionally, Democrats are wary of Johnson’s “laddered” approach, which sets different deadlines for different sets of spending bills in January and February.
The Democratic leadership is currently working to determine where its members stand on the bill. The endorsement of the bill by Schumer has helped ease some fears among Democrats. However, these concerns will need to be addressed and discussed during the morning caucus meeting.
The House, comprising 434 members, would need a broad bipartisan buy-in to pass the bill, requiring a minimum of 290 votes. With both sides deeply divided, the fate of the plan remains uncertain. As the clock ticks closer to a potential government shutdown, all eyes are on Congress to see if they can find common ground and avert a crisis.
