1 of 3 | Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at a presser on his his proposed two-tier continuing resolution to keep the government from shutting down on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
The U.S. House of Representatives is holding a floor vote Tuesday on Speaker Mike Johnson’s resolution to avoid a government shutdown.
The House began debate on the floor in the morning as a potential government shutdown looms. Advertisement
Johnson, R-La., unveiled a continuing resolution Saturday that would extend some funding to Jan. 19, with all funding to run out on Feb. 2. Lawmakers would then need to pass another resolution to again hold off a looming shutdown.
The deadline to pass a bill and avert a shutdown is midnight Friday.
The resolution is being considered under the suspension of the rules, meaning it will need support from two-thirds of the House, or 290 votes, to pass. Some Republicans have voiced opposition to the bill, including Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who tweeted that it would approve “Pelosi-level spending,” referring to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
The House Freedom Caucus — a group of about 45 Republicans — issued a statement early Tuesday signaling that it would oppose Johnson’s resolution.
“The House Freedom Caucus opposes the proposed ‘clean’ Continuing Resolution as it contains no spending reductions, no border security and not a single meaningful win for the American people,” the statement says. “Republicans must stop negotiating against ourselves over fears of what the Senate may do with the promise ‘roll over today and we’ll fight tomorrow.'” Advertisement
Johnson, meanwhile, indicated that he believes his bill will pass with bipartisan support.
“I’ll go in with all the House Republicans and [Minority Leader Rep.] Hakeem Jeffries will go meet with all the Democrats, and we’ll figure out the final numbers,” Johnson said Tuesday on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
Eight Republicans voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker last month after he leaned on votes from Democrats to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. A drawn-out struggle to seat a new Republican speaker ensued, ending with Johnson winning the gavel after 21 days.
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., said on the floor that Republicans have “wasted valuable time” with infighting.
Prior to bringing Johnson’s resolution up for a vote, the House was holding an hour-long debate on a separate appropriations bill that would bring widespread cuts to the departments of labor, health and human services and education, as well as related agencies.
Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., said the bill would cut $60 billion from more than 50 programs and eliminate another 60. This would include an 80% reduction of Title I grants to public schools.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said she has never seen a bill “this inhumane.” She said it would lead to tens of thousands of public school teachers losing their jobs. Advertisement
“It heralds their intent to end public education in the United States,” she said. “This bill is shameful. This is the ‘every child left behind act.'”
