Speaker Johnson Faces Heat From All Sides Over Spending Deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has so irritated conservatives over the $1.66 trillion federal budget deal he made with Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), last weekend, that they have reportedly stopped activities on the House Floor Thursday until he meets with them to re-negotiate the deal.
Johnson is also feeling pressure from moderate Republicans and Democrats to stick to the agreement, including House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffreys, D-N.Y.
Jeffries, speaking at a Thursday press conference, said that “if any government shutdown happens, it will only be because Republicans have decided to once again decide that if they cannot force their extreme right-wing policy down the throats the American public, they will shut down the Government, harm the American People, and crash the Economy.”
Politico reported that Johnson met with Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and about a half dozen other conservatives on Thursday. The conservatives who attended the meeting left confident that they could convince Johnson to cancel the agreement to fund the federal government through the fiscal year 2024, which began on October 1.
Politico reported that Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said, “It won’t be the current agreement” after leaving the meeting.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) added: “There will be a brand new agreement drawn up and we are in the process doing that.”
Johnson, however, said that he had not made any commitments after the meeting and that discussions continue.
Johnson told Politico that they were having “thoughtful conversations” about funding options and priority. While those conversations are ongoing, I have not made any commitments. If you hear anything else, it is simply not true.
Johnson faces a similar revolt to that which led to Kevin McCarthy’s ouster. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told Newsmax Tuesday that the House needs new leadership “because we have none.” Greene stated the option of moving to resign as speaker, which was the maneuver used to remove McCarthy, “is on the table,” according to Axios.
Johnson is then scrutinized by Republicans responsible for negotiating government funding packages, who have warned against changing the agreement.
Politico reported that Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a senior appropriator said: “I don’t know how one can cut a deal, then come back and change it.” “The speaker has already cut it.”
He said that he did not think there was any other number which could unite the GOP.
All three senators who signed the original agreement, Jeffries, Schumer and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), would need to approve any change.
The ranking member of Senate Appropriations Committee Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that it would be “extremely difficult” to negotiate a brand new agreement.
She told Politico, “I hope it’s not true. It increases the likelihood of a shutdown.”
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