Speaker Mike Johnson pitches Republicans on plan to avert government shutdown

With simply six days till a government shutdown, newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson is pitching Republicans Saturday on his plan to avert a shutdown.

Johnson informed the Republican lawmakers on a convention name that he’s shifting ahead with a two-step government funding plan in what Johnson described as a “laddered CR” or persevering with decision, a number of sources inform ABC News. Notably, funding for Israel, Ukraine or border safety usually are not hooked up to the must-pass laws.

“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories. The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess. Separating out the CR from the supplemental funding debates places our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight over Ukraine aid, and meaningful policy changes at our Southern border,” Johnson stated in a press release.

How the invoice would work, nevertheless, is a bit difficult.

Congress usually passes a short-term funding invoice or stopgap measure, referred to as a CR, to preserve the government open at present spending ranges. This is the choice that Congress used just some weeks in the past to keep away from a shutdown.

But Johnson says that is not on the desk.

Instead, he is pushing a plan that may set two totally different deadlines to preserve totally different components of the government functioning, sources on the decision informed ABC News. The legislative textual content obtained by ABC News confirms two separate extensions for various chunks of the federal government simply two weeks aside — Jan. 19 and Feb. 2.

When pitching this plan, Johnson talked about he has solely been on the job for a number of weeks, including he wasn’t the “architect of the mess we’re in,” sources conversant in the enchantment stated.

There are already a handful of Republicans who’re skeptical of Johnson’s proposal to preserve the government funded.

At least two say they’ll vote in opposition to it. Reps. Chip Roy and Marjorie Taylor Greene stated they are a no.

But would Democrats assist it?

“It’s a good thing the Speaker didn’t include unnecessary cuts and kept defense funding with the second group of programs,” a Senate Democratic management aide informed ABC News.

A Democratic management supply informed ABC News that Johnson knew he wanted Democratic votes, so he moved of their route by not together with cuts and never inserting protection funding within the first deadline. Even with that, it is unclear if Democrats within the House and Senate will again this plan. Just final week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries threw chilly water on the concept of laddered CR.

Johnson is in the identical boat that sunk former Speaker Kevin McCarthy — with a slender majority that assessments his management at each hall of the Capitol. Absent a far-right revolt, a vote within the House might happen as quickly as Tuesday, maximizing stress on the Senate to act forward of the Nov. 17 deadline.

Democratic leaders like Jeffries have insisted that Republicans transfer ahead with a so-called “clean CR,” funding government at fiscal yr 2022 spending ranges set earlier than Democrats misplaced management of the House.

This measure doesn’t problem that spending degree, which has already upset Republicans like Roy who signaled his opposition on X.

“My opposition to the clean CR just announced by the Speaker to the CR cannot be overstated,” Roy posted. “Funding Pelosi level spending & policies for 75 days – for future ‘promises.'”

The package deal additionally features a one-year extension of the Farm Bill.

Johnson signaled Saturday that he’s content material shifting different insurance policies ahead with standalone votes. House Republicans handed a $14.3 billion package deal to aide Israel earlier this month, however President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats have scoffed on the decrease chamber’s proposed cuts to the IRS.

The present deadline to go a plan is the top of the day subsequent Friday, Nov. 17. The House left for the week on Thursday — leaving just some days for offers to be made when House lawmakers return on Monday.

The House Rules Committee will meet at 4 p.m. to arrange a ground debate and a possible vote as quickly as Tuesday.