Mike Johnson's government funding gambit
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to hold a conspicuously early vote on a short-term funding bill next week — more than two months before the government runs out of money.Why it matters: Johnson may be setting himself up to win in September by losing in July.A failed vote on a short-term spending stopgap could potentially strengthen the GOP leader's hand in another difficult challenge: securing $67 billion for the Pentagon to replenish its munitions through the reconciliation process, according to conservative lawmakers.An early defeat on a continuing resolution would give Johnson a pretext to shoehorn a spending stopgap bill into a September reconciliation package.Call it Reconciliation 3.0 Plus."The Dems know, 'OK, if we don't do the CR, we'll do it in a [reconciliation] bill," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told Axios.What we're watching: Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) are on starkly different wavelengths when it comes to a third reconciliation package."You've got to think long and hard about this.
Reported by 1 outlet — Axios. See all sources ↓
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to hold a conspicuously early vote on a short-term funding bill next week — more than two months before the government runs out of money.Why it matters: Johnson may be setting himself up to win in September by losing in July.A failed vote on a short-term spending stopgap could potentially strengthen the GOP leader's hand in another difficult challenge: securing $67 billion for the Pentagon to replenish its munitions through the reconciliation process, according to conservative lawmakers.An early defeat on a continuing resolution would give Johnson a pretext to shoehorn a spending stopgap bill into a September reconciliation package.Call it Reconciliation 3.0 Plus."The Dems know, 'OK, if we don't do the CR, we'll do it in a [reconciliation] bill," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told Axios.What we're watching: Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) are on starkly different wavelengths when it comes to a third reconciliation package."You've got to think long and hard about this. It's a much easier proposition in the House," Thune said Thursday.But pairing a continuing resolution with reconciliation could have two advantages. First, it makes it harder for House Republicans to oppose the package.It would also present the Senate with a take-it-or-leave-it choice: accept the House reconciliation bill or share the blame for a government shutdown.Zoom out: Republicans are increasingly worried about spending the final month of the midterm campaign defending a government shutdown.House Republicans have little confidence Democrats will provide the votes needed to pass a funding extension.The planned July vote is designed to put both Democrats and the Senate on notice that Republicans don't believe they can count on bipartisan support for a continuing resolution.The other side: GOP senators are deeply skeptical about pivoting to a CR in July.They want to give the regular appropriations process time to work.
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Why it matters
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- What's the story?
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to hold a conspicuously early vote on a short-term funding bill next week — more than two months before the government runs out of money.Why it matters: Johnson may be setting himself up to win in September by losing in July.A failed vote on a short-term spending stopgap could potentially strengthen the GOP leader's hand in another difficult challenge: securing $67 billion for the Pentagon to replenish its munitions through the reconciliation process, according to conservative lawmakers.An early defeat on a continuing resolution would give Johnson a pretext to shoehorn a spending stopgap bill into a September reconciliation package.Call it Reconciliation 3.0 Plus."The Dems know, 'OK, if we don't do the CR, we'll do it in a [reconciliation] bill," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told Axios.What we're watching: Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) are on starkly different wavelengths when it comes to a third reconciliation package."You've got to think long and hard about this.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 7.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 16m ago.
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Mike Johnson's government funding gambit
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