Speaker Mike Johnson’s legislative sprint hinges on a lot of Republican votes falling into place this week — starting with a tally Tuesday to open the floor for business.
The make-or-break procedural rule vote that eluded Johnson for weeks earlier this summer may again be in flux Tuesday afternoon, as GOP members harbor various frustrations about their party’s packed agenda.
If Republicans open the floor, next up Tuesday will be a vote on a stopgap funding bill through the midterms and the beginning of debate for the must-pass annual defense bill, among other business. Final votes on that package are expected Wednesday along with adoption of the GOP’s reconciliation framework and a stock trading ban for Congress.
House GOP leaders are leaning heavily on a small number of holdouts on different agenda items, and the White House is ramping up pressure across the board. OMB Chief Russ Vought will make his pitch on Republicans’ $95 billion Iran war and agriculture reconciliation package Tuesday morning during the House GOP conference meeting.
The good news for Johnson: Key Republicans from opposite sides of the conference told POLITICO they plan to support the rule Tuesday.
“I think the rule will pass pretty easily,” House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, a holdout earlier this month, said, adding he expected many other conservative hard-liners to support it.
The bad news for Johnson: At least one lawmaker — Rep. Thomas Massie — says he’ll vote ‘no’ on the rule, while Rep. Chip Roy said he’s undecided.
The budget resolution vote is another flashpoint we’ll be watching Roy, who says he’s unsure of his support due to the lack of offsets to new spending.
Meanwhile Rep. Warren Davidson says he’ll vote ‘no’ on the framework for the same reasons.
“I think you gotta find the pay-fors,” Davidson told POLITICO.
Davidson said he’s also not swayed by GOP leaders’ argument that a post-midterm fourth reconciliation bill will target fraud to offset spending, adding they have “already used that excuse twice.”
Meanwhile, Republicans may not be able to count on widespread support from Democrats for the stopgap measure, as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated he’s opposed to the CR in a closed-door leadership meeting Monday, according to four people granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation. Senior Democrats want language to prohibit funding for immigration enforcement agencies.
And across the Capitol, senators may not be so eager to pick up the House’s continuing resolution: top appropriators are talking about developing their own version of a stopgap funding bill that would include White House anomalies.
What else we’re watching:
— DEMS LOOK FOR WAYS TO HALT RENEWED IRAN WAR: Democrats are rallying behind several efforts to kill high-profile defense legislation as a way to protest the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The flurry of action presents Democrats with a chance to score real wins against the Trump administration’s war effort, which burst back into public view over the weekend with the killing of three U.S. troops in the region. The largest showdown is set for Wednesday, when House lawmakers are expected to vote on the annual defense policy bill, which Democratic critics have said they will oppose sans oversight mechanisms for the Iran war.
— MCCORMICK EYES ENERGY GAVEL: Sen. Dave McCormick is in line to take the gavel of Energy and Natural Resources next Congress, a remarkable rise for the freshman who has distinguished himself as a leading booster of natural gas and U.S. artificial intelligence dominance. McCormick is interested in leading Republicans on the committee, a person familiar with his plans told POLITICO, if the spot opens as expected. The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham has sparked a domino effect that is likely to put the Pennsylvanian in the driver’s seat for the energy role.
Katherine Tully-McManus, Jordain Carney, Leo Shane III and Josh Siegel contributed to this report.
Read the full article here