Janice R. Andrews
As the deadline for a potential government shutdown approaches, tensions are rising among House Republicans over Speaker Mike Johnson’s management of the government funding bill. During a closed-door conference meeting on Tuesday morning, several GOP members stormed out, furious over delays in finalizing the legislation, which has yet to be released.
Initially, Republicans had planned to release the bill text over the weekend and hold a vote early this week. However, ongoing disagreements within the party have delayed progress. The funding package, which Speaker Johnson confirmed will not be a clean continuing resolution (CR), is expected to include over $100 billion for disaster relief and $10 billion for agriculture.
Rep. Eric Burlison from Missouri did not hold back, calling the proposed plan a “total dumpster fire.” “I think it’s garbage,” he said, adding that he’s already communicated his frustrations to Johnson. “The fact that we haven’t seen the language today and we’re supposed to vote on it this week is unacceptable,” Burlison continued.
GOP Frustration Grows Over Spending and Process
Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina also expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “I’m not voting for the CR.” Texas Rep. Chip Roy, a vocal critic of leadership’s spending measures, accused Republicans of failing to address the government’s fiscal issues.
“We’re just fundamentally unserious about spending,” Roy stated. “If you’ve got a blank check, you can’t shrink the government. And if you can’t shrink the government, you can’t live free.”
Roy declined to comment on whether he would support Johnson’s re-election as speaker in January. Meanwhile, Rep. Rich McCormick from Georgia voiced concern about the lack of a long-term fiscal plan. “Once again, we’re just adding to the deficit without having any clear plan forward,” McCormick said.
Speaker Johnson Defends His Plan Amid Criticism
Despite the growing opposition, Speaker Johnson defended his handling of the funding bill, rejecting accusations that it’s a “Christmas tree” omnibus. He emphasized that the additional provisions, including disaster relief, are necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.
“This is a small CR that we’ve had to add things to that were out of our control,” Johnson explained. “These are not manmade disasters. These are things that the federal government has an appropriate role to do.”
Though facing mounting criticism from within his party, Johnson remained optimistic about overcoming the challenges. “I’m not worried about the speaker’s vote,” he said. “We’re governing, and everybody knows we have difficult circumstances. We’re doing the very best we can under those circumstances.”
Shutdown Deadline Looms
With government funding set to expire at the end of the week, Johnson emphasized the importance of adhering to the 72-hour rule, which requires lawmakers to have time to review the bill before voting.
“I believe in the 72-hour rule,” Johnson said. “We’re committed to all of that. We’re going to take care of these obligations and get this done.”
Despite this, Republican infighting has raised concerns about whether the party can come together in time to avoid a government shutdown.
Looking to the Future
Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans will have greater unity once they gain full control of Washington in January. “In January, we have a new lease on all this,” he said. “We will get the job done, as we always do.”
For now, the deadline looms, and with growing divisions among Republicans, the federal government remains at risk of a shutdown as the clock ticks down.
