Speaker Johnson's government funding strategy is on life support as defections mount
NBCAUG 25 2024
Speaker Johnson Delays Government Funding Vote
Above: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks with reporters as he departs a news conference following a House Republican Conference meeting at the US Capitol on Sept. 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kent Nishimura/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) suspended Wednesday's vote on a short-term government funding bill after members of his party voiced opposition to its contents.
More than a dozen Republicans expressed opposition to the bill, which is meant to fund the government for the next six months and avoid a government shutdown if not passed by Oct. 1.
While the GOP holds a narrow 220-211 majority in the House, a large enough group of fiscal conservatives thought the price tag was too high, with others opposing it for not increasing defense spending.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Mike Johnson has been dealt an almost impossible task thanks to the clear pushback from Democrats mixed with the fringe but powerful group of Republicans to his right. The government needs to be funded, and Johnson knows that in order to get that done, he'll either have to convince his right-wing adversaries to join him or offer the other side some concessions.
Democratic narrative
Unfortunately for Mike Johnson, his party has been captured by Trump and his dangerous and incorrect beliefs about voter registration. While Johnson attempts to keep the government afloat, a handful of his colleagues have chosen to hold the country hostage and complain about non-existent "illegal voters."
Cynical narrative
Whether Republicans or Democrats are in charge, these theatrical last-minute spending bill debates always result in the government increasing the national debt. Both parties will pretend to bicker over certain issues, but in the end, the Democrats will get their bloated welfare spending and Republicans will grow the military-industrial complex.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
Political split
LEFT
RIGHT
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