U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson faces mounting resistance from his own party over a newly proposed government funding measure.
According to The Center Square, the 1,547-page Continuing Resolution has sparked outrage among House Republicans due to numerous Democratic concessions and billions in additional spending, including controversial items like an $8 billion football stadium allocation.
The massive spending package, dubbed the "Christmas Cramnibus" by critics, contains various provisions beyond basic government funding, such as $100 billion in disaster aid, substantial farm spending, and a future Congressional pay raise. The measure requires passage by midnight Friday to prevent a government shutdown.
Johnson's strategy relied heavily on securing approval from the House Rules Committee, but this plan now appears precarious. Key Republican committee members have expressed strong opposition to the measure, potentially derailing its path to a floor vote.
Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina has taken a particularly aggressive stance against the rushed timeline. His colleague, Representative Chip Roy of Texas, has also publicly declared his opposition to the measure.
The growing resistance has forced Johnson to consider bringing the CR to the House floor under suspended rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage – a threshold that seems increasingly difficult to achieve.
Multiple Republican legislators have joined the chorus of dissent, including Representatives Eric Burlison, Nicole Malliotakis, Tom Tiffany, Andy Biggs, and Michael Cloud. Their concerns primarily focus on the rushed nature of the bill and its extensive additional provisions.
Representative Michael Cloud expressed his frustration on X, stating:
Congress has had months to negotiate a clean government funding bill to get us to Trump's term. Yet, here they are again at the last second trying to jam through a 1,500+ page CR that could be called for a vote before the required 72 hour rule.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump-aligned businessman set to lead DOGE, has criticized the urgency surrounding the CR, arguing that it deliberately avoids public scrutiny. He emphasized that the measure's true cost significantly exceeds its base funding requirements.
The stopgap measure requires approval by Friday at midnight to prevent a government shutdown, placing immense pressure on congressional leadership. The situation has created a complex political dynamic, with Johnson caught between Democratic cooperation and Republican resistance.
The controversial additions to the CR include a $50 million annual drinking water program extension, a five-year healthcare education program funding commitment, and reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. These provisions have intensified Republican opposition to the package.
Speaker Mike Johnson's Continuing Resolution has become a focal point of Republican discord, with numerous party members revolting against what they view as excessive Democratic concessions and unnecessary spending additions. The 1,547-page document must receive congressional approval by Friday's midnight deadline to avert a government shutdown, though mounting opposition from House Republicans threatens to derail its passage.
The fate of this stopgap measure now hangs in the balance as Johnson weighs his options, including the possibility of seeking a two-thirds majority through suspended rules. This development marks a significant challenge to Johnson's leadership and highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over government spending and legislative priorities.
