Speaker Johnson’s government funding play hits the rocks within House GOP

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan for a short-term bill to kick the government funding debate into early next year is facing pushback from various corners of the House GOP, as reported by Fox News Digital. Rep. Ryan Zinke, President-elect Donald Trump’s former Interior secretary, expressed his concerns about the proposed short-term bill, stating that it could impede Trump’s goal of immediately implementing his agenda in the first 100 days of the new administration.

Zinke emphasized the importance of the first 100 days and raised apprehensions about being bogged down by issues from the previous Congress. He highlighted the need for a smooth transition to allow the new administration to hit the ground running with its legislative priorities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, defended the idea of a short-term extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), as a way to buy more time to reach a consensus on government funding. He pointed out that the deadline of Dec. 20 was fast approaching and that a temporary measure might be necessary to avoid a government shutdown.

Several other Trump allies, including Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Ralph Norman, supported the idea of a short-term bill to give Republicans full control over the spending fight. However, some rank-and-file Republicans, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, expressed reservations about the proposal, citing their historical opposition to CRs.

The lack of progress in funding negotiations for the current fiscal year has frustrated some House Republicans who believe Congress should fulfill its duty of setting new spending directives for FY 2025. Rep. Dave Joyce and Rep. Mark Amodei echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of completing the appropriations process before the end of the year.

Despite differing opinions within the House GOP, there is a recognition that a partial government shutdown is a high probability if a consensus on a CR cannot be reached. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, reiterated her stance against CRs in any form.

In conclusion, the debate over the short-term bill to extend government funding into early next year highlights the challenges facing the House GOP as they navigate the remaining days of the current fiscal year. The need to balance competing interests and priorities while ensuring the smooth functioning of government remains a key concern for lawmakers as they work towards a resolution.