Tensions are escalating within the House GOP as members express strong disapproval of how congressional leaders are managing the ongoing government funding negotiations. Several hardline Republicans have hinted at potentially withdrawing their support for Speaker Mike Johnson's reelection bid in January due to his handling of the continuing resolution (CR) designed to avert a partial government shutdown before the holiday season.
Negotiators are racing against the clock to finalize the CR, which must pass both the House and Senate by Friday, December 20th. The pressure on Speaker Johnson is immense, as he can only afford to lose a handful of Republican votes in the upcoming speakership election given the slim majority.
Discontent among Republicans stems from what some view as last-minute additions to the CR, including healthcare provisions related to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and a potential expansion of ethanol sales. These additions have sparked outrage, with members like Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) accusing Speaker Johnson of reneging on his promise of a "clean" funding extension. The lack of transparency and the sheer size of the proposed bill, reportedly thousands of pages long, have further fueled the frustration.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) criticized the process as "not the way to do business," citing the inclusion of unrelated policy riders and the substantial amount of unpaid-for spending in the proposed CR. Meanwhile, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) expressed concerns about the impact of farm policy provisions on the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations.
Despite the mounting pressure, Speaker Johnson has downplayed concerns about his speakership, stating that he is "not worried about the speaker vote" and emphasizing the challenging circumstances under which the negotiations are taking place. He maintained his commitment to providing lawmakers with ample time to review the bill before voting.
