Republican stalwarts in Congress are grappling with a deal that Speaker Mike Johnson struck with Democrats to avert a partial government shutdown starting later this month.
Congressional leaders unveiled a roughly $1.66 trillion top spending deal Sunday, paving the way to keep DC fully functional — only for fiscal hawks to complain Johnson (R-La.) has ceded too much ground to Democrats.
Howls from Johnson’s right wing are reminiscent of the spending spree that destroyed his predecessor as speaker, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) three months ago.
Rebellion from the right
Johnson has presented the deal as a $1.59 trillion discretionary budget pact, with $888 billion for defense and $704 billion for non-defense spending.
However, the deal was coupled with $69 billion in additional spending, bolstering top-line numbers for the 2024 fiscal year, which ends on September 30.
Mike Johnson is struggling with an unwieldy and very thin Republican majority in the lower house. AFP via Getty Images
“It’s worse than we thought. Don’t believe the spin,” the conservative House Freedom Caucus smoke on X.
“Once you break through the usual Washington math, the actual total level of programmatic spending is $1.658 trillion – not $1.59 trillion. This is a total failure.”
McCarthy presided over a $1.59 trillion spending deal as part of the deal to raise the debt ceiling reached in May last year.
Marjorie Taylor Greene was quick to voice her disapproval of the compromise plan. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
Even that isn’t enough for some Republicans, who are pushing for spending to be cut closer to the $1.47 trillion mark.
Last November, the leadership of the Freedom Caucus appeared to be softening in the face of the Democrats’ intransigence.
A month later, the group sounded the alarm about a possible side deal forged by GOP and Democratic leadership.
I am NO to Johnson Schumer’s budget deal.
This $1.6 Trillion dollar budget deal does nothing to secure the border, stop invasions or stop an armed government targeting Biden’s political enemies and innocent Americans.
So much for wallet power!
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) January 8, 2024
With Sunday’s announcement, the grievance has become public again.
“I am NO to Johnson Schumer’s budget deal,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted on X Sunday night.
“This $1.6 Trillion dollar budget deal does nothing to secure the border, stop invasions, or stop an armed government targeting Biden’s political enemies and innocent Americans. So much for the power of the wallet.”
$1659 worth of spending is terrible & given the leverage achieved in a cap deal (which isn’t great already). We’ll wait to see if we get meaningful policy riders… but 1) the NDAA is not a good preview, & 2) as always, we keep spending more money we don’t have.
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 7, 2024
Greene has been a key ally of McCarthy despite splitting from him on several issues.
“A $1[.]659 [trillion] the top line in spending is bad & given the leverage achieved in the cap deal (which isn’t great already). We’ll wait to see if we get meaningful policy riders,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) posted on X.
“1) The NDAA is not a good preview, & 2) as always, we continue to spend more money that we don’t have.”
Johnson argued in a “Dear Colleague” letter Sunday that the spending plan would constitute “a fight for an important policy rider.”
“If this is the best the Republicans can do, there’s no hope of balancing our budget or securing the border,” lamented Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC).
“Republicans agreeing to spend $69 billion higher than last summer’s debt ceiling ‘deal’ without any significant policy wins is yet another loss for America. At some point, having a House majority is important. Stop funding this spending with open borders!” added newly minted Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.).
Republicans agreed to spend $69 billion higher than last summer’s debt ceiling “deal,” without any significant policy wins yet another loss for America. At some point, having a House majority is important. Stop funding this expense with open borders!
— Congressman Bob Good (@RepBobGood) January 7, 2024
Some Republicans defended the plan
Matt Gaetz, who led the rebellion against Speaker Johnson’s predecessor, was largely silent on the deal as of Monday afternoon. AP
Despite the anger of some conservatives, other Republicans supported Johnson.
“I am encouraged that the Speaker and Democratic Leaders have identified the path towards completing the FY 2024 allocation,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday.
“America faces serious national security challenges, and Congress must act quickly to deliver the full year of resources needed at this time.”
I am encouraged that the Speaker and Democratic Leaders have identified a path toward completing the FY 2024 appropriations. America faces serious national security challenges, and Congress must act quickly to deliver the full year of resources needed at this time.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) January 7, 2024
A handful of rank-and-file Republicans need their peers on high expectations set for the appropriations process.
“Did we learn that negotiating with Democrats in the White House and Senate with slim majorities is difficult and you can’t get everything you want, no matter who’s in the Speaker’s office?” asked Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) on X.
“If you don’t let your leaders lead, then you will be a mess. So it just becomes a point now where, how much can you say no and remain … credible,” Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) told Fox News.
Have we learned that negotiating with Democrats in the White House and Senate with slim majorities is difficult and you can’t get everything you want, no matter who is in the Speaker’s office? https://t.co/aspRsWUh4B
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) January 8, 2024
Johnson himself highlighted a handful of Republican gains from the pact, namely “more than $16 billion in additional spending cuts to offset discretionary spending levels.”
Politico reports that the framework figure is $30 billion less than what Senate Democrats requested.
A delicate dance for Johnson
As top-line spending levels appear to have been reconciled between the two chambers, Congress must now begin a mad dash to push through 12 appropriations bills before the Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 shutdown deadlines.
Kevin McCarthy has been ousted as speaker amid GOP uproar over government spending. Reuters
If Congress still has a continuing resolution instead of normal appropriations funding by the end of April, then that could trigger automatic cuts, according to the Democratic division.
Johnson had previously rejected another stopgap spending patch.
Also complicating the matter are calls by some conservatives to combine GOP demands for border security with legislation to avoid a shutdown.
The spending debate marks another major test for Speaker Johnson. AFP via Getty Images
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), one of the lead negotiators on the border deal in the Senate, said Sunday that lawmakers will drop text on the supplemental spending bill “hopefully this week.”
Republicans have also demanded increased border security in exchange for additional aid to war-torn Ukraine, which is expected to dry up in the coming weeks.
One advantage for Johnson on the spending line is that a group of Democrats have signaled support for the package.
In May, 71 Republicans voted “no” on the debt ceiling compromise, but 165 Democrats helped pass it.
Currently, the House has 220 Republicans and 213 Democrats, with the GOP number expected to drop to 219 when Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) is resigning later this month to take the presidency of Youngstown State University.
Also, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is expected to be out for most of January to receive treatment for blood cancer, further reducing GOP numbers.
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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