(DailyChive.com) – Speaker Mike Johnson‘s short-term spending bill, intended to avert a government shutdown, has become a flashpoint within the Republican Party, facing fierce criticism from the House Freedom Caucus and threatening its passage.
The $1.66 trillion agreement, reached with Democratic leaders in early January, was heralded by Johnson as a “favorable budget agreement” and a step towards responsible fiscal management. However, the House Freedom Caucus, a group of roughly 40 conservative Republicans, has launched a vocal campaign against the deal, accusing Johnson of “surrender” and bowing to Democratic demands.
“This is what surrender looks like,” tweeted the caucus’s official account, denouncing the bill as a continuation of “Pelosi levels with Biden policies.” Montana Representative Matt Rosendale, a caucus member, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for Republicans to “start acting on our constitutional duties” instead of caving to the “D.C. Cartel.”
The criticism stems from the bill’s spending levels, which critics argue mirrors the deal between President Biden and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023. McCarthy’s ouster in October was partly due to his perceived leniency towards Democrats on fiscal issues.
This isn’t the first time the House Freedom Caucus has taken aim at the agreement. In December, they issued a scathing statement calling the current spending trajectory a “fiscal calamity” and criticizing leadership for considering even higher spending levels.
With the January 19 deadline looming for passing the four separate parts of the spending bill, Speaker Johnson faces a delicate balancing act. He needs significant Democratic support to pass the bill under suspension, requiring a two-thirds majority vote. Simultaneously, he must convince his own party that this short-term measure is necessary to secure conservative policy wins in future long-term spending legislation.
In a statement, Johnson defended the bill as a “bridge” to achieve “a better stewardship of American tax dollars, an end to governance by omnibus, and meaningful policy wins.” However, the House Freedom Caucus remains unconvinced, and their opposition could jeopardize the bill’s passage, potentially pushing the government closer to a shutdown.
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