Mike Johnson's Latest Spending Plan Sparks MAGA Backlash

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House Speaker Mike Johnson's proposal to help avoid a government shutdown has sparked a backlash from MAGA Republicans.

Johnson's stopgap spending bill would extend government funding for some agencies and programs until January 19 and continue funding for others until February 2.

It does not include additional funding requested by President Joe Biden for Israel, Ukraine and the U.S. border with Mexico.

Johnson, who was elected to the speakership less than three weeks ago, said that those measures needed separate consideration.

"This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories," he said in a statement. "The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded-up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess."

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
Rep. Mike Johnson on November 2, 2023 in Washington D.C. The House speaker has angered some fellow Republicans with his funding proposal. Alex Wong/Getty Images

The combination approach increases the chance of a shutdown unless Johnson can get Democrats on board.

He has told House members that he plans to bring the plan up for a floor vote on Tuesday, according to Politico. And on a GOP conference call on Saturday, he reportedly said he expected some Republicans to vote against it and that it would need some Democrat support to pass the House.

Some hardline conservatives took to social media to criticize the legislation, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, after the call.

"My opposition to the clean CR just announced by the Speaker to the @HouseGOP cannot be overstated," Rep. Chip Roy wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Funding Pelosi level spending & policies for 75 days - for future 'promises.'"

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: "I voted NO to both CRs before and I'm voting NO to this clean CR. We need to finish approps and the Senate needs to do their job.

"NO MONEY TO UKRAINE! CLOSE THE BORDER! STOP THE WEAPONIZED GOVERNMENT!"

The White House described the plan as "unserious," as well as a threat to national security and domestic programs.

"This proposal is just a recipe for more Republican chaos and more shutdowns—full stop," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

"With just days left before an extreme Republican shutdown—and after shutting down Congress for three weeks after they ousted their own leader—House Republicans are wasting precious time with an unserious proposal that has been panned by members of both parties."

She added: "House Republicans need to stop wasting time on their own political divisions, do their jobs, and work in a bipartisan way to prevent a shutdown."

Congress in September avoided a government shutdown in September after Republicans and Democrats reached a deal to pass a 47-day continuing resolution.

McCarthy's decision to rely on Democratic votes to pass the stopgap bill cost him the speakership, and the House was hobbled for weeks after his historical removal amid GOP infighting before Republicans eventually united behind Johnson.

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About the writer

Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda joined Newsweek in 2019 and had previously worked at the MailOnline in London, New York and Sydney. She is a graduate of University College London. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Khaleda by emailing k.rahman@newsweek.com


Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda ... Read more