House Rules Committee Nixes Vote on Short-Term Spending Bill After GOP Opposition
The House Rules Committee on Monday opted against voting on a short-term spending bill that would avert a government shutdown, setting the stage for a scenario in which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will need to rely on Democrats to pass the contentious measure.
Johnson’s three month continuing resolution, which would keep the government funded through Dec. 20, was expected to be among a slate of bills approved by the GOP-controlled rules committee Monday night but it was not brought up for consideration after multiple Republicans expressed opposition to the measure.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a member of the rules committee, argued that the House speaker was attempting to “set up a government funding crisis the week before Christmas” to pressure lawmakers to vote for a bill that would be written “behind closed doors.”
“Why Christmas? So he can pressure Members to vote for a bill they haven’t read, by using their desire to see their families on Christmas Eve against them,” the Kentucky Republican wrote on X. . .
Without a rule, House GOP leadership is expected to bring the spending bill to the floor under a procedure known as suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass. (Read more from “House Rules Committee Nixes Vote on Short-Term Spending Bill After GOP Opposition” HERE)
