House Speaker Halts Key Vote After Unexpected Opposition Emerges

House Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled a pivotal vote on a short-term funding bill due to opposition from Rep. Thomas Massie and several Republican members, leaving upcoming government funding uncertain.

At a Glance

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson withdrew the GOP government funding bill from a scheduled vote due to opposition from several Republican members
Nearly a dozen House Republicans planned to vote against the funding bill
The SAVE Act, a part of the funding bill, was favored by Donald Trump but opposed by Democrats
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill for its potential harm to essential services

Vote Canceled Amid Republican Opposition

House Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled a critical vote on a short-term funding bill meant to avert a government shutdown. The decision came after substantial opposition from Rep. Thomas Massie and nearly a dozen other House Republicans. Johnson’s move reflects deep divides within the party on fiscal responsibility and legislative strategy.

The proposed funding bill included the SAVE Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for voting, supported by former President Donald Trump. However, this provision, along with budget cuts, drove opposition from House Democrats and some Republicans.

Resistance mainly stemmed from fiscal concerns and objections to a six-month stopgap. The bill’s critics argue it does not address the larger issues of government spending and fiscal discipline. Moreover, critics within the Republican Party either saw through the short-term solution or outright opposed the idea of a temporary measure.

Breaking News: Speaker Mike Johnson canceled a vote on a stopgap spending bill amid bipartisan opposition, a blow to his plan to avert a government shutdown before a Sept. 30 deadline.https://t.co/0mnk5unWsc

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 11, 2024

Democrats’ Response to the Funding Bill

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has harshly criticized the Republican funding proposal. He stated, “What is taking place right now is that the extreme MAGA Republicans are trying to jam extreme right-wing cuts down the throats of the American people and the bill that will be before the House of Representatives tomorrow hurts our military readiness. It hurts our veterans. It hurts the Social Security Administration. It will hurt seniors. And, of course, it’s going to hurt disaster relief efforts by shortchanging them, as well. We’re going to vote no against it.”

Democrats contend that the spending cuts will negatively impact middle-income Americans, essential services, and disaster relief efforts. They argue that the bill’s cuts to programs, including military and veterans’ services, are particularly harmful.

JUST IN: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., canceled a planned vote on a GOP stopgap funding plan aimed at preventing a government shutdown at the end of the month, reportedly delaying it until Republicans can "build consensus" within the party. https://t.co/UKIGeA87TX

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) September 11, 2024

Johnson’s Challenge Moving Forward

Johnson expressed optimism about ultimately reaching a consensus within the Republican Conference. “We are in the consensus-building business,” he acknowledged. The move to cancel the vote left him in a delicate position, creating challenges in gaining leverage for future negotiations.

Johnson’s ability to unify his party around a funding solution is critical, especially with the looming October 1 deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Republicans’ slim majority leaves the leadership with little room for defections, further complicating the passage of any funding measures.