Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence ahead of a planned Thursday vote that the House will pass a $9.4 billion spending cuts package, as planned. However, privately, his whip team is scrambling to shore up enough votes among wary Republicans. Johnson emphasized that the bill would move forward as written, despite potential objections from some members of the party.
Republican leaders have been tracking seven potential GOP ‘no’ votes—enough to block the measure on the floor, depending on how many Democrats are absent. Their objections range from cuts to global AIDS prevention programs and local public media outlets to loftier concerns about allowing the White House to claw back funds already approved by Congress. One vocal GOP holdout, Don Bacon of Nebraska, has raised concerns about public media and AIDS funding cuts, prompting Johnson to reassure that he believes Bacon will ultimately support the measure.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters there’s ‘always a few more things you’re working on as you get to the final vote.’ But he too said leaders would move ahead with the bill ‘as written.’ The spending cuts package represents a significant shift in the GOP’s fiscal priorities and has already sparked debates within the party over its long-term implications. While leaders argue that the cuts are necessary to control the federal deficit, critics warn that the measure could have unintended consequences for public programs and services.
As the vote approaches, the GOP leadership faces the challenge of balancing their fiscal agenda with the need to secure enough support to pass the bill. The outcome of the vote could have a significant impact on future budget negotiations and the broader debate over government spending and fiscal responsibility. With the White House monitoring the developments closely, the passage of the spending cuts package remains a key point of contention in the current political landscape.