House Speaker Sticks to Shutdown Strategy Amid Concerns

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, made it clear on Thursday that he is committed to his approach of urging Senate Democrats to agree to end the ongoing government shutdown. This message was conveyed in both public remarks and private discussions.

As Johnson collaborates with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, some House Republicans are beginning to express concerns about the potential repercussions of their strategy. During a private phone call, Johnson detailed the situation, mentioning that, while there is generally strong party cohesion, others are worried about how the ongoing shutdown—now in its 10th day—looks from both the House and Senate perspectives.

Earlier this week, Johnson had postponed a House vote to draw national attention to what he termed Democratic resistance to Republican plans for government funding.

Republican Dilemma Over Shutdown

Johnson indicated that he would notify House Republicans 48 hours in advance before any new House votes take place, although he hasn’t specified when this might be. He has been vocal about the necessity of Senate Democrats moving forward.

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” he noted that if Democrats chose to end the standoff, the House could return to normal operations quickly.

However, at least three House Republicans advocate for reopening the chamber as soon as next week, irrespective of the shutdown’s resolution. This includes two representatives on the conference call, Jay Obanolte and Julie Fedorchak, both from California, who expressed their belief that legislative work must continue.

Obanolte pointed out that work unrelated to the spending bill has stalled, stating, “I think we’re at a point where it’s counterproductive to keep the House unavailable.” Meanwhile, Fedorchak believes that being present in D.C. would place House Republicans in a stronger position.

Despite this, Johnson has reiterated his stance regarding the 48-hour notification and suggested next week’s adjournment isn’t a definitive choice, although many House Republicans seem to concur with that outlook.

Ongoing Financial Concerns

On Twitter, Rep. Kevin Kiley raised issues about the current actions of the House, mentioning the passage of a seven-week continuing resolution. He argued that the need for it stems from Congress not fulfilling its duty to finalize a budget timely. Kiley emphasized that suspending sessions for three straight weeks shouldn’t be an option.

During the call on Thursday, Johnson also indicated he wouldn’t conduct a separate vote to ensure military pay during the shutdown. He claimed such a vote was more a Democratic maneuver for political cover while simultaneously rejecting Republican funding measures, which would ensure military and governmental operations continue until at least November 21.

Currently, military personnel are considered essential and are required to work. Nonetheless, if the shutdown persists, there’s a risk they might not receive their paychecks on October 15. “The entire government needs to reopen simultaneously,” Johnson stated.

Amid this, some representatives are expressing their thoughts. Rep. Jen Quiggans, from Virginia, has been pushing for a bill aimed at guaranteeing pay for military personnel during the shutdown. She expressed that the President has made it clear that paying troops is a priority.

Additionally, two other Republican representatives, John Rutherford from Florida and Tom Barrett from Michigan, raised concerns during Thursday’s call about Senate Republicans potentially neglecting to engage with Democrats to facilitate a government reopening.

Under the current Senate regulations, most legislation requires a 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster and allow for debate. Recent adaptations have, however, enabled certain cases to pass with a mere 51 votes. Senate Republicans recently utilized this approach to advance presidential nominations.

Still, there’s skepticism surrounding the federal funding bill, which necessitates 60 votes. Both Rutherford and Barrett have suggested that the Senate should be open to reviewing these rules. Rutherford voiced a concern that failing to harness the so-called “nuclear option” could send a detrimental message to the public.

In a recent question-and-answer session with constituents, Johnson acknowledged that while he, as House Majority Leader, has no control over the Senate, the tradition of the filibuster holds value for both parties. He cautioned against dismantling it, as it could lead to unpredictable consequences down the line.

The government shutdown is set to mark its 10th day on Friday after Senate Democrats turned down a Republican funding proposal for the seventh time. The push from Republicans centers around a short-term extension of fiscal year 2025 funding to permit lawmakers time to negotiate on the budget for fiscal year 2026. Many Democrats, feeling sidelined, are insisting on significant trade-offs concerning healthcare to back a spending agreement.