Speaker Mike Johnson stated Thursday night time that Republicans will “regroup” and “give you one other resolution” after the federal government funding invoice they negotiated with President-elect Donald Trump that will avert a authorities shutdown did not cross.
The invoice failed by a 174-235-1 vote with 38 Republicans voting towards it.
Johnson blamed Democrats for the invoice’s failure.
“The one distinction on this laws was that we’d push the debt ceiling to January of 2027,” Johnson claimed. “I need you all to do not forget that it was simply final spring that the identical Democrats berated Republicans and stated that it was irresponsible to carry the debt restrict, the debt ceiling, hostage. What modified?”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries celebrated the invoice’s defeat, saying in a press release that Republicans had been “not critical” about serving to working class Individuals.
President-elect Donald Trump earlier Thursday endorsed the deal that Home Republican reached to proceed to fund the federal government by way of March and keep away from a authorities shutdown on the finish of the week.
“All Republicans, and even the Democrats, ought to do what’s finest for our Nation, and vote “YES” for this Invoice, TONIGHT!” Trump posted on his Reality Social platform.
Trump stated the “newly agreed to American Reduction Act of 2024 will preserve the Authorities open, fund our Nice Farmers and others, and supply aid for these severely impacted by the devastating hurricanes.”
He additionally stated that the invoice would push elevating the debt ceiling to January 2027 from June of subsequent 12 months. Congress final raised the nation’s borrowing restrict in June 2023 and had suspended it till June 2025.
“A VERY necessary piece, VITAL to the America First Agenda, was added as nicely – The date of the very pointless Debt Ceiling shall be pushed out two years, to January 30, 2027. Now we are able to Make America Nice Once more, in a short time, which is what the Folks gave us a mandate to perform,” Trump wrote.
GOP Home leaders and Vice-President-elect JD Vance had been hoping to appease each Trump’s calls for that any laws to fund the federal government additionally offers with elevating or eliminating the nation’s debt ceiling, in addition to Home Republicans on the correct who’re historically towards any spending deal or debt restrict improve.
In the meantime, Democrats refused to budge from the deal they initially labored out with Republicans that Trump and Elon Musk demolished on Wednesday.
Jeffries referred to as the most recent proposal “laughable” as Democrats gathered to strategize their subsequent transfer.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal shouldn’t be critical. It’s laughable. Excessive MAGA Republicans are driving us to a authorities shutdown,” he stated.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin stated it was unclear who Democrats had been negotiating with — Trump or Musk.
Requested about Republicans who say they’ve now carried out their half and that Democrats would personal any shutdown, Raskin replied, “It is an insupportable manner of continuing… Democrats are going to attempt to determine how one can salvage the general public good out of the wreckage simply foist upon us.”
That bipartisan deal referred to as for extending authorities spending at present ranges till March and added different provisions like aid for catastrophe victims and farmers and a pay elevate for members of Congress.
Issues modified Wednesday after Musk started a strain marketing campaign on X with a number of posts opposing the deal. Later that day Trump and Vance posted a press release calling on Congress to “cross a streamlined spending invoice,” with the president-elect echoing Musk’s threats of primarying any GOP member who did not comply.
Trump informed ABC Information’ Jonathan Karl Thursday morning that there shall be a authorities shutdown except Congress eliminates the debt ceiling or extends the restrict on authorities borrowing earlier than he takes workplace.
“We’re not going to fall into the debt ceiling quicksand,” he stated. “There will not be something authorised except the debt ceiling is finished with.”
Beneath present regulation, the federal authorities would hit its borrowing restrict someday within the spring of 2025, throughout the first months of the second Trump presidency. Trump, nevertheless, stated he desires it taken care of now, whereas Joe Biden is president.
“Shutdowns solely inure to the one who’s president,” Trump stated.
Home Minority Chief Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks to the press as he’s flanked by Rep. Katherine Clark and Rep. Pete Aguilar on Capitol Hill, Dec. 18, 2024, in Washington.
Kent Nishimura/Getty Photos
Some Senate Republicans, together with John Kennedy and Mike Rounds, expressed displeasure with Johnson’s invoice and praised Trump for stepping in.
However Sen. Thom Tillis, whose dwelling state was devastated by Hurricane Helene, stated he’d do every thing in his energy to decelerate the passage of any authorities funding invoice that does not embrace catastrophe aid.
Congress faces a deadline of Friday night time, when the present authorities funding extension expires, to cross a brand new one or non-essential businesses would shut down.
Home Republicans of each stripe had been seen rotating out and in of the speaker’s workplace on Thursday — together with Home Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland.
Sen. John Thune talks to reporters concerning the proposed finances persevering with decision that will keep away from a looming authorities shutdown on the U.S. Capitol, Dec. 18, 2024, in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos
Jeffries informed reporters that elevating the debt restrict as a part of the federal government funding invoice is “untimely at finest.”
“We’re going to proceed to keep up an open line of communication to see if we are able to resolve this difficulty on phrases which are favorable to the on a regular basis Individuals,” Jeffries stated when requested if he was chatting with Johnson.
Behind closed doorways throughout a caucus huddle Thursday morning, Jeffries delivered the identical message to Democrats: Republicans backed out of a bipartisan deal and now have to determine a method to get out.
“This type of chaos and dysfunction has real-world impacts on hard-working individuals,” Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., stated.
Rep. Invoice Keating, D-Mass., informed ABC Information that Jeffries quoted President John F. Kennedy to the caucus: “Allow us to by no means negotiate out of concern. However allow us to by no means concern to barter.”
“He stated, look, we stored all our doorways open throughout this negotiation. We made concessions. Most of us weren’t pleased with the end result of this, however it’s a must to do your primary job. He is saying that may proceed. We’re open to every thing, however we’re not open to the type of bullying ways that Elon Musk is doing,” Keating stated.
U.S. Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer speaks with members of the information media as he leaves the workplace of U.S. Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson, in Washington, Dec. 19, 2024.
Leah Millis/Reuters
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., quipped, “We had a deal. We negotiated a deal, after which Musk determined to vary the deal. Do I name him ‘President Musk?'”
Texas Rep. Greg Casar, the brand new chair of the progressive caucus was additionally important of Musk.
“If Elon Musk is type of cosplaying co-president right here, I do not know why Trump does not simply hand him the Oval Workplace, or Speaker Johnson ought to possibly simply hand Elon Musk the gavel if they simply need that billionaire to run the nation,” Casar stated.
Whereas many Democrats assist eliminating the debt restrict in precept, members left their closed-door assembly against placing it now as a part of a spending deal, stressing it ought to be a separate matter.
ABC Information’ Emily Chang, Ivan Pereira and Jay O’Brien contributed to this report.
