Speaker Johnson’s First Task is Government Spending

New House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) laid out a plan for his House colleagues this week to pass another stopgap funding bill to keep the government running through either Jan. 15 or April 15.

Johnson said his goal is to “ensure the Senate cannot jam the House with a Christmas omnibus.”

Conservatives in Johnson’s caucus appear willing to go along with another continuing resolution given that government funding expires in three weeks, but many want spending cuts for most agencies as well as a border crackdown and are not inclined to vote for a “clean” CR.

Johnson also wants the House to pass all remaining FY2024 appropriations bills in the coming weeks so that he can negotiate with the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House “from a position of strength.”