After a whopping 50 days out of session, Speaker Mike Johnson told members to begin traveling back to Washington Monday as he prepares for a Wednesday vote to reopen the government.
Both at a press conference and on a private GOP member call, Johnson urged members to begin making travel arrangements on Monday and get back to D.C. as soon as possible, in an effort to avoid any travel delays caused by the shutdown that could affect the funding vote, which is expected to be very close. While he has not officially given a 36-hour notice, having members be ready to go is crucial.
Right now, House GOP leadership is planning to rely exclusively on Republican votes to get the bill over the finish line, a source told NOTUS. Especially after Sunday night, when Democrats in the House eviscerated the deal, and even Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came out against it.
“At the very moment that they (the Senate) do that final vote, I will call House members to return to Washington as quickly as possible,” Johnson said at his press conference on Monday.
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A group of moderates worked out a deal with Senate GOP leadership, and Majority Leader John Thune promised them a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies in December. Johnson, however, is not promising such a vote.
On the call with members, Johnson reiterated that he has not promised Democrats a vote on the subsidies in his chamber and wants to feel out where his conference stands on the issue, a source told NOTUS.
“I’m not promising anyone anything,” Johnson said on Nov. 6 when asked if he would commit to holding a vote.
Democrats are lighting up the compromise deal in the Senate to reopen the government, as it does not include any extension of the enhanced ACA subsidies. The deal funds the government until Jan. 31, reverses the layoffs that President Donald Trump’s administration imposed during the government shutdown and includes a three-appropriation-bill minibus.
“We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives, where Mike Johnson will be compelled to end the seven-week Republican taxpayer-funded vacation,” Jeffries said in a statement.
As of now, Republicans seem to be in line.
House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris told Fox News Digital on Monday that he “would probably be a ‘yes’ vote” on the continuing resolution.
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