Government shutdown looms as new speaker struggles to control hardliners

[Eugene]

Government shutdown looms as new speaker struggles to control hardliners (CNN)

(CNN) — New House Speaker Mike Johnson may already be losing his first big clash with the hard-right lawmakers who are making the Republican majority and the nation ungovernable as time races down to yet another federal funding cut-off.

The Louisiana conservative, who was just lifted from obscurity to second in line to the presidency, may soon find himself in the position that doomed his predecessor Rep. Kevin McCarthy — needing Democratic votes to keep the government open.

-snip-

While the two-step approach appears to be a concession to the far right — which abhors what it calls “clean” continuing resolutions, or CRs, that keep government open temporarily at current spending levels — Johnson’s approach may already have backfired since it lacks the sweeping cuts that hard-right Republicans demanded even though they have no chance of getting them past a Democratic-run Senate and White House. “It’s a 100% clean. And I 100% oppose,” Freedom Caucus member and Texas Rep. Chip Roy wrote on X, conjuring up exactly the showdown that cost McCarthy his job.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/13/politics/mike-johnson-shutdown-house-gop-government-budget/index.html

[jpak]

1. Proving pmce again that MAGATS hate America

Yup

[Think. Again.]

2. Stated as though the new speaker isn't a hardliner himself.

[DFW]

3. But last time, the blame for a failure didn't land on his shoulders.

This time, it does. There is no verse in his bible that will absolve him of that.

Or he could do what McCarthy did, make a deal, and then immediately remind the Tweedledum Caucus that if they ditch him, the next Speaker will be, at best, less of a nut case than he is, or, if they piss off ten of their own reps, Hakeem Jeffries.

[Mad_Machine76]

8. IKR?!!!

[Mr.Bill]

17. No shit.

A guy that thinks all the answers are in the bible. This guy is a lunatic. He's nuttier than MTG.

[Bucky]

4. I guess it's hard to be put in a position of responsibility

when you represent and your power depends upon support from the Party of Irresponsibility

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Never a doubt we'd be right back in the same position

[honest.abe]

6. Anyone understand what is meant by the "two step approach" ?

I see no clear detailed explanation of it in any article. All I could find is this:

The first bill would extend funding until January 19 and would include funding for military construction, Veterans Affairs, transportation, housing and the Energy Department. The second part of the bill, which would extend funding until February 2, would include funding for the rest of the government.

Neither bill includes additional aid for Israel or Ukraine.

Is this something our side would agree to?

[Eugene]

7. Separate the CR into 2 bills, the first for most of the military and national security stuff, the second

for everything else. It is unprecedented. Senate Democrats have declared it a non-starter.
Hardline House Republicans say it lacks the deep spending cuts they are demanding.

Neither bill includes additional aid for Israel or Ukraine.

An invitation for a Biden veto, even if the Senate didn't kill it first.

(edited)

[haele]

14. No. It doesn't fund HHS, the Treasury, the Interior...

Agriculture, Education, Communications, Labor, Justice, State...the GAO, the GSA ..
All programs that don't stop just because it's "the holidays"; even though some pet programs might keep running, they need to keep going throughout the year for the government to function smoothly as well, and precious taxpayer money isn't wasted bringing critical programs back online after two months sitting idle creating backlogs.
The Government as a whole doesn't "holiday". There's still a lot of offices open and work being done.
Millions of people and thousands of time - critical projects are going to be affected, and even just a two week shutdown will have adverse implications for months. A two month shutdown will create problems for people and projects for a year.
Been there, done that before. It always ended badly, especially for working people and GOP house members who weren't in safe, deep red and ignorant districts. It also hit bottom lines for all sorts of big businesses that didn't expect they would be affected.

Haele

[Mad_Machine76]

9. Will these spending bills

have the poison pill anti-Trans riders?

[Ray Bruns]

10. And somewhere in the night, Kevin McCarthy is laughing his ass off.

[Mr.Bill]

18. While he's filling out a job application

as a shift manager at Taco Bell in Fresno.

Apologies to shift managers it Fresno Taco Bells. At least you didn't waste time and money becoming a lawyer.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. isnt he a hardliner too also.?

duzzy. a rare kick.

[Javaman]

12. the crazy trying to negotiate with the crazies. nt

[madinmaryland]

13. What does the Bible say about continuing resolutions and clean ones???

[flying_wahini]

15. The Hardliners aren't smart enough to do anything BUT vote against things.

When they finally have the power to figure out how to pass things they DON’T.

Let them hang themselves.

[ffr]

16. Can RePuticans govern any other way than from self inflicted crisis to self inflicted crisis?

We lived through this already, 2017-2021. Do we really need to see any more of this shitshow?

[Magoo48]

19. Has there ever been a more inappropriate, unprincipled, impotent group of House Republicans than this current mob?