In The News
Full List of Republicans Who Voted Against Mike Johnson's Funding Bill
Washington,
March 22, 2024
Tags:
Federal Spending
By Katherine Fung The House voted on the spending package brokered by Johnson on Friday, passing the bill by a vote of 286 to 134. The bill needed 280 votes to pass. But while the legislation garnered enough bipartisan support to push it to the Senate, 112 House Republicans and 22 House Democrats voted against it. Only 101 members of Johnson's party voted in favor of the package. The $1.2 trillion government funding bill, labeled by some critics as a "swamp omnibus," has drawn criticism from conservative lawmakers who argue it lacks transparency and diverges from the GOP's preference for more focused spending packages. Lawmakers face the possibility of a government shutdown this weekend if the bill isn't passed. The package still needs to make its way through the Senate, but President Joe Biden has vowed to sign the spending bill into law as soon as Congress clears it ahead of the deadline. Key issues at the heart of the debate included funding for defense, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, alongside more contentious topics such as immigration policy and environmental protections. Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the size of the budget, with conservatives pushing for spending cuts to reduce the national debt, while progressives sought increased spending on social programs and climate change initiatives. Like past spending bills, another layer of complexity came with this one as infighting embroiled both parties, influencing the negotiation process. Republicans have been critical over what's been allocated for border security, arguing that the bill doesn't go far enough to address key issues. While the bill would expand certain areas, it would also cut funding for the border wall. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had supported Johnson's speakership bid in October, disapproved of the spending deal and filed a motion to vacate against the Speaker as votes were being tallied on Friday. If Johnson is ousted, his tenure would likely be the second-shortest in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives. It would also the shortest in well over a century, beating out his predecessor Representative Kevin McCarthy, who served 270 days before being ousted after a small number of his conference turned against him. Friday marked Johnson's 150th day as speaker. Here's the full list of Republicans who voted against the spending package:
|
