'House GOP at risk': 2 Republicans won't back Johnson's bill as Trump urges party unity
House Republicans are facing an obstacle this week: two of their own are refusing to support Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) proposal for a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government funded through Nov. 30, just past the current Sept. 30 deadline.
The move threatens the GOP leadership’s strategy to force Senate Democrats into a tough spot before the fall funding deadline.
Politico reported Monday that Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who regularly opposes leadership-backed spending bills, said that he would oppose the new expected continuing resolution as well.
READ MORE: 'So disgusting': MAGA fueling outrage by 'increasingly' questioning women’s right to vote
“I am a ‘no’ unless it cuts spending, which I do not anticipate,” he told Politico.
Massie added that he is likely to support the rule setting up debate on the stopgap “unless it has something funky in it.”
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) said in an post on the social platform X Sunday night that she was also a “no,” saying she could not “cannot support [a CR] that ends funding right before a major holiday to jam us with an Omnibus.”
The report noted that the Johnson-backed measure is expected to expire on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Two “no” votes would put House Republicans at risk of losing a party-line vote if one additional GOP member breaks ranks.
READ MORE: FBI claims note from Tyler Robinson revealing his intentions has been destroyed
Spartz, however, has a long history of delivering ultimatums only to change her mind under pressure from the White House.
In February, Spartz was initially described as a “firm no” on the House GOP budget framework. According to reports, she reversed her position after a call from President Donald Trump in which he was “fuming” and “screaming” at her, and later voted “yes.”
In April 2023, Spartz issued a statement saying she made a “reluctant ‘Yes’” vote on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, even though she was unhappy with parts of it and didn’t think it fully addressed her concerns.
Meanwhile, the report led to reactions on social media from political observers and journalists.
READ MORE: Revealed: Trump letter to UCLA littered with grammatical and factual errors
Slate writer Jim Newell wrote on X: "Why is Spartz putting herself through this again."
Politico journalist Zach Warmbrodt noted in a post: "Massie and Spartz oppose Johnson's incoming government funding bill. @RepThomasMassie tells @meredithllee: 'I am a ‘no’ unless it cuts spending, which I do not anticipate.'
Puts House GOP at risk of losing a party-line vote if 1 more Republican breaks."
In a post to his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump urged Republicans to "stick TOGETHER" and get behind Johnson's resolution. He added that "FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION."
