'Governing under suspension': House GOP face 'uncomfortable reality' that they need Dems
According to a Wednesday, January 17 Axios report, House Republicans are beginning to face the "uncomfortable reality" that they can only pass legislation with Democratic support.
Per the report, "GOP leaders have telegraphed to rank-and-file lawmakers that any consequential piece of legislation this year — like funding the government or a potential tax bill — will be brought to the floor under the suspension of the rules, according to aides and lawmakers."
According to the Congressional Budget Office, "Under suspension, floor debate is limited, all floor amendments are prohibited, points of order against the bill are waived, and final passage requires a two-thirds majority vote."
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"Call it governing under suspension," Axios emphasizes.
One Republican lawmaker told the news outlet, "The 'uni-party' that [conservatives] fear becomes a real thing, because then you just have two-thirds. Everything's watered down. It's actually undermining their own position."
Axios notes, the House "is considering three consequential pieces of legislation this winter: A Ukraine funding and border bill, a tax proposal that trades business breaks for a child tax credit, and legislation to keep the government open," noting, "The third one is more pressing, if lawmakers want to avoid a painful government shutdown."
The news outlet also points out that ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) "decision to rely on suspension to pass a 45-day stopgap measure," sticking a deal with the Democrats, "led to his untimely downfall."
Similarly, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) recently received significant backlash from GOP hardliners for striking a government spending deal with President Joe Biden. Axios reported in December that right-wing lawmakers "'are starting to crank up the pressure on their hand-picked' Johnson, 'warning that anything less than an aggressive push to the right means caving to Democrats.'"
