As negotiations continue, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is trying to work through the most significant conservative rebellion he’s faced since assuming the Speakership. His right flank is furious over a deal on overall spending levels he struck with Democrats to avoid a partial government shutdown that would start next week, that largely resembles the bipartisan agreement former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) reached with President Joe Biden last year. During a closed-door conference meeting on Wednesday morning, Johnson walked his conference through the topline agreement he negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), defending the deal, warning that he didn’t see Republicans gaining more leverage by shutting down the government again. But even if the right flank isn’t yet ready to oust another speaker, he’s quickly losing support. His conservative critics say they specifically elected him because they thought he’d fight for their priorities, and they’ve felt betrayed by his willingness to strike deals with Democrats and the White House, something Johnson’s allies argue is just a reality of governing when the other party controls the Senate and the White House and Republicans hold a slim two seat majority in the House. It is unlikely the spending bills will be completed by January 19th, and Senate Republicans are resigned to the fact that they’ll need another stopgap measure to finalize spending bills, but some House Republicans are already balking. Some, including Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota), are talking about a stopgap until late March.
For today, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Karoline Mehalchick to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The Senate may also consider the nomination of S. Kato Crews to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado.
The House convened at 10:00 A.M. for morning hour and noon for legislative business and is expected to consider the following legislation under suspension of the Rules: H.R. 540 – Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2023, H.R. 803 – PROTECT Taiwan Act, H.R. 839 – China Exchange Rate Transparency Act of 2023, H.R. 4768 – No Russian Agriculture Act and H.R. 6370 – OFAC Licensure for Investigators Act. The House is also expected to take up S.J. Res. 38 – A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to “Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers”
