House members from both parties are scratching their heads over Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) decision to revive a short-term government funding bill that he had previously pulled.
When asked about Johnson's reasoning, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) responded, "I have no idea."
Why It Matters: Even some Republicans are questioning Johnson's strategy, with concerns that pushing for a vote on this measure could backfire. "I don't know how he thinks it's going to pass... where are the votes coming from?" asked Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas).
Another Republican, speaking anonymously, described Johnson's approach as "puzzling" and predicted it would frustrate many in the GOP. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, noted, “There's an old saying in Arkansas that you don’t learn nothing the second time you get kicked in the head by a mule.”
Driving the News: The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a six-month funding bill that includes the SAVE Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for federal voting. Johnson had initially pulled this bill last week due to rising Republican opposition. Key right-wing critics, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), have reiterated their opposition.
Johnson defended his decision, stating that Congress has a duty to fund the government and secure elections, asserting, "We owe this to our constituents."
Zoom In: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) claimed he had swayed some GOP members to support the bill. However, Nehls emphasized that the right-wing opposition is "dug in."
What They're Saying: Some Republicans are concerned that pushing a bill that is unlikely to pass in the Senate could backfire on the House GOP. The anonymous Republican warned that those who support the bill might later refuse to back a more straightforward three-month funding measure that is expected to be necessary to prevent a government shutdown. "You may lose more Republicans when you really need them... because you know this is going to fail," they cautioned.
Womack added, “If you're fighting a losing battle, then I think you do have to go to a Plan B, and I really don't know what that is.”
The Other Side: House Democratic leadership spent part of their Tuesday meeting trying to decipher Johnson's strategy. One senior Democrat speculated, "The speculation [is] that it has to fail before he can do anything else."
Additionally, some House Democrats discussed the possibility of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) initiating a funding measure without waiting for the House, a move they would support. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) stated, "If he has a vehicle and the votes, I’d encourage him to move ahead."
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