House Conservatives Join With Dems, Ditch Procedural Vote on Appropriations Bill

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

As RedState reported on Tuesday, the U.S. House voted to avert a government shutdown by passing a unique, two-step, "ladder CR" budget approach introduced by new House Speaker Mike Johnson in his first major test in the role:

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The final vote in favor of the measure was 336 to 95, with 209 Democrats and 127 Republicans voting in favor of it. 93 Republicans and two Democrats voted "nay" on the resolution; one Republican and two Democrats did not vote on it.

Though it didn't comprise the bloated spending spree Americans have become familiar with over Thanksgiving and Christmas break, it also kept the massive money rolling in a way that leaves the Biden White House and congressional Democrats gleefully rubbing their hands.

When Johnson unveiled the bill, as my colleague Bonchie wrote, conservatives were not amused, something that was reflected in their nay votes on it Tuesday. As you can see in the tally, the Speaker had to reach across the aisle to get the legislation over the line.

So it was likely no surprise to anyone that there would be repercussions from the right in the Republican conference. On Wednesday morning, conservatives forced House leadership to cancel what was described as a full "series" of afternoon votes, after ditching a procedural vote on an appropriations bill:

A band of House conservatives tanked a procedural vote to advance an appropriations bill Wednesday, underscoring the problems Republicans are having in the government funding process.

Shortly after the failed procedural vote Wednesday morning, the office of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) announced that no additional votes would be expected in the House following the current series until Nov. 28. The chamber was initially scheduled to hold another vote series Wednesday afternoon.[...]

Nineteen hard-line conservatives joined with Democrats in a 225-198 vote opposing the rule for legislation funding Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies, and a separate Iran-related bill, blocking the chamber from considering the measures.

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Again, Republicans and Democrats worked together on the vote -- so to speak.

Rep. Bob Good of the House Freedom Caucus explained that the vote failed for several reasons, including ongoing rumblings over Johnson bringing up that CR, but also "the decision to consider an Iran bill under a closed rule, and the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill." 

Going back to the story, I wouldn't agree that the conservative caucus and/or Republicans are having a "problem" with "the government funding process." It's pretty clear that though they didn't decide to oust another Speaker over a continuing resolution, this ideological fight in the House isn't over by a long shot.

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