Today, Speaker Johnson (R-LA) will risk his job to pass government funding legislation.
With so much resistance from Republicans, he will likely lean toward Democrat support to get the legislation passed, sealing his fate, but I would not be so quick to condemn Johnson on this one.
Talking Points…
- Include SAVE Act in funding legislation
- Johnson now relying on Democrats
- Analysis
Donald Trump has been adamant that he wants to see the SAVE Act included in funding legislation or risk having the government shut down. The problem is that the legislation would never make it through the Senate. Even if it did, the White House has been adamant that it would not sign the legislation. It has the luxury of knowing that even if Biden is the one rejecting the legislation, the media will blame the Republicans, citing they added extreme legislation into the funding bill and Joe Biden is a hero for blocking it.
Even so, Trump made his position very clear, posting:
"If Republicans don't get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form.
"Only American Citizens should be voting in our Most Important Election in History, or any Election! A Vote must happen BEFORE the Election, not AFTER the Election when it is too late," Trump added. "BE SMART, REPUBLICANS, YOU'VE BEEN PUSHED AROUND LONG ENOUGH BY THE DEMOCRATS. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN."
Johnson could not pass this legislation, backing him into a corner with time running out. With such a slim majority in the House and Dems controlling the Senate and White House, Johnson has to get something passed because he knows the GOP will take the fall in the media for a shutdown.
I have seen the comments on social media about Johnson being a RINO and a traitor for working with Dems. While I have never really supported Johnson as Speaker, he is doing what is best for the party here, even if most people do not realize it just yet. One person who sees the big picture is Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), who stated:
"We've got a lot of people that honestly think a government shutdown is a good idea, or at least don't want to take responsibility for avoiding one.
"It's not good for the American people, it doesn't work politically…and you're sent up here to be responsible."
Quite a few Republicans are spouting off at the mouth about dialing down spending and refusing to pass a CR due to out-of-control government spending, but that is because they are in safe seats and do not have to worry about losing their elections. It is for that reason that Johnson will have to rely heavily on Democrat support to get this legislation passed and sent to the Senate.
I get the frustration from everyone, and you guys know that I generally do not support CRs, but as I have stated before, this is big-picture thinking by Johnson, who is hoping to save the House for Republicans and allow them to grab the Senate. If we cannot do that, winning the White House means nothing. If Trump is elected and Democrats hold the House and Senate, he passes nothing and likely turns the White House back over to Democrats in 2028. If Trump loses the election, but the GOP can hold the House and take the Senate, we turn Harris into a lame duck who accomplishes nothing, setting up a big win in 2028.
The ideal scenario is that Trump wins the White House and the GOP takes complete control of Congress, but I don't see that happening. If it does, I don't think we would have the majority to push through whatever we wanted, but it would at least open the door to bargaining with Democrats. Republicans could give them some small wins to pass key legislation. One thing I am certain of, though, and that is if the government shuts down, Dems and the media will use it to hurt Republicans, costing us any chance we have of taking Congress back.
It is not an ideal situation, but I truly believe that Johnson is doing the right thing here. I also believe it will likely cost him any chance of holding the gavel in 2025 if the GOP manages to hold the House in this election. That will largely depend on Trump's response to this, but Trump's past record shows that he goes on the attack when he does not get his way, so I expect venom in Johnson's direction if and when this legislation passes.
