US debt ceiling, gov shutdown and Speaker of the House fight

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House GOP looks for reset on government funding​

House Republicans are looking for a reset on government funding following the chaotic — and prolonged — spending process over the last year, adding to the pressure on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who already faces an uphill climb to achieve many of the conference’s goals.

The push for a clean slate on 2025 spending comes shortly after the House wrapped up fiscal year 2024 appropriations, which required four funding stopgaps, brought Washington to the brink of several shutdown cliffs and led to the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

But as Republicans look to cut spending and avoid a year-end omnibus, hurdles are emerging: Deep divisions throughout the conference, an ever-narrowing majority and the pressures of an election year.

“It’s gonna be extraordinarily difficult,” newly minted House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (Okla.) told reporters on Monday when pressed on the challenges in hashing out annual funding bills for fiscal 2025, adding that “every day we’re closer to the election, the more reluctant Congress is to doing that.”

In some ways, the looming battle over government funding for fiscal 2025 mirrors the previous year’s debate: Leadership looking to move bills through regular order and hard-liners pushing for deep spending cuts, all while grappling with the challenges of an ultra-thin majority.

But this year, the election is poised to put increased pressure on the appropriations process. Some lawmakers will look to score political points in the Capitol that could translate to winning voters on the campaign trail, while others hold back on any action to see who the next White House occupant will be.

More:

 
They are going to spend everything and then a whole lot more. And it's all on dumb stuff and ripping off the people. Should be a throw the bums out election.
 
Could MTG take down Speaker Johnson? Will Ukraine get the help they need? Is MTG a Russian agent? Let's see what CNN's Erin Burnett has to say.

Here's what Russian media is saying about Marjorie Taylor Greene's push to end Ukraine aid​

Apr 17, 2024
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) says she will take down Speaker Mike Johnson over a high-stakes vote on a Ukraine aid bill that Johnson says he’s bringing to a vote in days despite pressure from hardliners. CNN’s Erin Burnett reports. #CNN #News


6:37
 
WSJ

House Approves Long-Stalled Ukraine Aid Over Angry GOP Objections​

WASHINGTON—The House passed a $95 billion foreign-aid package Saturday that included long-stalled funding and weapons for Ukraine, after House Speaker Mike Johnson put his political career on the line to push the measure past intense Republican opposition.

Lawmakers approved separate measures for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and another bill that would force the sale of TikTok by its Chinese-controlled owner. The vote on Ukraine—the most contentious of the four—passed 311 to 112 with all Democrats in support and more than half of Republicans opposed with one GOP lawmaker voting present.

The other votes Saturday passed with majorities of both parties. The measure on TikTok and sanctions related to Iran and Russia passed 360-58, and aid for Taiwan passed 385 to 34, with one Democrat voting present. Israel aid was approved 366 to 58, despite objections from some Democrats over how Israel has handled the war in Gaza and a bloc of Republicans opposed to foreign spending.

The measures will be bundled together and sent to the Senate, which will begin consideration of the bill on Tuesday and is expected to quickly approve the measures. President Biden also supports the package, praising “bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in the House who voted to put our national security first.”

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Could prove to be an interesting week.

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls on Johnson to resign after foreign aid bills pass: ‘If he doesn’t do so, he will be vacated’​

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Sunday said House Speaker Mike Johnson “betrayed” Republican voters after the House approved new aid to Ukraine, threatening to call a vote for his ouster if he doesn’t resign.

“Mike Johnson’s speakership is over. He needs to do the right thing to resign and allow us to move forward in a controlled process. If he doesn’t do so, he will be vacated,” Greene said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

More insanity:

 
House Democratic leaders announced Tuesday that they’d block a looming effort to boot Speaker Mike Johnson, an unprecedented development they attributed to the GOP leader's help to pass foreign aid.

“We will vote to table Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Motion to Vacate the Chair. If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said in a statement.
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