House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to introduce a short-term bill to begin debate on government funding early next year is receiving harsh reactions from a wide range of House Republicans.
“That’s not my preference at all,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), President-elect Donald Trump’s former Interior Secretary, told Fox News Digital.
Zinke said the short-term bill, which would postpone the fight over government spending for fiscal year 2025 until early next year, could thwart President Trump's goal of immediately implementing policies in the new administration's first 100 days. Ta.
“We always hear that the first 100 days are so important, and that's true. But getting stuck in the first 100 days dealing with the issues of the last Congress is unfortunate because there's no runway. I don't think so,” Zinke said. .
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (left) has indicated the House could take up the government funding fight in the new year when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. (Getty Images)
“We're running out of time. December 20th is the deadline. We're hopeful that we can still get there, but if we don't, we'll take temporary measures,” Johnson told Fox News Sunday. ” he said. I think that will take place in the first half of next year and will give us the time we need to complete this. ”
He said this year's short extension of funding, known as a continuing resolution (CR), would benefit Republicans by starting a spending fight at a time when Republicans control both Congress and the White House.
Other Trump supporters, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R.C.), have also pushed for short-term legislation to give Republicans full control of this year's fight. are.
But several rank-and-file Republicans, like Zinke, suggested that addressing issues from the previous administration could hinder Trump's goal of having a productive first 100 days.
On the other side of the House Republican Party, hardliners who have previously opposed CR on principle have indicated they will not budge this time either.
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Rep. Ryan Zinke is among the Republicans who want Congress to end the current funding debate as soon as possible. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
“You really should read it before you say whether you're going to vote or not,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told Fox News Digital. “I've never actually voted for any CR, so it's hard for me to support it in the first place.”
House and Senate negotiators have made little bicameral effort to fund the government this fiscal year. Congressional leaders instead opted to extend the previous deadline of Sept. 30 until the end of December.
This has sparked frustration among some House Republicans who have been pushing for Congress to meet its mandate to set new spending directives for fiscal year 2025.
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“We should have gotten the job done sooner,” Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) told reporters Monday night.
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) suggested that moving the debate to next year could hinder President Trump's ability to “get serious,” but not before the Dec. 20 deadline. Given the short time available, he said there were few other options left.
Lawmakers like Mr. Zinke and Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) still want a complete spending package that would address spending this fiscal year.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is skeptical of CR. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“The smartest thing we could do as a conference would be to implement a year-end package that cleans the entire deck when President Trump takes office,” Miller said.
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“If we can finalize year-end policy and complete the spending process, which is the main task of Congress, the president will be able to begin developing his agenda and legislation in January.”
A senior Republican lawmaker pointed out that if all Republicans fail to join CR, there is a “high probability” that a partial government shutdown will occur, assuming that Democrats also do not support CR.
When asked about Johnson's interim plan, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, said, “I'm not a fan of CR in any way.'' You know it's not.”
