Mike Johnson's coming surrender on the government shutdown
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The end to the shutdown drama is in sight. The end to House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) political headaches is not.
Why it matters: This caps 10 excruciating days for Johnson. At each step, he's insisted the inevitable wasn't inevitable. No one bought it.
- Johnson spoke with Republican appropriators about drafting a "clean" three-month funding bill, Axios learned this afternoon.
- The speaker hasn't publicly endorsed the three-month plan, which the White House and Senate Democrats always favored.
- But he's inching toward the outcome many Senate Republicans privately said was coming: A spending bill through November that didn't include a GOP voting proposal to require proof of citizenship to vote.
Johnson's six-month stopgap plus the voting legislation failed yesterday.
Zoom in: Axios reported on Wednesday that Johnson has a Plan B — but he wouldn't share it. That's still the case.
- Into the void stepped Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who told reporters Thursday he's starting to work on a bill that funds the government through Dec. 13 or Dec. 20.
- "There's a lot of conversations going on right now," Johnson told reporters. "We'll make a play call. We got time."
- The federal government will shut down on Oct. 1 unless a spending stopgap or new budget is approved.
What we're hearing: Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said there'll be a "lot of disappointment" if Johnson goes bipartisan.
- Asked if Johnson would face a revolt if he moved ahead with a clean three-month bill, Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) responded: "I sure hope so."
🚨 Johnson's rank-and-file and deputies see warning signs coming.
- House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has broadened his help on fundraising and campaigning beyond his conservative core. Republicans see this as evidence he's ready for a leadership challenge.
- Jordan failed to become speaker last year — and still has enough GOP detractors to block a new bid, sources tell Axios.
- But becoming party leader only takes a majority vote.
What's next: Appropriators in the House and Senate — the so-called four corners — are expected to hash out the details over the weekend, with votes expected early next week.
- Meanwhile, the White House has started to engage. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, spoke this afternoon with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the top Republican appropriator.
