Republican House Speaker Addresses Potential Government Shutdown

On Tuesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson discussed the ongoing government funding situation during an appearance on Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle.” He mentioned that if the Senate passes a suspension funds bill, Congress could potentially “work again.”

The Senate has not yet approved a continuing resolution from the House, causing federal employees to brace for a government shutdown. When asked about the prospect of Republicans ending the “closure war” and extending funding until November 21st, Johnson remarked that it’s a critical time for both parties to fulfill their responsibilities. He referred to the twelve spending bills that have passed through a committee in the House and noted that the Senate is also working on them.

“We need more time to process it through both chambers,” he added, expressing optimism until November 21st. Johnson indicated that Congress could resume functioning and proposed creating separate spending bills rather than a large omnibus one, which many find undesirable.

Earlier, on September 19, House Republicans had passed a seven-week funding measure narrowly by a vote of 217-212, with nearly all Democrats opposing it. This move heightened tensions as the measure moved to the Senate.

Some House Democrats have cautioned their Senate counterparts about the implications of a government shutdown, which could potentially escalate into a broader party shutdown. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Republican concessions to help keep the government operational.

As of Tuesday evening, the Senate rejected a dual spending ban, including the continuing resolution from the House. Senate Majority Leader John Toon conveyed on social media that Democrats had opted for a shutdown but could reopen the government if a few Democrats side with Republicans to pass the necessary measure.

If the Senate fails to approve the measure, a shutdown is anticipated to commence at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.