Johnson’s Budget Bill Fails

It is unclear how to find a compromise, and the “shutdown” is getting closer.

The bill proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson on temporary funding of the federal budget for 6 months did not pass the lower house of Congress. 14 Republicans refused to vote for it. Two abstained.

Three Democrats joined the speaker, but this was not enough for a majority. As a result, the bill was rejected by a score of 202-220.

The Republicans who opposed the bill were divided into three groups. Some demanded an increase in defense spending, others demanded a general reduction in spending, pointing to the 36 trillion US national debt, and others decided that the conditions put forward by Johnson for the adoption of the temporary budget would not be accepted by the Senate, which would lead to a “shutdown”, which is expected no later than October 1.

Let me remind you that Johnson’s bill provided for the adoption of a measure to mandatory verify the citizenship of those people who are included in the voter lists and/or are going to vote.

Democrats oppose this measure. Donald Trump insisted that this condition be included in the budget bill.

Now the most likely outcome of events will be the adoption of a temporary resolution to extend budget funding for 1-3 months without any additional conditions.

However, a “shutdown” on the eve of the elections is also not excluded. The issue of “voting transparency” is key for the 2024 elections.