Johnson Abandons Budget Vote Amid Republican Divisions

On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson canceled plans to vote on a Republican budget resolution. This resolution was intended to serve as a vehicle for key elements of Donald Trump's agenda.

The House Speaker had scheduled votes on a budget resolution originating in the Senate, as the GOP moved to the next stage of the reconciliation process. However, Johnson faced potential opposition from over a dozen Republican members, making the vote's success uncertain.

A procedural vote, the initial hurdle for the legislation, narrowly passed on Wednesday afternoon. Following this, it became evident that Johnson and House leadership lacked the necessary votes to advance the Senate framework. The Speaker announced plans to try again on Thursday morning after further discussions with members. Some members expressed concerns about the difficulty of ensuring all Republicans would be present on Thursday.

The White House had pressured House Republicans to support the Senate framework, but this effort was unsuccessful. Donald Trump also urged House lawmakers to vote for the budget resolution.

House lawmakers voted on a procedural rule mid-Wednesday afternoon, before the planned final consideration of the resolution. Several Republican factions appeared ready to support the rule, but ultimately voted against the resolution's passage. Three Republicans defected on the rule vote itself.

The holdouts included Republicans in vulnerable districts, concerned about potential cuts to Medicaid benefits, and conservative members who believed the plan didn't adequately address the federal budget deficit. The Senate plan proposed significantly fewer spending cuts than the House framework previously passed in February. Both chambers will vote on a combined budget framework in the coming weeks if the House agrees to the Senate's framework.

Speaker Johnson expressed confidence around midday that the resolution would pass, acknowledging the concerns of his colleagues but claiming they would be addressed during the reconciliation process.

Johnson has a history of taking risky votes in the House, even if they fail. He has also demonstrated an ability to unite different factions within his caucus to pass key legislation. Republicans elected him Speaker in 2023 after removing his predecessor and a lengthy search for a new leader.