Speaker Mike Johnson has tried and failed to pass two spending bills this week because of the deep divisions he can’t bridge in the House Republican Conference.
He yanked a financial services spending bill moments before lawmakers were set to vote on it Thursday. Similar to the transportation spending bill pulled earlier this week, Mr. Johnson did not have the votes to advance the measure.
This time, a group of up to seven Republicans vowed to vote against the bill because of a policy that would prevent enforcement of a local law in the District of Columbia that stops employers from discriminating against women who get an abortion or use contraception.
“We shouldn’t infringe on the District of Columbia’s right to establish a non-discrimination policy, we ought to be respectful of women in the choices they have to make,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro of New York. “And it’s just not a policy that needs to be in the financial services bill.”
Republicans tried and failed to rally support for a transportation bill earlier this week, causing the bill to be pulled. A group of Republicans were hesitant to support that bill because of big cuts to Amtrak funding.
Neither bill will be getting another vote this week with lawmakers heading home for the weekend.
Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, now has to contend with back-to-back stumbles after a first week on the job filled with victories. But Republican lawmakers were quick to say that the divisions in the conference that sank the two spending bills were not a reflection of the new speaker.
Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana told The Washington Times that there was no doubt that the speaker and his leadership team were working to wrangle the votes for the spending bills, but that ultimately it was up to the Republican conference to coalesce.
“The conference has to decide whether we’re a majority or not,” Mr. Zinke said.
Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas said Mr. Johnson deserved a longer “honeymoon” but uniting the GOP conference was “mission impossible.”
Mr. Nehls said Republicans looked “confused” and divided despite unanimously voting for Mr. Johnson to hold the gavel. “I don’t think the lord Jesus himself could manage this conference,” he said.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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