Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) said that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will end up with a good spending deal even as Republicans, including President-elect Trump and his allies, slam the current version of the package.
The speaker is looking at a plan B to fund the government ahead of Friday's shutdown, which could include a "clean" continuing resolution, two sources familiar with the matter told The Hill. This would mean dropping the additional provisions in the initial 1,500-page spending package negotiated by congressional leaders, including disaster aid and economic assistance for farmers.
"Listen, the deal that everybody is talking about, this 1,500-page deal, that's dead. We're clearly not going to be voting on that. I do think Mike Johnson is going to end up cutting a pretty good deal on a much skinnier CR -- there is clearly a lot more comfort on that front," Johnson told Blake Burman on NewsNation's "The Hill."
On Wednesday, Trump and Vice President-elect Vance called for Republicans to approve a clean stopgap funding bill paired with a hike to the debt ceiling, saying the previous government-funding measure negotiated by Speaker Johnson should be torpedoed.
Trump also said that Republicans backing a continuing resolution without including an increase to the debt limit should face a primary challenge.
The White House has blasted Trump and Republicans for sinking the government funding measure, raising the possibility of a shutdown.
Senate Republicans from regions affected by recent hurricanes and other storms also warn against stripping disaster funding from the stopgap spending bill currently in turmoil.
When asked if he has "faith, trust and confidence" in the speaker, the South Dakota lawmaker acknowledged that Speaker Johnson is in a difficult spot, though he thinks Trump will ultimately help.
"Mike Johnson is in an incredibly difficult situation. On January 20, he's going to have partners in a Republican Senate and Republican president, Donald Trump. He does not have those partners today, so he's got one leg and two arms tied behind his back, and he's still trying to cut a good deal," Johnson said.
"I think he's going to, with the help of Donald Trump, ultimately get a good deal," Johnson added.
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