Johnson Introduces New Spending Bill
Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a short-term spending bill on Sunday that allocates $231 million in additional funding for the U.S. Secret Service.
This new continuing resolution (CR), intended to fund the government through December 20, is set for a vote just days before the fiscal deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Johnson proposed this three-month CR after his initial funding bill, which included a provision requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, failed to pass in the House.
“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances,” Johnson wrote in a letter. “As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”
🚨WTF Breaking News: Mike Johnson just sacrificed a Fair & Honest 2024 election that would require proof of citizenship to vote, to reach a deal to avert a government shut-down through December 30th instead. He needs to Go! pic.twitter.com/8aWcgOs9cq
— Teagan1776🇺🇸 (@Teagan1776) September 22, 2024
“From now until election day, I will continue with my tireless efforts and singular focus of growing our majority for the 119th Congress,” he added. “It is my great honor to serve with you all in these historic days. The future of our exceptional nation directly depends upon our success, and I am confident that together we will prevail!”
Johnson’s initial CR was scheduled for a vote on September 11 but was pulled to “build consensus” within the party. His six-month CR and attached SAVE Act were blocked by 14 Republicans, citing fiscal concerns, along with 206 Democrats.
While this CR would require lawmakers to renegotiate funding before Christmas, Republican House leadership emphasized that Johnson aims to avoid a spending omnibus.
The $231 million in funding for the Secret Service comes after two recent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump. Following the latest attempt, the House unanimously passed the “Enhanced Presidential Security Act,” aimed at strengthening protections for major presidential and vice presidential candidates.
BREAKING 🚨 The Spending Bill with the SAVE act attached did NOT pass the house
SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. DO NOT SELL OUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MIKE JOHNSON
WHO’S WITH ME ? pic.twitter.com/dB1KCWqsNz
— Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Release (Parody) (@MTGrepp) September 18, 2024
Despite the bill’s overwhelming support, some Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about increasing funding for the Secret Service. “I will not support more funding until the Secret Service is restructured from the top down,” said Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
“It is clear there has been a failure of leadership and competency, and throwing more money at the issue won’t fix the root problems. We need accountability and reform first. The American people deserve answers.”
“No more funding for the Secret Service,” added Republican Rep. Tim Burchett. “Acting Director Rowe saw himself that the July 13 failures weren’t because of a lack of resources. They were clearly the result of a lack of leadership.”
Johnson contends that additional funding is part of a broader reform strategy for the Secret Service.
“I think it’s a matter of manpower allocation,” he said. “We don’t want to just throw more money at a broken system. We’re looking at all aspects of it, and we’ll make the right determination.”
On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots at Trump from a rooftop in Pennsylvania, while just two months later, Ryan Wesley Routh attempted to assassinate Trump while he was golfing in Florida, armed with an “AK-47 style rifle with a scope.” Routh was quickly apprehended after a Secret Service agent spotted the rifle on the golf course.
