House Republican leaders are expected to bypass GOP opposition by relying heavily on Democrats to keep the government in power

Washington
CNN
—

House Republicans are expected to circumvent growing Republican opposition to a budget bill and keep the government running into December, using a procedural move that will allow them to rely heavily on Democrats to pass the bill and avoid a government shutdown.

The House Rules Committee removed the public appropriations bill from its agenda Monday night, forcing House Republican leadership to put the bill on the agenda under a procedure known as a suspension of rules, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Relying on Democrats to overcome their narrow, divided majority and keep the government open has been a regular maneuver for Republicans in this Congress, and was the very maneuver that ousted former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from office. Republicans have long known they must rely on Democrats to pass the shutdown-averting measure this time, but with Democratic votes now likely to far outnumber those of GOP supporters, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his conference find themselves in a risky position.

Republican Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana told CNN: “It's disappointing. We have a Republican majority. We should cut spending.”

Asked if Johnson had mishandled the situation, Banks added: “He had the opportunity to put forward a budget that would curb wasteful spending. We've had the majority for two years, but that hasn't happened. That was my hope with a Republican majority, but we're going to end the Republican majority without spending cuts, and that's why I'm voting no.”

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who also opposes the spending extension, stopped short of calling Johnson's leadership a mistake.

“I wouldn't say it's a mistake. I would say, for me personally, it's something I can't support.”

Frustration is also growing with Republicans because they refuse to vote for bipartisan spending bills while rejecting any Republican spending plan that would give their side an advantage in negotiations with Democrats.

“Oddly enough, many of the people who don't like the CRs aren't helping us get the bills passed,” said Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, referring to the Continuing Resolution (CR), which ensures funding for the government through December.

Over the weekend, Johnson presented the preliminary budget authorization, which secures funding for the government until December 20. State funds expire at the end of the month. In a letter to GOP members, Johnson explained that he did not want a shutdown weeks before the election.

“As history teaches and recent polls confirm, shutting down the government less than 40 days before a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice,” he wrote. “From now until Election Day, I will continue my tireless efforts and focus exclusively on increasing our majority for the 119th Congress.”

Johnson's narrow decision to continue the mandate came after he tried and failed to pass a similar government funding measure last week, which included a bill backed by former President Donald Trump that would bar non-citizens from voting.

CNN's Lauren Fox contributed to this report.