House Speaker Mike Johnson has made it clear that lawmakers will not leave Washington until their work is finished, despite the upcoming August recess. This statement comes as the House faces a packed final week before the recess, with several major bills and a stopgap spending measure on the agenda.
Johnson's comments were made in response to a question from Fox News about whether he would send the House home early if GOP leaders failed to win a critical vote that would tee up consideration of several major bills. Johnson's three-word response was straightforward: "I will not."
The House Speaker is attempting to put a GOP-authored stock trading ban on the floor, along with a stopgap spending measure funding the government through the midterm elections, and a must-pass annual defense policy bill. GOP leaders are also racing to pass a $95 billion budget framework that provides for $73 billion in defense and intelligence funding.
The Trump-endorsed budget framework has sparked criticism from fiscal conservatives, who argue it lacks spending offsets. The House Rules Committee is expected to report out a rule setting up a chamber-wide procedural vote on the legislative items on Tuesday, with the first test coming on Monday evening.
Given the House Republicans' slim margins, Johnson can afford to lose just three GOP defections if all members are present and voting. House conservatives have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to vote down party-line procedural votes this year over various concerns.
Rep. Eric Burlison, a fiscal hawk from Missouri, has expressed his opposition to the budget framework, citing concerns over the lack of spending offsets and language defunding Planned Parenthood. Trump has urged Republicans to support the budget plan, arguing it would include as much of the election measure "as possible."
Sen. Rick Scott has called for Congress to stay in Washington until a short-term funding package and the SAVE America Act reach the president's desk. Scott argues that staying in session until the work is done is what the American people expect of their representatives.
