House to Vote on Short-Term Funding Bill Next Week

House Speaker Mike Johnson will hold a vote on a short-term funding bill next week. This vote is happening more than two months before the government is set to run out of money. Johnson may be setting himself up to win in September by losing in July. A failed vote on a short-term spending stopgap could potentially strengthen the GOP leader's hand in securing $67 billion for the Pentagon through the reconciliation process, according to conservative lawmakers.

The plan is to potentially use a failed vote as a pretext to include a spending stopgap bill in a September reconciliation package. This approach has been discussed by lawmakers, with Rep. Eric Burlison saying, 'The Dems know, 'OK, if we don't do the CR, we'll do it in a [reconciliation] bill.' However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is on a different page, saying, 'You've got to think long and hard about this. It's a much easier proposition in the House.'

Pairing a continuing resolution with reconciliation could have two advantages. First, it makes it harder for House Republicans to oppose the package. Second, it would present the Senate with a take-it-or-leave-it choice: accept the House reconciliation bill or share the blame for a government shutdown. Republicans are increasingly worried about spending the final month of the midterm campaign defending a government shutdown.