Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence ahead of a planned Thursday vote that the House will pass a $9.4 billion spending cuts package as planned. But privately, his whip team is scrambling to shore up enough votes among wary Republicans.
“We think we have the votes. We’re going ahead with it,” Johnson said. Asked about one vocal GOP holdout — Don Bacon of Nebraska, who raised concerned about public media and AIDS funding cuts — he said, “I believe Mr. Bacon is going to be just fine.”
Republican leaders have been tracking seven potential GOP “no” votes — enough to block the measure on the floor, depending on how many Democrats are absent. Their objections range from cuts to global AIDS prevention programs and local public media outlets to loftier concerns about allowing the White House to claw back funds already approved by Congress.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters there’s “always a few more things you’re working on as you get to the final vote.” But he, too, said leaders would move ahead with the bill “as written.”
