Speaker Mike Johnson made clear to House Republicans on a private call Tuesday that GOP leaders have no plans to put a standalone bill for expiring food aid benefits up for a vote as the shutdown pressure mounts on Democrats before Nov. 1.
“Things are getting real” this week, Johnson said as he braced his members for some of the worst real-world fallout of the shutdown so far. He urged Republicans to stay in lockstep as “pressure mounts on Democrats” — including key deadlines that will impact millions of low-income Americans. Four people with direct knowledge of the call were granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation.
“The pain register is about to hit level 10,” Johnson said, adding that “sadly” 42 million Americans will be hit this weekend when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits run out of money. “We deeply regret it on our side,” he added, lambasting Democrats for their tactics.
The call got heated at times. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) railed against the White House political team and said people are “pissed” about Republicans failing to deliver on “America First” principles.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) also raised concerns on the call about the House not being in session. Kiley has brutally criticized Johnson’s strategy to keep the House out of sessions for 39 days and counting in order to pressure Democrats to act on the stopgap spending bill the House already passed.
Johnson said the Senate would vote again on the stopgap spending bill House Republicans already passed, but he indicated GOP leaders have no plans to put standalone bills up for a vote to keep funding flowing for food assistance or to pay federal workers. He noted the pressure rising on Democrats as key unions also call for the shutdown to end.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said much the same to reporters Tuesday. “There’s not a high level of interest in doing carve-outs, or so-called rifle shots. I think most people realize the way to get out of this mess is to vote to open up the government.”
Johnson said the mounting pressure on Democrats from unions, SNAP running out and air travel delays could be the beginning of “an exit ramp for some of these centrist Democrats” in the Senate, whom Republicans are hoping to peel away to end the shutdown.
Jordain Carney contributed to this report.
