Mike Johnson Pushes 3 House Bills Through as GOP Faces 50/50 Senate Odds and Midterm Angst
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 24
Mike Johnson Pushes 3 House Bills Through as GOP Faces 50/50 Senate Odds and Midterm Angst
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 24
Summary
Three major House measures cleared this week under Mike Johnson — a government funding extension to Dec. 4, a budget blueprint for a $95 billion package and the annual defense policy bill.
That burst of action gives Republicans talking points for a five-week August recess, but members say voters are focused on the Iran war, high gas prices and broader cost-of-living pressures.
Senate prospects already look shaky: Rep. Marlin Stutzman put chances of Senate Republicans adopting the budget resolution at “50/50,” while other bills also face hurdles.
Democrats are trying to turn that vulnerability into a midterm message, with Hakeem Jeffries launching an affordability push as polling shows frustration with the Iran war and a Democratic edge on the generic ballot.
The fight now shifts to August campaigning and the Senate, where John Thune is juggling Trump pressure on the SAVE America Act and plans for Russia-Iran sanctions next week.