The House GOP still can’t get out of its own way

House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to pass a continuing resolution (CR) with the 'SAVE Act' attached has faced significant opposition within his party. Many Republican lawmakers are against funding the government through continuing resolutions, preferring to pass all 12 appropriations bills instead. Currently, the House has only passed five of these bills, while the Senate has yet to pass any, with a looming government shutdown deadline approaching in less than three weeks. Johnson's strategy aimed to fund the government for six months while putting pressure on Democrats to vote on a politically sensitive issue before the upcoming elections. However, the slim majority held by the GOP in the House has complicated this approach, making it difficult to secure the necessary votes. As the election nears, the likelihood of passing appropriations bills by the deadline appears almost impossible. With the election just around the corner, Johnson is left with few options. It seems increasingly likely that a clean CR will need to be passed with Democratic support, as Republicans in vulnerable districts are wary of the potential backlash from a government shutdown. This situation highlights the challenges faced by the GOP in navigating their internal divisions while trying to maintain party unity. Ultimately, Republican lawmakers may need to reassess their strategy and accept smaller victories rather than risk leaving the legislative session without any accomplishments. The current political landscape suggests that compromise may be necessary to avoid a government shutdown and to address the pressing fiscal responsibilities of the federal government.