This morning, Speaker Johnson addressed the media following the House Republicans’ approval of a clean six-month continuing resolution (CR). Speaking on Fox News and CNBC, Johnson emphasized the importance of keeping the government funded and urged Senate Democrats to act accordingly.
Reflecting on the recent legislative actions, Johnson stated, “This was a big night in Congress last night. To get that done, we passed a clean, simple bill to keep the government funded for the rest of the year.” He highlighted that every Democrat but one voted against it despite previous statements opposing government shutdowns. The responsibility now lies with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Chuck Schumer has a big decision to make,” said Johnson. “Is he going to cast a vote to keep the government open? Or is he going to be blamed for shutting it down?”
Johnson further commented on the potential impact of a government shutdown: “When the government shuts down, you have government employees who are no longer paid… It brings great harm on the economy and the people.” He called for an end to partisan politics in favor of American interests.
Discussing budget reconciliation, Johnson expressed urgency: “I’ve put it on a very aggressive timetable… We need to get this certainty as soon as possible.” He stressed that without extending Trump-era tax cuts, small business taxes could rise significantly. The goal is to pass a reconciliation package by Easter and reach President Biden’s desk by early May.
Johnson also touched upon implementing DOGE savings for future budgets. He mentioned that these efforts aim at creating “a more efficient, effective government” through innovations introduced by the Trump Administration.
Johnson concluded with optimism about future fiscal policies: “This is the Super Bowl. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for our entire careers.”
