Mike Johnson Says His Funding Plan Is Smart. Many Republicans Say It’s Only Smart for Mike Johnson.

“It’s very clear this is to protect the speaker, to keep his seat, because of a promise he made to never pass an end-of-the-year package,” one GOP lawmaker told NOTUS. “That’s all and that’s it.”

Mike Johnson

Francis Chung/POLITICO/AP

As Speaker Mike Johnson prepares to put a three-month spending bill on the House floor next week, setting up a new funding deadline and a potential shutdown in Donald Trump’s first 100 days, many House Republicans are asking a simple question: why?

“Why not do it ‘til the end of the year?” asked Rep. Troy Nehls, referring to the end of September when the fiscal year ends.

He asked how Republicans could get a better spending deal done with a one-vote margin — Republicans are set to start the Trump administration with a 217-215 majority — and he suggested lawmakers should just pass a bill covering the next nine months.