Johnson Vows to Stick to Spending Agreement with Chuck Schumer

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Friday said he’s committed to the topline spending deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. — turning back pushes by conservatives to walk away from the pact.

“Our topline agreement remains,” Johnson told reporters, according to CNN. “We are getting our next steps together and we are working toward a robust appropriations process so stay tuned for all of that to develop.”

Johnson hasn’t clarified what those next steps are.

According to CNN, the consensus on Capitol Hill is that lawmakers will need to pass a short-term extension next week to avert a partial shutdown, though Johnson hasn’t said how that should be handled.

Johnson’s commitment to the deal was first reported by The New York Times.

Congress actually faces two government shutdown deadlines – on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2.

If Johnson had turned back from the topline agreement, it would have created a breach of trust with the Senate and could have put Congress on a path to a shutdown.

Johnson on Friday stood by the deal.

“After weeks of hard-fought negotiations, we achieved a strong topline agreement that allows our appropriations committee and all those who work on this to complete the appropriations process,” Johnson told reporters, CNN reported.

“The topline agreement includes hard won concessions to cut more billions from the IRS giveaway and the COVID era slush funds.

“It brings Congress much closer to regular order which is our big commitment here and keeping with my commitment to bring members into the legislative process I’ve spoken and received feedback this week from many members all across the Republican conference. That’s a very important part of this.”

The possibility remains that conservatives could push to remove Johnson the same way they did former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

“I don’t agree with the announced deal between the Senate and the House that came from the weekend, I’ve vehemently opposed it publicly and privately and I will continue to do so,” Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, told CNN.

Pressed on whether he had lost confidence in Johnson’s ability to lead the conference, Good said it was too soon to tell.

“It’s a ridiculous supposition that you would – that someone that’s been a speaker for two and a half months, or been the leader of our party for two and a half months, would be treated the same as someone who was in that position for years and is the reason why we needed new leadership,” he told the outlet.