Dozens of House Democrats could end up voting in favor of the funding package later Tuesday, despite a pledge from Democratic leaders over the weekend not to help Republicans fast-track the legislation.
House Democrats conveyed to GOP leaders days ago that they wouldn’t provide the votes to help pass the funding package under suspension of the rules — a maneuver that would speed the legislation’s passage and would have required support from around 70 Democrats. Instead, Johnson had to maneuver the bill through the Rules Committee, and later Tuesday morning will have to keep his conference together on a partisan vote to move forward with the measure.
With a 218 to 214 majority, Johnson can only afford to lose one vote. A two-vote swing would result in a 216-216 tie, which means the rule would fail.
“Republicans have a responsibility to move the rule,” Jeffries said Monday, adding that “it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Democrats are going to provide Republicans” with votes.
Still, a number of Democrats could opt to support the measure on final passage.
Though the measure was negotiated between Senate Democrats and the White House, Democrats secured the two-week extension of DHS funds that they had sought, giving them time to negotiate reforms to the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement. The short timeline means lawmakers will have to move swiftly, but Republicans and Democrats have expressed optimism about reaching a compromise.
In a sign that the package could pick up support among Democrats, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Monday that she plans to support it.
Jeffries said there are a “diversity of perspectives” among the Democratic caucus, while noting that outside of the temporary funds for DHS, there’s “strong” Democratic support for the five bipartisan funding bills that comprise the package.
