Johnson: “We’re going to pass the rule today”
February 3, 2026
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2:38Now PlayingJohnson: “We’re going to pass the rule today”
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as posted by the channelSpeaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) projected confidence Tuesday morning that House Republicans would be able to advance the government funding package without Democratic support.
"We're going to pass the rule today. It was never in doubt to me," he told reporters ahead of a vote on the rule that will allow for debate and a vote on the minibus. "The Republicans are going to do the responsible thing."
The speaker had initially planned to bring the funding deal struck last week between President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to the floor under suspension of the rules, a procedure that fast-tracks consideration of legislation but requires a two-thirds majority vote.
That plan fell apart after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Democrats would not provide the roughly 70 votes needed to reach that threshold.
The bill will instead proceed under a rule reported by the Rules Committee, which must be adopted by the House before the legislation can be considered under those terms. Rep. Jeffries said Democrats would not help House Republicans pass the rule, leaving Speaker Johnson with little margin for defections given his one-vote majority.
"I did talk to Hakeem Jeffries over the weekend, and he informed me that they would not be assisting in this endeavor. And I just think that's crazy," Speaker Johnson said.
"I think everybody needs to look at what's happening here: one party is moving forward. By the way, with the smallest margin in U.S. history, we now have a one-vote margin. We are still sticking together. The Republican Party is sticking together because the stakes are so high."
Speaker Johnson also said Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jeffries were in a "family squabble," suggesting Rep. Jeffries was "upset" and "offended" that Sen. Schumer had "presumed to speak for House Democrats" in negotiations with the White House.
"They seem to be having a little bit of a power struggle between the two of them," he told reporters.
Despite Democrats refusing to help Republicans pass the rule, some Democrats could still vote in favor of the funding package on final passage.
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