House Speaker Johnson Pushes for Budget Bill Vote by Sunday

House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed confidence that the budget bill, which failed to pass through the committee on Friday, will still reach the House floor for a vote before the deadline. Lawmakers are prepared to vote again at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday night.

Johnson emphasized the importance of the timeline for this "historic" bill during his appearance on a program. "We are working around the clock to get this nation-shaping legislation to the American people as quickly as possible," he stated. He highlighted the significance of the scheduling for this historic legislation.

The budget committee is set to reconvene tonight and pass the bill through committee review. The plan is to submit it to the Rules Committee by midweek and to the House floor by the weekend, allowing them to meet the initial deadline set.

On Friday, Donald Trump posted on "Truth Social," urging lawmakers to "unite behind this great and good bill." However, the Republican-led House Budget Committee voted 16-21 against the bill, with five Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. Representatives Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Chip Roy of Texas, in particular, raised concerns about the medical assistance requirements and spending.

Norman posted on X on Wednesday, "Delaying work requirements for able-bodied adults in the Medicaid program is not 'progress.' It is fiscally irresponsible and another bad excuse!" Roy, speaking to the media on Friday, said, "We are writing checks that we can't cash, and our children will pay the price."

Johnson acknowledged the concerns of Norman and Roy on Sunday, attributing the potential delay in implementing new eligibility requirements to the states' ability to implement changes in their systems.

When asked about potential resistance in the Senate, where Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson referred to the bill as the "Titanic," Johnson stated that he regularly meets with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to ensure the bill's swift passage. "There will be no surprises," Johnson said. "The package we send to the Senate is carefully negotiated and delicately balanced, and we hope they don't make too many changes to it."

In addition to the deadline set by Johnson in the House, lawmakers face another pressing deadline. Johnson stated, "Treasury Secretary Scott Bassen has indicated that we need to complete this work by July 4th."

The final deadline for 2025 is May 26th. The term "Titanic" is used to describe the potential fate of the budget bill in the Senate, suggesting that it may face significant obstacles or even failure, similar to the historic sinking of the Titanic.