Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) secured a narrow victory Tuesday as House Republicans passed a procedural rule by a 214-211 vote, setting up floor debate and final votes on a slate of high-priority legislation before lawmakers depart Washington. The rule advances the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a stock trading ban bill, a budget framework for a third reconciliation package, and a stopgap measure to fund federal agencies at current levels through December 4.
The rule also includes a controversial legislative maneuver known as MIRVing, which merges the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act with the NDAA before sending it to the Senate. The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and mandate voter ID at the polls, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and voting rights advocates.
The vote came after a morning of uncertainty, with several House Republicans expressing concerns about the rule. A key sticking point was the lack of offsets in the $95 billion spending boost outlined in the budget resolution, which has already sparked revolt among Senate GOP members. Representative Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) initially remained undecided, angry that an amendment to restore terminated pensions for former Delphi Corporation workers was not included.
On the House floor, a group of GOP holdouts staged what Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) described as a “minor revolt.” Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) huddled with the dissidents, which included Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). After tense negotiations, all but Massie flipped their votes to support the rule.
Observers from the gallery noted that Johnson appeared to offer a handshake to Burchett as the votes changed, but Burchett seemed to decline. Burchett later denied any snub, telling reporters, “No, they’re in error. I’ll shake anybody’s hand. I get angry at him, but I’m not a jerk to him.” He then shook a reporter’s hand to underscore the point.
The rule vote marks an early win for Johnson as he navigates a packed legislative week. The House is expected to take up the stopgap funding measure Tuesday evening, with the broader package including the NDAA and the SAVE Act merger set for later votes. The reconciliation framework, which has faced skepticism from both fiscal hawks and moderates, will also require careful shepherding. Some House GOP members are already eyeing a fourth reconciliation package, signaling ongoing internal divisions over spending priorities.
Emily Brooks and Max Rego contributed to this report.
