Congress continues to be a source of seemingly nonstop political drama as lawmakers on Friday again scrambled to keep the US government’s lights on. The House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill hours ahead of a midnight deadline to avert a partial government shutdown.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where its passage could be held up if even one senator objects. This could push a vote into Saturday and trigger a partial shutdown, though the impact wouldn’t be major if the bill is passed before the end of the weekend.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden have both urged the Senate to pass it quickly.
Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Friday filed a motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson — just months after he got the top job in the lower chamber — over the spending package. But Greene, who accused Johnson of helping pass a “Democratic budget,” isn’t pushing for a hasty vote on the matter, stating, “It's more of a warning.”
"I'm not saying that it won't happen in two weeks or it won't happen in a month or who knows when, but I am saying the clock has started," Greene said. "It's time for our conference to choose a new speaker."