(NewsNation) — House Republicans now have a two-seat majority, and there is still no border deal.
A mere two-seat Republican majority gives more power to factions such as the House Freedom Caucus to tank any potential border deal and make it difficult for House Speaker Mike Johnson to pass any legislation.
There are 432 members in the House of Representatives: 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats.
What caused this?
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California resigned after being ousted, former Rep. George Santos of New York was expelled, and Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio resigned for another job.
“If you don’t want or need our votes to pass the major spending bills to impact the future of the country, the material legislation that really matters, and you’re going to form a coalition government with Democrats … If you don’t need our votes for that then don’t assume you have them for the messaging bills that are dead on arrival in the Senate, that make members feel good,” said Virginia Rep. Bob Good, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, on NewsNation’s “The Hill“
A government shutdown was averted last week after Speaker Johnson relied on a majority of Democrat votes to pass continued funding. Republicans were split on the issue, with only 107 Republicans voting for the stopgap measure while 106 Republicans opposed it. Funding is at essentially the same level as the deal brokered by then-Speaker McCarthy and President Biden, which ultimately led to McCarthy’s demise.
Good hints that the Freedom Caucus will block standard messaging bills expected to pass on party-line votes. Of course, these bills never go anywhere, but they show constituents that the majority, in this case Republicans, are doing something with the power given to them.
We saw a revolt two weeks ago when 12 members blocked consideration for bills because of frustration over the spending deal that ultimately passed. With a two-seat majority, Good or whoever wants to may form a small band and halt business on the House floor.
“On something as complicated as the border, it’s not just what we do that matters. It’s how we do it. So negotiations are not done yet. Nevertheless, Democrats remain serious about finishing the job,” announced Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on the Senate floor Monday.
Skepticism surrounds the bipartisan border deal that has been months in the making. Negotiations continue among a group of Senate Republicans, Democrats, and the White House. The deal ties border security with aid to Ukraine, Israel and Asia. A slim majority and upset Republican House caucus makes it likely that any Senate deal is dead on arrival in the House.
“I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people, many from parts unknown, into our once great, but soon to be great again, Country!,” former President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
When asked if he agreed with Trump, Rep. Good said, “Yes, yes, yes, absolutely” Monday on “The Hill.”
“The worst thing we could do is give the appearance of border security, give the appearance that we’ve done something. … We haven’t got final text on [the senate bill] it yet. But that would give political cover to those who are literally facilitating the border invasion. That’d be worse than doing nothing,” he went on to say.
Congress will again face a funding deadline in March to pass 12 separate funding bills or again pass another measure extending current funding.
As Speaker Johnson faces a two-seat majority and an upset faction of his party, only time will tell if he can manage to stave off pressure from Biden and Democrats on the border deal and succeed in lowering spending. All while trying to keep his job.