| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Emma, Daniella Diaz and Jennifer Scholtes | Presented by Chevron | With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team
|  Many House conservatives say it’s understandable that Speaker Mike Johnson will need to deploy a temporary funding fix next month. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | ICYMI: We have a new speaker, whose relative novice status could be a problem in tackling a crunch of congressional crises before the end of the year. ALSO: The D.C. attorney general has charged Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) with a misdemeanor for triggering a Capitol campus fire alarm last month. CUTTING JOHNSON SOME STOPGAP SLACK House Republicans have a new speaker — and a new perspective on the next stopgap. The government will shut down in 24 days without a funding solution. Unlike Kevin McCarthy, fledgling Speaker Mike Johnson likely won’t get booted from his new role for backing a spending patch to stave off a Nov. 17 funding lapse. There’s two reasons we’ve found for that, after talking to many House conservatives:
- They trust him more than McCarthy.
- Time is short.
Several hardliners who voted to strip McCarthy of the gavel insist that Johnson represents a fresh start. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, the main Republican who pushed booting McCarthy, told us that “with Mike Johnson, there is a sincerity to get us to the single-subject bills that was illusory under McCarthy.”
Buying time: Many House conservatives say it’s understandable that Johnson will need to deploy a temporary funding fix next month. That way, they argue, Republicans have time to finish passing a dozen annual spending bills that seek steep cuts and GOP policy changes. Of course, those bills still don’t have a shot of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate. “The failures of the previous speaker left this speaker in a tough spot,” said Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy three weeks ago. “There’s a new level of trust with Speaker Johnson that didn’t exist previously.” The timing: Federal cash expires in just over three weeks. Johnson, who has only been in Congress since 2017, is backing a so-called continuing resolution through Jan. 15 or April 15, whichever garners more GOP support. Still tough: Realistically, Johnson also needs the support of Senate Democrats and the White House. That means he might have to make a deal on tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine, Israel and the southern border — a whole other can of worms for the Louisiana Republican at the helm of a raucous Republican conference. For now, it appears conservatives will give him the grace they denied McCarthy over spending. “I’m really not too concerned with (a CR) right now,” Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), who voted to boot McCarthy as speaker, told Huddle. “I’m just excited that a few of us took a chance, took a gamble. And I think the conference and the country is going to be in a better spot because of it.” “I think it’s helpful that a number of more stubborn members have said they’re willing to give Speaker Johnson a little more grace and a little more of the benefit of the doubt,” said McCarthy ally Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). — Caitlin Emma, Daniella Diaz and Jennifer Scholtes, with assist from Sarah Ferris
| | | | A message from Chevron: Chevron knows methane management is critical for a lower carbon future. We’re striving to lead in methane management with innovative practices, partnerships, and new technologies. These are a few ways we’re aiming to keep methane in the pipe. | | | GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, Oct. 25 where the House is SO back, y’all. GOP LEADERSHIP IN LOCKSTEP Don’t expect any changes to House GOP leadership anytime soon. Johnson’s not calling for any changes to his leadership team now that he’s speaker – which will keep Steve Scalise as majority leader, Tom Emmer as majority whip and Elise Stefanik as GOP conference chair. But one needs to be filled: Johnson’s now-vacated role as Vice Chair for the GOP conference is wide-open – and hours into his speakership, multiple people are either running or seriously weighing bids. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), the co-chair of the business-minded GOP Main Street Caucus, is considering running for the role, Olivia reports, as well as Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.). Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) also told us she’s considering it. She currently serves as conference secretary, but the vice-chair position would bump her up the leadership ladder. First-term Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) is also weighing his options, according to a Republican with direct knowledge. More could still jump in, and a time has not yet been set for the conference election (we’re just thankful that one isn’t a floor vote). — Daniella Diaz and Olivia Beavers, with an assist from Jordain Carney
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | SENATORS PREP FOR ANOTHER MINIBUS The Senate’s three-bill spending package finally got some amendment votes today, after a month and a half of sniping. That’s a bad sign for the nine other appropriations bills the chamber still has to pass. Clearing them in individual votes seems unlikely, at best, at this point. Which means another so-called minibus, or bundling spending bills together, may be in order — news that’s sure to rankle some senators. “My hope would be that we would turn immediately to the next three-bill package,” Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on Senate Appropriations, said of the remaining nine bills. “And I've been talking with Senator Murray about what those three bills would be.” Senate Democratic appropriators also said they’re ready for the slog. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said he expects more minibuses, but he doesn’t think a decision has been made on whether that’s another three-bill package. When asked if more minibuses are likely, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said, “I hope so.” “I would like to see them taken up one by one,” Tester said. “I just don't think we have the time. So, whatever we can fit into the time, make the packages as small as possible. But we need to get them all done.” Pretty much everyone is in agreement that the math just doesn’t work to pass every spending bill individually. Sen. Debbie Stabbenow (D-Mich.), no. 3 in Senate Democratic leadership, said it would be "challenging.” Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), pointing out it took five weeks to pass just three bills, said it’s “not feasible” for the spending fight to continue at this pace. But as senators eye their options, they’re acutely aware that the current minibus has dragged through the chamber. Democrats blame the delay on Republican amendments, but Collins suggested this week’s votes on those amendments might allow a speedier passage for the next package. “There has been a lot of pent up demand for amendments that came out on this bill. And my hope is that the next three bills would be easier to resolve,” Collins said. Our take: There’s still pretty much no way Congress can avoid a shutdown without a CR. The next government funding deadline is Nov. 17, there’s just not enough time for both chambers to pass 12 identical spending bills. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a Republican member of the Appropriations Committee, agrees. “Chances of that are zero,” Rubio said. — Ursula Perano
| | | | A message from Chevron:   | | | SENATE AIDE PASSES AWAY AFTER 57-YEAR TENURE Bertie Bowman, an institution and long-serving aide on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has passed away. His death was announced at Wednesday’s panel markup after he spent 57 years working for the Senate. “His title may have been ‘hearing coordinator’ but it could've just as easily been ‘heart and soul,’” wrote former Chair John Kerry (D-Mass.). Bowman began his work in the Senate at age 13, sweeping floors, according to Kerry. — Katherine Tully-McManus
| | Senators … they’re just like us! We love Rep. Becca Balint’s scooter. QUICK LINKS McCarthy’s fundraising guru will back newly anointed Speaker Mike Johnson, from Haley Fuchs
| | | | PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | TRANSITIONS Samantha Bullock is joining OnMessage Public Strategies as EVP in the firm’s corporate practice. She most recently was comms director for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and is an NRCC and Trump 2020 and White House alum. TOMORROW IN CONGRESS The House is in session. The Senate is in session. THURSDAY AROUND THE HILL 9 a.m. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will hold a press conference on organized retail crime. (Senate Swamp) 10 a.m. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), as well as leaders of the Bipartisan Women's Caucus will have a press conference on Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (House Triangle)
| | | | A message from Chevron: By 2028, our upstream methane intensity target is set to be 53% below the 2016 baseline. To help us get there, we’ve trialed over 13 advanced methane technologies including satellites, planes, drones, and fixed sensors to help reduce methane emissions intensity. In the Permian, we have deployed real-time autonomous optimizers that continuously monitor facilities and well conditions to help prevent flaring, venting and well shutdowns. Developing new solutions to provide energy that’s affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner, that’s energy in progress. | | | | | | TUESDAY’S ANSWER: Arik Wolk correctly answered that Richard Shelby was the future Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee who was originally denied a seat on the committee by Majority Leader Robert Byrd. In justifying the rejection to the rest of the Democratic leadership, Byrd cited this Senator’s “definite Republican tendencies.” His words proved prophetic, as Shelby joined the Republican Party in 1994. TODAY’S QUESTION: This Oregonian changed parties twice during his mid-century Senate service. The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to huddletrivia@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each evening. Follow Daniella on X at @DaniellaMicaela. | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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