GOP Faces Internal Battle Over Spending as Speaker Johnson Struggles to Appease Conservatives
• GOP faces internal battle over government spending as Speaker Johnson struggles to balance conservative demands with keeping government running • Conservatives signaling they won’t give Johnson another pass after November funding concession, putting speakership at risk • Stakes growing as 2024 election nears; no clear path forward with deep divides between House, Senate, White House • Some conservatives demanding steep spending cuts, but Senate Democrats refuse cuts below debt limit deal levels • Floating ideas like deficit commission, but 2011 attempt failed; prolonged fight lasting months possible