Absences Bring House GOP Majority To Almost Nothing

The New York Times reports:

This week, with lawmakers absent for medical reasons and the recent not-so-voluntary departures of the ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy and the expelled Mr. Santos, the best G.O.P. attendance that Speaker Mike Johnson can muster as he tries to avoid a government shutdown is the bare-minimum 218 votes. That is before factoring in the impact of rough winter weather across the nation.

As a result, the G.O.P. could soon be able to afford just a single defection on any matter if Democrats remain united and have no absences of their own. Republicans are in a real numerical bind. At a time when House Republicans regularly face internal rebellion from hard-line conservatives, Mr. Johnson has absolutely no cushion if he chooses to rely strictly on the votes of his own party.

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This week, with lawmakers absent for medical reasons and the departures of Kevin McCarthy and George Santos, the best House GOP attendance that Speaker Mike Johnson can muster as he tries to avoid a government shutdown is the bare-minimum 218 votes. https://t.co/wbmXI0ET9I

— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 17, 2024