Speaker Johnson: Inclement weather is ‘part of the problem' for House votes on megabill
The House is scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. on Wednesday — with a procedural vote shortly after — to kick off the floor process for the GOP's tax cuts and spending bill, as leaders race to meet their self-imposed July 4 deadline.
Several lawmakers, however, have posted on social media that their flights back to the nation's capital have been delayed or canceled as severe weather hits Washington, raising questions about attendance for the initial vote. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area until 9 p.m. eastern time.
Johnson can only afford to lose three Republicans and still clear the procedural hurdle, assuming full attendance and united Democratic opposition, a razor-thin margin that could change because of absences, and help either party.
'We're monitoring the weather closely, we have to figure that out,' Johnson told reporters on Tuesday.
Asked if there will be full attendance for a Wednesday-morning vote on a procedural rule, the Speaker responded: 'We're not sure yet.'
'There's a lot of delays right now so that's part of the problem,' he added.
At least four members of the House have said publicly that their plans to return to D.C. were scuttled because of the weather: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said two of her flights to the Capitol were canceled — 'Scrambling to find a way to get to DC in time to vote for the Big Beautiful Bill,' she wrote — and Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) said he was driving back to D.C., emphasizing the importance of being in town to vote on the party's marquee bill.
'I was supposed to be on a plane actually headed to Washington, D.C., tonight to vote on the 'one big, beautiful bill' tomorrow in the House, through this week, but flights up and down the east coast are being canceled,' Fry said in a video posted on X. 'But I'm not gonna chance being stuck in Myrtle Beach in this historic opportunity. I'm getting in the car right now, we're just leaving town and we're gonna drive all the way through until we get to Washington, D.C., at 9.'
'The moment is too important to sit around and wait in an airport. Let's go deliver on President Trump's agenda. So we're gonna vote on the 'one big, beautiful bill this week,' he added. 'In the meantime, I'm gonna have one big, beautiful road trip. It's gonna be great, and we'll see you later tonight in Washington, D.C.'
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) said he was also driving back to D.C. after his flight was canceled, while Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said his flight was canceled, so he was driving to Chicago to catch an early plane back to Washington. They both underscored wanting to return to Washington to vote against the GOP megabill.
'Hi I'm at the airport in Madison and my flight just got canceled due to thunderstorms to go to D.C. So I'm driving to Chicago, hoping to get one of the first flights, 6 a.m. tomorrow, but this is part of the glamorous life of Congress, I guess,' Pocan said in a video posted on X. 'Gonna get back though to vote no for sure.'
It remains unclear if more Republicans or Democrats are feeling the effects of the inclement weather.
Even with full attendance, Johnson was already facing a difficult vote on the procedural rule Wednesday morning, with a handful of hardline House conservatives threatening to oppose the procedural vote — which sets debate for the legislation — because they do not like several provisions in the bill.
Such a move would bring legislative business on the House floor to a halt, likely thwarting leadership's hopes of sending President Trump the package by July 4, which is Friday.
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