Conservatives halt blockade on rules votes as Speaker Johnson mulls spending revisions

A group of House conservatives did not prevent the advancement of key bills on the House floor on Thursday after previously blocking a trio of measures on Wednesday amid frustrations with budget negotiations process.

In a 211-202-1 vote, the lower chamber adopted a debate rule on affecting three bills, with only Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna voting with Democrats to oppose it while Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy voted present, according to The Hill. The adoption of the rule permits the lower chamber to continue with normal activities while lawmakers negotiate a funding agreement.

The group of conservatives the day prior blocked debate after House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a spending deal on Sunday in which Congress would approve $1.590 trillion in government spending until the end of the fiscal year. The House Freedom Caucus, however, deemed the deal a "total failure" and insisted the final cost of the deal would be much higher.

"They did a series of side deals, which we have not even been told what they are, we're led to believe that they're tens and tens of billions of dollars. But when we get to the bottom of it, the actual spending level in this is actually about $100 billion more than they said say in their press release," Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs told Just the News earlier this week.

Also on Thursday, some House conservatives met with Johnson to address the funding dispute, though Johnson later said he had not committed to any revisions.

"We're having thoughtful conversations about funding options and priorities. We had a cross section of members in today," he said, according to Punchbowl News's Jake Sherman. "We'll continue having cross sections of members in and while those conversations are going on, I've made no commitment. So if you hear otherwise, it's just simply not true."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.