The House Rules Committee has added the Senate-approved government funding package to its 4 p.m. meeting today, according to an advisory from the panel.
The announcement comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., spoke on the phone Saturday, according to a spokesperson for Johnson. The spokesperson said that Jeffries indicated that House Democrats would not help Republicans pass the government funding package under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process that requires a two-thirds vote on the floor.
The call was first reported by Punchbowl News. NBC News reached out to spokespeople for Jeffries on Saturday afternoon, but they did not respond.
Republicans would have needed roughly 70 Democrats to help pass the package if it came under suspension. Instead, the Rules Committee will now try to advance the funding package. This means Republicans will likely need to approve the rule and the package on their own.
On Thursday, Jeffries said he had spoken with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Johnson about the funding talks but that he was not involved in talks with the White House.
Jeffries said “the White House understands that the only group of people that speak for House Democrats are House Democrats. So, we’ll evaluate whatever comes out of the Senate.”
Johnson said on “Meet the Press” yesterday that it’s his goal to pass the package by tomorrow on the House floor.