Obscure law throws wrench into GOP’s last-ditch push before Dem takeover

Republicans racing to cram President Donald Trump’s agenda into the final weeks of their congressional majority are set to lose a Senate vote ahead of schedule, thanks to a little-known Ohio law.

Sen. Jon Husted’s term ends Dec. 15 under state law, The Washington Post reported. The Ohio Republican was appointed last year to finish the term JD Vance gave up to become vice president, but he lost last week’s special election to former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Brown may be sworn in early, which would cut the GOP’s 53-47 edge before Democrats take full control of Congress on Jan. 3.

The squeeze comes during an already crowded lame-duck session. Congress is scheduled to be in session for just five more weeks, and some Republicans want colleagues to “stay every day,” as Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) put it, through the holidays to confirm Trump nominees and pass bills.

A centerpiece of that push is a possible reconciliation bill, which can bypass a Democratic filibuster. It could include money for the Iran war. Without it, the military says it will lack much of the funding needed to restock precision weapons the war has drained, according to the Post.

But the process requires both chambers to adopt a budget resolution before passing the bill itself, leaving almost no room for defections. And the senator whose committee plays a key role says he’s still waiting on the White House.

“Now I’m hearing from the White House they want to do one,” Senate Budget Committee Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) said last week. “Well, good. This takes a lot of time and effort. We need to know what the product’s going to be. Haven’t heard.”

Lawmakers also must avert a government shutdown when funding runs out after Dec. 11.

The House math is even tighter. Republicans can lose only two votes there. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who often breaks with his party, is sponsoring a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that could get a vote as soon as this week. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), who has been ill, hasn’t voted since July.

Democrats are dealing with absences too. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) expects to miss several weeks of votes while recovering from a stroke.