POLITICS
House Passes Bill To Avert Government Shutdown, With Senate Expected To Follow Suit
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House lawmakers on Tuesday passed Speaker Mike Johnson’s two-tiered stopgap funding bill, which is expected to be supported by the Senate in time to avert a government shutdown.
The clean continuing resolution doesn’t contain any spending cuts or other significant policy changes, which ensured the support of most Democrats in the chamber. It passed 336–95, with 93 Republicans and two Democrats voting against it.
Johnson (R-La.) structured the laddered continuing resolution to fund some parts of the government, including Agriculture, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development, through Jan. 19, while other parts of the government including the Department of Defense would be funded through Feb. 2.
With the government shutdown deadline on Friday, the Senate is expected to pass the bill and send it to President Joe Biden by Friday night.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted from leadership in early October after passing a temporary bill to fund the government through Nov. 17, averting a shutdown. The more conservative flank of the Republican Party pushed for deep spending cuts and objected to additional aid for Ukraine as it defends against a Russian invasion.
The House Freedom Caucus also registered its objections to Johnson’s continuing resolution on Tuesday, but did not go so far as to call for his removal as speaker.
The House Freedom Caucus opposes the proposed ‘clean’ Continuing Resolution as it contains no spending reductions, no border security, and not a single meaningful win for the American People, the group said in a statement. Republicans must stop negotiating against ourselves over fears of what the Senate may do with the promise ‘roll over today and we’ll fight tomorrow’. While we remain committed to working with Speaker Johnson, we need bold change.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would work to pass the bill in his chamber ASAP.
In divided government — both sides must embrace bipartisanship to pass legislation to help Americans, Schumer wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Im happy the House passed this bill that excludes hard-right partisan cuts and poison pills with a strong bipartisan vote.
If passed, the measure would keep the government’s lights on through the busy holiday travel season, ensuring workers like Transportation Security Administration agents will be paid.
The full-year budget, meanwhile, will still have to be hashed out, with the House and Senate negotiating to agree on all 12 appropriations bills.
TMX contributed to this article.
