House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to prevent a government shutdown is set to be debated in the House on Tuesday. The proposed solution, known as a continuing resolution, will be put on the House floor under the procedure of suspension of the rules. This means that the bill cannot be amended and will require a two-thirds majority to pass the House.
Johnson’s approach closely follows the strategy taken by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. However, in order to pass the measure, Johnson will need to rely on Democratic support, as there is no indication of a Republican effort to remove him as speaker.
The stopgap bill would extend government funding at current levels for certain agencies until January 19, and for others until February 2. Notably, the bill does not include the steep spending cuts demanded by conservatives, nor does it provide funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the southern border.
Several Republican representatives, including Chip Roy, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Warren Davidson, George Santos, Bob Good, and Scott Perry, have expressed their opposition to the measure. Their dissenting votes would require Johnson to gain support from Democrats to pass the bill.
It is important for Congress to pass appropriations bills to fund government agencies for the next fiscal year before October 1. Currently, the House has passed seven bills, while the Senate has passed three through a process called a “minibus.”
Congress reached a last-minute deal in September to keep the federal government open until mid-November, which sparked frustration among hard-right members. In an effort to avert a government shutdown, Johnson introduced the stopgap bill.
President Biden has indicated that he could be open to signing the bill if it passes Congress. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has labeled the bill “far from perfect” but emphasized that it includes defense spending.
To allow the House’s proposal to proceed first, the Senate has postponed a procedural vote on its short-term funding extension. This delay underscores the significance of the House’s role in resolving the impending government shutdown.
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