- The continuing resolution, or CR, pushes the deadlines for a full-year spending plan to March 1 for four agencies of government and March 8 for the other eight
- The stopgap funding bill must be passed by Friday or else the government will go into partial shutdown
- Goal is still to pass and conference with both chambers 12 separate appropriations bills to fund each agency of government – now by next deadline
Congressional leaders announced over the weekend they would be pushing forward with a third short-term spending deal to kick the spending deadline down the road – a plan that once again rankled the rightward flank of Republicans.
The continuing resolution, or CR, pushes the deadlines for a full-year spending plan to March 1 for four agencies of government and March 8 for the other eight.
The stopgap funding bill must be passed by Friday or else the government will go into partial shutdown.
‘The @HouseGOP is planning to pass a short-term spending bill continuing Pelosi levels with Biden policies, to buy time to pass longer-term spending bills at Pelosi levels with Biden policies,’ the hardliner House Freedom Caucus wrote on X. ‘This is what surrender looks like.’
Speaker Mike Johnson will likely need significant Democratic support to pass the bill under suspension – meaning two-thirds of the House would have to vote for it
The goal is still to pass and conference with both chambers 12 separate appropriations bills to fund each agency of government. The original deadline to do so for fiscal year 2024 was September 30.
The CR will first move through the Senate with Schumer expected to take it up on the floor this week.
Among right-wing conservatives there is little appetite for any more CRs, and some admit they’d prefer to allow the government to shut down than to pass another short-term spending deal that funds the government at 2023 levels set under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Some have suggested they would not vote for any funding deal until there are policy changes on border security.
‘Enough with the continuing resolutions. We’ve had plenty of time to address funding levels. Congress keeps punting this while our southern border remains a mess and our national debt continues to surge. We are doing the American people a disservice,’ Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X.
‘I’m not in agreement with this spending bill and not even agreement on the continuing resolution,’ Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said on Fox News over the weekend. ‘We have a massive problem at our southern border. It must be done now. It must be fixed now.’
Speaker Mike Johnson will likely need significant Democratic support to pass the bill under suspension – meaning two-thirds of the House would have to vote for it. He will also need to convince his own party that the CR will buy them more time to attach conservative policy riders to year-long spending legislation.
‘Because the completion deadlines are upon us, a short continuing resolution is required to complete what House Republicans are working hard to achieve: an end to governance by omnibus, meaningful policy wins and better stewardship of American tax dollars,’ Johnson said in a statement.
!['Enough with the continuing resolutions. We’ve had plenty of time to address funding levels,' Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/19/80045459-12966001-image-a-3_1705347813757.jpg)
‘Enough with the continuing resolutions. We’ve had plenty of time to address funding levels,’ Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X
It comes after Johnson announced last week a full-year spending deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that would fund the government at $1.66 trillion. It’s essentially the same figure as Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden negotiated under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the debt limit deal, with some $16 billion in budget cuts tacked on.
Johnson warned his conference in November that if they don’t pass the 12 appropriations bills, they’ll need to do a full-year CR with across the board non-defense cuts.
The long-term deal with Schumer also rankled hardline conservatives, with some even floating the idea of launching a motion to vacate to oust Johnson from the speakership.
But after spending the week meeting with Freedom Caucus members, the speaker remained firm. ‘Our top-line agreement remains,’ Johnson said Friday, referring to the budget accord reached on January 7.
‘We are getting our next steps together, and we are working towards a robust appropriations process.’