The Senate has successfully passed a stopgap spending bill, preventing a government shutdown just days before the deadline. The bill, previously cleared by the House, features a two-tiered deadline structure devised by Speaker Mike Johnson. The innovative approach aims to avoid the challenges of bundling multiple government funding bills, setting different deadlines for various components of the government.
Senate Approval:
The stopgap spending bill received approval in the Senate with an 87-11 vote, bringing relief as the Friday night government shutdown deadline looms. The vote faced delays due to negotiations on defense policy legislation, a key item on Congress’ year-end agenda. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reassured the American people that there would be no government shutdown this Friday night.
Two-Tiered Deadline Structure:
Speaker Mike Johnson’s strategy involves staggering funding deadlines to prevent the necessity of a comprehensive 12-bill government funding bundle. The bill ensures that part of the government remains open until Jan. 19, while funding for the military and major domestic programs extends through Feb. 2. This approach is intended to streamline the often challenging process of meeting funding deadlines.
Response to “Laddered” Concept:
Initially met with skepticism, the “laddered” concept gained necessary support in the Senate. Democrats, in particular, were pleased that Johnson did not pursue funding cuts and reserved defense funding for the second tranche of bills with a February deadline. However, some Republicans expressed reservations about the length of the continuing resolution.
Remaining Appropriations Bills:
With only three of the Senate’s 12 appropriations bills passed, Senate appropriators anticipate pursuing additional minibuses for the remaining nine bills. Talks on a broader government funding agreement with House Republicans are expected in January, shaping Congress’s agenda in the coming weeks.
House Conservative Concerns:
House conservatives, dissatisfied with Johnson’s stopgap, are refusing to pass further GOP spending bills until a plan to cut government funding for the current fiscal year is presented. This sets the stage for potential clashes in January and February as both chambers aim to reconcile their differences across a dozen spending bills.
Outlook for January and February:
Speaker Johnson is determined not to resort to more stopgaps, signaling that January and February will serve as hard deadlines for bridging the spending divide between the House and Senate. Senate Republicans, led by Susan Collins, are eyeing bundling four appropriations bills in the next package, emphasizing the need for efficient progress to address upcoming deadlines.
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