Senate Passes Measure To Avoid Govt Shutdown

Updated Nov. 16, 2023, 3:00 p.m. EST

• The Senate voted 87 to 11 to pass the temporary funding bill, bringing the country one step closer to averting a government shutdown.
• Biden must sign the bill by Friday at midnight, which he is expected to do. Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said:

"This Friday night there will be no government shutdown. Because of bipartisan cooperation, we are keeping the government open without any poison pills or harmful cuts to vital programs — a great outcome for the American people."

• After Biden signs the bill, Congress will only have a few months to reach a new spending agreement. 

Updated Nov. 15, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EST

• The House voted 336 to 95 to pass Johnson's short-term spending bill to avoid the looming government shutdown. 
• The bill will keep some government offices open through mid-January and some until the beginning of February. 
• The Senate is expected to approve the measure this week. Biden must sign the bill into law before government funds run out on Nov. 17. A White House official shared that the president is planning on signing the bill when it arrives on his desk.
• Johnson described the approving vote as "House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative policy victories."

What's the story?

• U.S. Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), introduced a stopgap spending measure to avoid a government shutdown next week. 
• The measure would fund just some parts of the government until Jan. 19 and others until Feb. 2, unlike ordinary funding resolutions. Republicans hope to pass the measure on Tuesday, but representatives from both sides of the aisle quickly opposed the proposal. 
• The House and Senate must agree on a spending bill that President Joe Biden can sign into law by Friday to avoid the risk of another partial government shutdown. 
• A continuing resolution would allow Congress more time to negotiate a long-term agreement. 

What's in the measure?

• The measure includes 12 spending bills in total. The legislation would increase funding for military construction, veterans benefits, transportation, housing, urban development, agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and energy and water programs until January. All other federal operations would expire in February under the proposal. 
• The bill contains no funding for aid in Israel, Ukraine, or at the U.S.-Mexico border, despite it being requested by Biden. 

What they're saying

• Johnson said in a statement:

"This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories. The bill will stop absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess."

• The White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the proposal was "just a recipe for more Republican chaos and shutdowns." She continued:

"With just days left before an Extreme Republican Shutdown – and after shutting down Congress for three weeks after they ousted their own leader – House Republicans are wasting precious time with an unserious proposal that has been panned by members of both parties. 

• Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said on X, formerly known as Twitter:

"My opposition to the clean [continuing resolution] just announced by the speaker…cannot be overstated."

• Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said the measure was "nonsense" that "costs taxpayer money." He wrote on X:

"We are going to pass a clean short term [resolution]. The only question is whether we do it stupidly and catastrophically or we do it like adults."

Do you support Rep. Johnson's measure? Let him know. 

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: Flickr/Gage Skidmore)