Averted Last-Minute Crisis: The House Votes on Government Spending Legislation to Prevent Partial Shutdown
The United States House of Representatives is set to make a critical decision today regarding the passage of key government spending legislation, with the deadline for avoiding a potential partial shutdown fast approaching. This development comes after months of intense negotiations on Capitol Hill. The tight timeline has ignited concerns of a possible government shutdown at midnight, despite assurances from top lawmakers on both sides that they are making efforts to prevent such an outcome.
If the House successfully passes the legislation today, it would then proceed to the Senate for approval. In the event that both chambers fail to pass the bill before the deadline, a temporary lapse in funding would ensue, triggering a partial government shutdown. Although the impact of such an event would be minimal if funding is approved over the weekend, the possibility remains a cause for concern.
According to senior Republican sources, the House has the expected votes to pass the spending package, but it could be a close call. The two-thirds majority required for passage necessitates Democratic support given the resistance from certain factions within the House GOP Conference. It remains uncertain if the Republican party can secure a majority of their conference’s backing – an essential threshold they strive for on every vote.
The House unveiled a colossal $1.2 trillion spending bill on Thursday, which includes funding for several departments such as Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and the legislative branch. This comprehensive bill spans over 1,000 pages and covers various aspects of government operations. The legislation must be approved by both chambers before the end of Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Congressional leaders from both parties have released summaries of what’s included in the bill. Some key provisions include:
1. Defense funding
2. Homeland Security allocations
3. Funding for Labor and related agencies
4. Health and Human Services expenditures
5. Education budget
6. State Department financing
7. Legislative branch appropriations
Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has expressed her discontent with Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s successor, Mike Johnson, after he negotiated a bipartisan spending package with the White House. Greene has yet to directly call for Johnson’s ouster but acknowledged she was “done” with him following their strained relationship. Prior to Johnson’s tenure, Greene had been a staunch ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy but has since distanced herself from the current speaker. In response to concerns about a potential motion to vacate the speakership, Johnson downplayed the possibility, assuring reporters:
“I’m not worried about it. I feel confident that we have the votes to move forward with our agenda. We’re focused on delivering for the American people, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”