WASHINGTON - House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a two-prong proposal Nov. 11 to avoid a partial government shutdown by extending government funding for some agencies and programs until Jan. 19 and others until Feb. 2.
The approach is unusual for a stopgap spending bill. Usually, lawmakers extend funding until a certain date for all programs. Johnson decided to go with the combination approach, seeking to avoid being presented with a massive spending bill just before the holidays.
“The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess," he said.
The first bill excludes funding requested by President Joe Biden for Israel, Ukraine and the U.S. border with Mexico. Johnson said separating that stopgap request “places our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight over Ukraine aid, and meaningful policy changes at our Southern border.”
Hardline conservatives usually loathe temporary spending measures but have indicated they would give Johnson some leeway to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to give Congress more time to negotiate a long-term agreement. But some were still critical.
The federal government is operating under funding levels approved last year by a Democrat-led House and Senate. Facing a government shutdown Sept. 30, Congress passed a 47-day CR.
A document obtained by The Associated Press said funding for four spending bills would be extended until Jan. 19: Veterans' programs, and bills dealing with transportation, housing, agriculture and energy, would be part of that extension.
Funding for the eight other bills, which includes Defense, State, Homeland Security and other government agencies would be extended until Feb. 2. (The AP 11/12/23) House GOP look to pass 2-step package to avoid partial shutdown | wwltv.com
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