House passes temporary funding measure to keep government open

(The Center Square) – The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to pass a short-term funding measure to avert a government shutdown.

The partial government shutdown is set for Friday, giving the U.S. Senate only a few days to weigh in and get the bill to President Joe Biden’s desk, though it is expected to get sign off from both the Senate and White House.

The spending measure, which does not set aside extra funding for Ukraine or Israel, would push the government shutdown deadline into next year. In an unusual step, though, the bill would set up two shutdown deadlines for different parts of the government, one on Jan. 19 and the other on Feb. 2.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has managed to pass multiple appropriation bills since taking over the speakership but has not fully funded the government via those bills. Conservatives have pushed for Congress to go back to passing 12 appropriations bills to fund the government and allow lawmakers more say in the process.

That process has been difficult and largely not completed in recent years, though, leading party leadership to negotiate topline spending numbers that push the shutdown deadline down the road.

Johnson, who has pushed for passing the appropriations bills, says this measure would buy more time for that appropriations process and also avoid a rush during the holiday season to get something across the finish line.

Johnson has taken fire from his own party for backing this stopgap funding measure. In fact, a similar at short-term funding from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, cost him his speakership.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the removal of McCarthy and vocally backed Johnson, addressed this point on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I will not be voting in favor of this week’s continuing resolution because it does not address our spending challenges,” Gaetz wrote. “That said – I have confidence in [Speaker Johnson]. There’s a fundamental difference here between Speaker Johnson and McCarthy. McCarthy had SEVEN MONTHS to pass single-subject spending bills. Johnson has only had a few weeks.”

“Let’s see what he does with more time under his belt,” he added.

Some Republicans wanted significant spending cuts as the national debt continues to soar, nearing $44 trillion, and the U.S. recently received a credit downgrade.

Democrats, though, did not want the spending cuts and emphasized the need to keep the government open and fund priorities like Ukraine’s war with Russia.

Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer spoke out in favor of Johnson’s spending measure Monday.

“For now, I am pleased that Speaker Johnson seems to be moving in our direction by advancing a CR that does not include the highly partisan cuts that Democrats have warned against,” Schumer said.

Some Republicans, though, came out against it. The House Freedom Caucus released a statement Tuesday morning opposing the spending measure.

“The House Freedom Caucus opposes the proposed ‘clean’ Continuing Resolution as it contains no spending reductions, no border security, and not a single meaningful win for the American People,” the group said a statement Tuesday morning. “Republicans must stop negotiating against ourselves over fears of what the Senate may do with the promise ‘roll over today and we’ll fight tomorrow.’”