Job half-done: Why the specter of a shutdown isn’t banished just yet

Eyes are on the Senate and President Joe Biden to pass a two-step continuing resolution approved by the House on Tuesday as a government shutdown approaches on Friday.

The lower chamber of Congress passed House Speaker Mike Johnson‘s (R-LA) stopgap spending measure 336-95, with 95 Republicans opposing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed cloture on a motion to proceed with the resolution on Wednesday morning, limiting debate on the topic and setting the Senate up for a vote later this week and as early as Wednesday.

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The bill extends the Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Energy and Water appropriations bills until Jan. 19 and the remaining eight bills until Feb. 2.

The fight to pass the resolution faces one major roadblock. The Senate will need to overcome the filibuster to send the measure to Biden’s desk. The move requires 60 “yea” votes, but given it does not increase any spending, it’s likely to overcome any challenges from Republicans and pass quickly.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) leadership will be put to the test to garner support from Senate GOP members who are on the fence about passing another continuing resolution. However, his full endorsement of Johnson’s plan will likely stave off any Republicans who hope to hold up the process.

Prior to the House passing the measure, some Republican senators said they would be in favor of extending funding to mid-December to give Congress a chance to wrap up annual funding bills before 2024 and move the legislative body one step closer to providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.

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The deadline to pass the continuing resolution and receive Biden’s signature is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, giving the Senate three full days to approve the measure. The Senate has proven it can come together for the most part and move quickly in previous instances. In September, the upper chamber voted to advance a continuing resolution on Sept. 30, 88-9, three hours before the deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

Once Biden signs the resolution, the pressure will be on the House to pass all 12 appropriations bills by their given deadline. Some members are skeptical that it can be done given the level of infighting and disagreement on spending among House Republicans.