Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and House Republican leaders are moving to pass a two-step stopgap government funding bill under a fast-track process that will require support from Democrats, an attempt to work around GOP opposition that threatened to tank the bill on a procedural vote. A scheduling notice from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) sent late Monday night announced that the continuing resolution (CR) would be brought up under suspension of the rules today — a procedure that requires support from two-thirds of the House in order to pass and avoid a government shutdown after Friday. Republicans had threatened to vote against the rule out of frustration that the bill did not include spending cuts or key conservative policy reforms — which would have prevented a vote on final passage of the legislation. In a press release this morning, the House Freedom Caucus said “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.” In the House GOP’s slim majority, GOP leaders can afford to lose just three Republican votes on any party-line measure, assuming full attendance. Far more than that have signaled opposition to the CR. Under the continuing resolution, part of government funding would run out on January 19th, with the rest running out on February 2nd. Johnson has argued that the two-step plan is the best way to avert a massive omnibus funding package pushed by the Senate, and allows Congress more time to negotiate on fiscal year 2024 funding.
For today, the Senate convened at 10:00 A.M. and is expected to consider a joint resolution providing congressional disapproval of a DOE rule relating to income repayment of the Federal Direct Loan Program (S.J.Res.43).
The House met at 10:00 A.M. and will begin consideration of H.R. 5894 – Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. The House is also expected to take up H.R. 6363 – Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 under suspension of the Rules.
