- The continuing resolution, or CR, pushes the deadlines for a full-year spending plan to March 1 for four government agencies and to March 8 for the other eight.
- The emergency financing law must be passed on Friday, otherwise the government will be partially closed
- The goal is still to pass and debate 12 separate appropriations bills with both chambers to fund each government agency – now by the next deadline
Congressional leaders announced this weekend that they would strike a third short-term deal to push back the spending deadline — a plan that once again rattled Republicans’ right flank.
The continuing resolution, or CR, pushes the deadlines for a full-year spending plan to March 1 for four state agencies and to March 8 for the other eight.
The emergency financing law must be passed on Friday, otherwise the government will be partially closed.
“The @HouseGOP plans to pass a short-term spending bill that continues Pelosi-level Biden policies to buy time to pass longer-term Pelosi-level spending bills with Biden policies,” the hardliner House Freedom Caucus wrote on X. This is what surrender looks like.”
Speaker Mike Johnson will likely need significant Democratic support to pass the bill under recess — meaning two-thirds of the House would have to vote for it
The goal is still to pass and debate 12 separate budget bills with both chambers to fund each government agency. The original deadline for this for fiscal year 2024 was September 30.
The CR will first pass through the Senate and Schumer is expected to speak this week.
There is little appetite among right-wing conservatives for any more CRs, with some admitting that they would rather allow the government to close its doors than approve a new short-term spending deal that would fund the government at the 2023 level set under Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. .
Some have suggested they would not vote for a funding deal until policy changes on border security are made.
“Enough with the continuing resolutions. We have had sufficient time to address funding levels. Congress continues to criticize this, while our southern border remains in shambles and our national debt continues to rise. We are doing a disservice to the American people,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X.
“I don’t agree with this spending bill or even the continuing resolution,” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said on Fox News this weekend. “We have a huge problem at our southern border. It must be done now. It needs to be resolved now.”
Speaker Mike Johnson will likely need significant Democratic support to pass the bill under recess — meaning two-thirds of the House would have to vote for it. He will also have to convince his own party that the CR will give them more time to commit conservative policymakers to year-round spending legislation.
“With completion deadlines looming, a short continuing resolution is needed to complete what House Republicans are working hard to achieve: an end to omnibus rule, meaningful policy victories, and better stewardship of America’s tax dollars,” Johnson said in a statement. .
“Enough with the continuing resolutions. We have had plenty of time to address the funding levels,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X
It comes after Johnson last week announced a full-year spending deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that would fund the government at $1.66 trillion.
It’s essentially the same figure that Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden negotiated under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the debt limit agreement, which included some $16 billion in spending cuts.
Johnson warned at his conference in November that if they don’t pass the 12 appropriations bills, they will have to do a full-year CR with non-defense cuts across the board.
The long-term deal with Schumer also rankled hardline conservatives, with some even floating the idea of launching a motion to oust Johnson from the presidency.
But after a week of speaking to members of the Freedom Caucus, the speaker remained steadfast. “Our summit deal remains in place,” Johnson said on Friday, referring to the budget deal reached on January 7.
“We are taking our next steps together and working on a robust credit process.”
