The chances of a government shutdown have dropped dramatically just days before Friday’s deadline. After negotiations have so far stalled, Congress announced late Tuesday that it had reached agreement on a framework for a full-year government appropriations bill.
“Congress now has a roadmap for funding the government before the end of the 117th Congress,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in New York said Wednesday morning from the Senate floor. “We still have a long way to go, but the framework is a big step in the right direction.”
Further strengthening lawmakers’ ability to approve long-term spending bills, dubbed the omnibus bill, is a week-long running resolution that extends this week’s deadline to Dec. 23, and was seen in motion in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, allowing lawmakers to Additional time is expected to be granted for approving long-term measures.
That said, the road ahead is not without pitfalls.
parliamentary political cartoon
Vermont Democratic Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced Tuesday the agreement on the appropriations framework, along with Alabama Republican Vice-Chairman Richard Shelby and Connecticut Democratic Representative, who chaired the House Appropriations Committee. Agreed with Rosa DeLauro. But it’s worth noting that Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the head of the House Appropriations Committee, was absent.
In fact, House Republicans, led by California House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have voiced their opposition to the comprehensive appropriations bill and are expected to vote against its passage. If Republicans oppose the bill, it could cause problems for California House Speaker Nancy Pelosi next week.
House Republicans are expected to advocate extending the CR into the new year at a press conference later Wednesday. That way, Republicans with the newly Republican-controlled House of Representatives gain more leverage in spending negotiations. But some warn that it will also complicate things for McCarthy, who is facing a tough bid for the speaker.
On the Senate side, the bill would require unanimous consent and give each senator the ability to keep it going, but would ultimately require 60 votes. McConnell has expressed support for the omnibus through Dec. 22, saying Republicans “will be happy to submit a short-term CR early next year.”
Tuesday’s announcement of the deal came on the heels of what appeared to be a domestic spending stalemate between the two parties. Republicans, citing fears of worsening inflation, should take into account recent domestic spending (such as the Inflation Reduction Act and pandemic mitigation) contained in legislation approved earlier this year when considering additional spending. Democrats say the previously approved spending should be considered. There will be no reduction in funding for domestic priorities next year.
Schumer said Tuesday that he expects the omnibus to include “priorities that both parties want.” This includes an election count law billed as a law to prevent more funding for Ukraine and other events like the Jan. 6 attack on the parliament building. 2021 years.
McConnell, who generally supports Omnibus, reiterated the Dec. 22 restrictions, warning against “poison drugs” and “far-left demands” in the process, and urged lawmakers to work harder going forward.
“The calendar makes this a challenging sprint,” he said.