House passes bill to avert government shutdown

A short-term bill that will stave off a partial government shutdown for at least another two months cleared the House of Representatives Tuesday evening, bringing lawmakers one giant step closer to keeping federal operations going after 11:59 p.m. Friday.

The 336-95 vote represented a win for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who unveiled his plan for a so-called “laddered” continuing resolution (CR) Saturday.

A contingent of conservative Republicans quickly came out in opposition to the bill, which they complained lacked spending cuts.

However, 209 Democrats offered their support and helped send the measure on to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved later this week.

Just two Democrats — Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts and Mike Quigley of Illinois — voted against the measure.

Republicans were more closely divided, with 127 voting for the bill and 93 voting against.

“I am one of the arch-conservatives,” Johnson insisted during a press conference Tuesday morning.

“We’re not surrendering but fighting,” the speaker insisted. “I’ve had this job less than three weeks. I can’t change or turn an aircraft carrier overnight.”

Democrats took issue with Johnson’s differing deadlines for passing certain appropriations bills, but lauded the absence of spending cuts or other poison pills.

“We have consistently made clear that a government shutdown would hurt the economy, our national security and everyday Americans during a very fragile time and must be avoided,” House Democratic leadership said in a statement.

“The continuing resolution before the House today meets that criteria and we will support it.”

Senate leaders of both parties also endorsed Johnson’s plan.

“We have until Friday to avert another unnecessary government shutdown,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote on X Tuesday. “The House proposal does two things that Democrats have pushed for: It will avert a shutdown, and it will do so without making hard right cuts that the extreme MAGA wing demands.”

Under Johnson’s proposal, part of the government will be funded until Jan. 19, 2024 and the rest will sunset on Feb. 2, 2024.

This gives Congress two deadlines to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, 2024.

By the January deadline, Congress must green-light four appropriations bills funding the Department of Transportation; the Department of Housing and Urban Development; military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs; energy and water development; as well as the Department of Agriculture, rural development, and the Food and Drug Administration.

By the February deadline, Congress must approve the other eight appropriations bills, including for defense.

So far, the House has passed at least seven spending measures, while the Senate has completed a “minibus” encompassing three appropriations bills.

Both chambers are at loggerheads over top-line numbers, which is why Johnson has sought to buy time for the House and Senate to pass their bills and then head to conference.

Strife over government funding paved the way for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) ouster Oct. 3.

McCarthy brought forward a last-minute CR to avert a government shutdown on Sept. 30, causing eight Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to join with Democrats to boot him in response.

The former speaker’s CR kept the government open for 47 more days, which was intended to be used by the House to complete its appropriations bills.

That failed to happen because the lower chamber spent three weeks trying to find McCarthy’s replacement.