House Passes Stopgap Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown For Another Week

The House on Wednesday approved a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown for another week while negotiators hammer out a longer deal, The New York Times reports.

The House voted 224 to 201 largely down party lines to avert a government shutdown this weekend to buy time for lawmakers to work out the details of a larger package.

“We have a framework that provides a path forward to enact an omnibus next week,” House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro said, adding that the committees are ready to “work around the clock” to complete the deal.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Pat Leahy and ranking Republican member Richard Shelby echoed her optimism about a final deal, which is expected to total roughly $1.7 trillion.

GOP opposition:

Despite backing from Shelby and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, only nine House Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy opposed the bill and urged his members to oppose it.

“We can’t afford to spend the way Democrats have,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Still, the bill is expected to be approved by the Senate by Friday.

House GOP wants influence:

With Republicans set to take control of the House in January, House GOP leaders have urged the Senate to pass a short-term deal until early next year so that Republicans have leverage to force sharp spending cuts.

“House Republicans will work toward a spending agreement that cuts wasteful spending, reduces inflation and prioritizes border security and national defense,” Texas Rep. Kay Granger, who is in line to replace DeLauro, said Wednesday. “We have to stop this out of control spending.”

But some Republicans in the Senate are worried that the House GOP dysfunction could threaten a government shutdown.

“I don’t think any new Congress should be forced into trying to do the last Congress’s work, and even more so if you’re changing control,” Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt told the Times. “I just think it’s asking for big problems.”

 

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