House GOP leaders are working to get a Stopgap Expense Bill approved to fund the government until November 20th, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The specifics of the Continuous Resolution (CR) haven’t been revealed yet, but Republicans are suggesting it will be mostly “clean.”
With a tight deadline looming, House leaders are under pressure to finalize plans by the weekend. Lawmakers are set to leave Washington next week for the Rosh Hashanah holiday.
This approach may lead to conflicts with Democrats, who are insisting on essential healthcare concessions as part of the voting process.
“The partisan law allows for unprecedented Republican attacks on healthcare, and therefore it’s not a clean spending bill. It’s a dirty bill,” one representative expressed on social media.
This situation might force Republicans to pass the CR without relying on Democratic votes.
However, the GOP leader is facing a narrow majority, only able to lose two votes if every Democrat opposes the bill.
Several House Republicans have voiced their discontent about the CR plan, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who argued that Congress should avoid passing it. Rep. Victoria Spartz also expressed hesitation, fearing potential complications just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Rep. Warren Davidson shared his frustrations, indicating that he was unhappy with the current approach and wary of another CR that would extend government operations.
Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting vulnerable House Democrats with an advertising campaign, encouraging support for the CR and warning against undermining Trump’s policies by opting for a government shutdown.
Top officials have noted that there has been a focus on Stopgap plans, with input from the White House on potential add-ons or “anomalies.”
“We’re working through this but wish to avoid anything we’re not on board with,” remarked House spending chair Tom Cole recently.
He emphasized, “Our goal is to pass the CR, not complicate matters further.”
Reportedly, the White House has also requested a $58 million security increase following concerns about political violence, which has been heightened after a recent shooting incident.
Members from both parties are seeking more security resources in light of these worries.
Additionally, the House is advocating for a formal meeting regarding its annual legislative branch funding bill with the Senate this month.
Initially, there was a push to connect this bill with a short-term CR on October 1st. However, those prospects seem dim as bipartisan agreements are complicated by partisan tensions over spending and healthcare issues.
Cole mentioned that the two parties are “not too far apart” when it comes to funding bills touching on legislative divisions, Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). He stressed the importance of concluding discussions by the end of next week so that members can be adequately informed.
