Government Shutdown and Defense Bill Impasse
On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana stated that the House will not reconvene at the Capitol to vote on the $852 billion Defense Department bill scheduled for Senate discussion on Thursday. He made it clear that this would only happen if Senate Democrats agree to reopen the government first.
Johnson expressed skepticism, anticipating that Senate Democrats will not provide the necessary votes to pass the defense bill during Thursday’s session. This development arises as the government shutdown stretches into its third week.
“I suspect the Democrats will continue their usual political tactics, keeping the situation stalled,” he remarked. “Maybe you’ll be surprised by that.”
Republican leadership in the Senate is looking to use the defense vote as a tactic to pressure Democrats concerning the ongoing government shutdown.
The defense bill has garnered considerable bipartisan support in the Appropriations Committee. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has decided to let it become stuck amid a standoff, given that Democratic leaders are unwilling to back short-term Republican measures aimed at resolving the shutdown.
Johnson indicated that if Democrats were caught off guard about supporting the defense package to ensure its Senate passage, he would keep House Republicans away from Washington until the shutdown issue is resolved.
“We need a 48-hour notice to gather again… Depending on what happens in the Senate, we can push these issues forward and tackle the backlog of work,” he noted.
“It’s ironic that Democrats have set a seven-week deadline of November 21st yet are wasting precious time. Their actions are significantly harming everyday Americans by shutting down essential services and paychecks, not to mention creating a backlog for Congressional tasks,” he added.
“We can’t sit back while hardworking Americans endure these disruptions. That’s why we’re insisting this matter be brought to light,” he asserted.
The House had passed a funding bill aimed at keeping the government operational until November 21, but Senate Democrats have shown reluctance, instead prioritizing the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the year’s end.
Democrats have warned that without Congressional action, they will soon receive notifications about potential premium hikes tied to the subsidy expiration.
Within the party, there’s a split regarding the subsidies. Johnson mentioned it as a topic for future discussion once the government is up and running. However, Democrats have expressed mistrust towards Republicans and Johnson, worried they might not uphold any agreements, especially in light of the ongoing shutdown.
