The Senate introduced a new short-term spending bill Thursday afternoon.
The continuing resolution (CR) passed 77-18 over the objections of conservatives, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), who insisted on a vote to amend the bill, but it failed.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) immediately moved the House to set an afternoon vote. The passage extends funding levels and priorities originally set by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in December 2022. That will happen.
of @HouseGOP trying to join @Senate Republican Once again, continue to fund the federal government at Pelosi's spending levels, continue to fund all kinds of horrific abuses of power and police, from open borders and gun control to the United Nations and WHO. All Republicans should oppose it.
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 18, 2024
Even some Democrats, while voting in favor of the extension, expressed concern that Congress would fail in its most basic duty: passing spending bills in a timely manner.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who voted for CR despite his frustration, said the House should pass the bill. [get] Work on an actual bipartisan government funding bill. ”
I'm glad the Senate moved at the last minute to avoid a catastrophic government shutdown, but it's time to stop this stupid brinkmanship and pass a substantive spending bill.
I hope the House moves quickly to pass this rule…and then start working on an actual bipartisan government funding bill.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) January 18, 2024
In the House, Speaker Johnson chose to postpone the fight, resisting last-minute pressure from conservatives to reject the Senate's CR and instead move forward with his own bill that includes border security measures.
Mr Johnson's strategy has also sparked anger among those who typically vote for Speaker of the House of Commons.
“We have waited long enough, overcome enough challenges, and persisted long enough for 'bipartisan solutions,'” Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) tweeted. , vowed to oppose any CR without an agreement. This includes border security.
If we don't secure our borders, there will be no countries left to provide funding.
I will not support any more federal spending until Congress gets serious about border security. /1
— Rep. Jack Bergman (@RepJackBergman) January 18, 2024
Senate CR extends government funding through March, sets up another shutdown showdown.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News' Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
