Speaker Mike Johnson unveils funding invoice one week earlier than potential shutdown

WASHINGTON — Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Saturday unveiled a short-term funding invoice that will avert a shutdown on the finish of subsequent week and preserve the federal government operating via the top of September.

Johnson has stated he’ll carry the funding invoice to the ground for a vote early subsequent week, possible Tuesday, earlier than cash runs out late Friday night time. It is unclear the laws has the votes to go both chamber, because it was not negotiated with Democrats. President Donald Trump, not wanting a disruptive shutdown within the opening months of his second time period, has stated he’ll signal the invoice if it reaches his desk.

The persevering with decision, or CR, consists of a rise in protection spending whereas lowering non-defense discretionary spending. It doesn’t develop the funds for extra emergency funding, catastrophe designations or group venture funding, also called earmarks.

“There’s no Christmas tree impact right here,” a Home Republican management staffer stated. “It’s simply what we have to fund the federal government and to permit that to occur.”

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the highest Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, slammed the laws inside moments of its launch Saturday.

“I strongly oppose this full-year persevering with decision, which is an influence seize for the White Home and additional permits unchecked billionaire Elon Musk and President Trump to steal from the American individuals,” she stated. “By primarily closing the ebook on negotiations for full-year funding payments that assist the center class and shield our nationwide safety, my colleagues on the opposite aspect of the aisle have handed their energy to an unelected billionaire.”

Even previous to the invoice’s launch, Home Democratic leaders got here out in opposition to Johnson’s plan, warning that the CR might lead to spending cuts to areas like well being care, dietary help and veterans advantages.

The gulf between the 2 events on the persevering with decision raises the probabilities of a shutdown. If Home Democrats unify in opposition to the invoice, it is unclear if Johnson and the Republicans would be capable of muscle it via the chamber on a party-line vote, like they did with the funds decision final month.

With a wafer-thin 218-214 majority, simply two Republican defections might derail the CR. And Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a vocal Johnson critic, has already vowed to vote no.

“It is clearly a problem for us,” Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, chairman of the conservative Republican Research Committee, advised reporters this week after he hosted a gathering on funding with key Home and Senate Republicans.

If Johnson can push the stopgap invoice via his chamber subsequent week, all eyes could be on Senate Democrats. Republicans have a 53-47 benefit there, so Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., would wish to safe seven Democratic votes to achieve the 60 votes wanted to beat a filibuster.

Neither social gathering is pushing for a shutdown. It might distract Republicans and delay them from passing a reconciliation bundle wanted to deal with Trump’s agenda on border safety, vitality and tax cuts.

In the meantime, Democrats have been blasting Trump, his billionaire adviser Elon Musk and congressional Republicans for slashing federal spending and firing hundreds of federal employees. And in a letter to colleagues Friday, Democratic leaders warned {that a} CR might impose extra cuts that they referred to as “not acceptable.”

However a shutdown would furlough tens of millions of remaining federal employees in each a part of the nation.