The prospect of a government shutdown fell dramatically just days before Friday’s deadline, as lawmakers announced late Tuesday that they had reached an agreement on the framework of a full-year government spending bill after negotiations had already stalled.
“Congress now has a roadmap for funding the government before the end of the 117th Congress,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said from the Senate floor Wednesday morning. “We still have a long way to go, but the framework is a big step in the right direction.”
Further cementing lawmakers’ ability to approve long-term spending legislation, known as omnibus bills, is a week-long continuing proposal to extend this week’s deadline to Dec. 23, which is expected to see movement in the House on Wednesday and give lawmakers a grant. Additional time to approve long-term measures.
Still, the road ahead likely won’t be without pitfalls.
Democratic Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy announced the deal on the spending framework Tuesday, along with GOP Vice Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama and Democratic Rep. of Connecticut. Rosa DeLauro, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee reached out to the woman. But notably missing was GOP Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.
Indeed, House Republicans — led by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California — have expressed distaste for an omnibus spending bill and are expected to vote against its passage. That could spell trouble next week for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, who would have only a handful of Democratic votes left if Republicans oppose the bill.
House Republicans are expected to make the case for CR extension in the new year at a news conference later Wednesday. Doing so would give Republicans, with a new Republican-controlled House, more leverage in spending negotiations. But some have warned that it will also complicate things for McCarthy, who is facing a tough bid for speaker.
On the Senate side, the bill requires unanimous consent, giving each senator the ability to hold up its progress, while 60 votes will ultimately be needed. Still, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has expressed unanimous support for the measure until Dec. 22, when he said Republicans “would be happy to pass a short-term CR early next year.”
The agreement was announced on Tuesday after a standoff over domestic spending emerged between the two parties. While Republicans have argued that current domestic spending included in legislation approved earlier this year — such as the Inflation Reduction Act and pandemic relief — should be taken into account when considering additional spending, citing fears of worsening inflation, Democrats have said spending should be approved first. The next year will not result in less funding for domestic priorities.
Schumer said earlier Tuesday that he hoped the omnibus would include “priorities that both parties want,” including more funding for Ukraine and the Election Counting Act, billed as legislation to prevent another incident like the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. 2021.
McConnell, who usually supports the omnibus, urged lawmakers on Wednesday for hard work ahead, warning against “poison pills” and “far-left demands” in the process, reiterating his Dec. 22 limit.
“The calendar will make it an even more challenging sprint,” he said.