09/19/2024

House Rejects GOP Government Funding Bill

The vote on Johnson’s bill was 220-202

Last night, the House rejected Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) plan to fund the government for the next six months, ratcheting up pressure on lawmakers to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month.

Johnson’s bill would have combined a six-month extension of government funding at current spending levels with a measure the House already passed that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. That measure, called the SAVE Act, is opposed by Democrats who labeled it as a “scare tactic” since it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections.

The vote on Johnson’s bill was 220-202 with 14 Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. Democrats favor a clean three-month extension of government funding, which some Republicans also support.

• Defense hawks have said a six-month spending bill would hamstring national security spending, preferring a shorter extension that gives Congress more time to agree on new spending levels for the rest of the fiscal year.

What's next: With Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the Johnson plan, it is unclear what his next move will be. There are six legislative days remaining for Congress to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month.

“Everyone in Washington, Democrats and Republicans, knew this ill-conceived continuing resolution was destined to fail,” said House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). “Why we spent a week and a half considering a partisan bill, just days from a government shutdown, is beyond comprehension... The time to begin negotiations on a continuing resolution that can gain the support of Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate was last week – but right now will suffice, if Republicans are willing to meet us at the table and actually govern.”

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.