The U.S. House of Representatives is on the verge of passing a stopgap funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, despite significant opposition from within the Republican Party. This legislative action comes as the current fiscal year draws to a close, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the American budget process.
The proposed continuing resolution (CR) aims to maintain the existing federal spending level of approximately $1.2 trillion through December 20, 2023. This measure would avert the furloughing of numerous federal employees and the disruption of essential government services just weeks before the November 5 election.
House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to employ a parliamentary maneuver to expedite the bill's passage, bypassing the House Rules Committee to overcome internal party resistance. This strategy reflects the complex dynamics within the Republican-controlled House, where the party holds a slim 220-212 majority.
The U.S. government has experienced 21 shutdowns since 1976, with the longest lasting 35 days in 2018-2019. These disruptions can result in substantial costs, with billions of dollars lost in productivity. Despite the potential for political fallout, some Republican members are expressing frustration with the reliance on continuing resolutions.
Republican Representative Greg Steube voiced his concerns, stating, "He (Johnson) committed to the conference that we weren't going to govern by CRs anymore ... here we are. So, I'm sure there's a bunch of members that are frustrated."
The situation is further complicated by former President Donald Trump's recent statements advocating for a shutdown unless legislation prohibiting non-citizens from voting in federal elections is attached to the spending bill. However, it's important to note that such voting is already illegal under current law.
Despite these challenges, bipartisan efforts are underway to ensure the bill's passage. Democratic Representative Pete Aguilar, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, expressed confidence, saying, "We'll work in a bipartisan way to make sure that this gets done."
The U.S. fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30, adds urgency to the current negotiations. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 established this modern budget process, but recurring disputes have led to frequent use of continuing resolutions as temporary funding measures.
If the House succeeds in passing the bill, the Democratic-majority Senate is expected to vote on it promptly, aiming to send it to President Joe Biden for signature before the current funding expires at midnight on Monday, October 2, 2023.
This legislative maneuvering occurs against the backdrop of broader fiscal challenges. The U.S. national debt exceeded $31 trillion in 2022, and Congress faces a critical self-imposed deadline of January 1, 2024, to address the debt ceiling or risk defaulting on more than $35 trillion in federal government debt.
The ongoing budget negotiations highlight the delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and the need to maintain government operations. As the world's largest economy, the United States has never defaulted on its debt obligations, a streak that policymakers are keen to maintain.
As the House prepares for this crucial vote, the outcome will have significant implications for government operations, federal employees, and the broader American political landscape in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.