by Kristina Karisch
Congressional leaders reached a deal to avert a government shutdown this week, landing on a two-step stopgap bill that will keep the lights on in Washington into March. Under the deal, the new government funding deadlines will be March 1 and March 7. The agreement comes ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline, and a second deadline on Feb. 2.
The proposal — which the House and Senate must approve by Friday night to avoid a partial shutdown — will give the House and Senate more time to complete work on the 12 appropriations bills. The announcement of the two-step continuing resolution is sure to anger conservative House Republicans, who are traditionally opposed to stopgap legislation and have been averse to GOP leadership cutting deals with Democrats.
But the approach is one that was largely favored by House conservatives during the shutdown showdown in November. The structure was seen as a way to avoid a massive, whole-of-government omnibus funding bill in December, which Republicans typically abhor (The Hill and Roll Call).
CNN: Read the full text of the stopgap bill.
THE DEAL MARKS A LEGISLATIVE WIN for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who is juggling warring factions within his party as he aims to execute the first major legislative deal of his Speakership. A proud staunch conservative, The Washington Post reports Johnson had believed his reputation within the House Freedom Caucus would help manage their demands in a way that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) could not. Many Republicans acknowledge the difficult task he has taken on while learning on the job.
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said the conference put Johnson “in a boat that’s on fire,” while Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) said the Speaker is limited by conflicting demands from the party’s far-right flank, making it “hard to worry about bailing water when you got the alligators sniffing at you.”
A handful of House Democrats say they’d step in to help Johnson keep his gavel in the face of a potential conservative revolt — but it wouldn’t come free.
Democrats willing to consider the matter said Johnson would first have to forge an agreement with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) ensuring Democrats had a greater voice in the legislative process (The Hill).
“Just like I told McCarthy: Talk to Hakeem, and there are some of us that can support you,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), referring to when McCarthy was booted from his leadership post last year at the hands of disgruntled conservatives. “I’ll say the same thing [to Johnson].”
