ABC News’s Allison Pecorin posted one of the most relatable Capitol Hill quotes I’ve heard in a while: “A Senate staffer waiting for their boss at votes: ‘sometimes I feel like watching C-SPAN is like watching your dog at day care. Are they having fun? Are they making friends?’” Here’s what’s happening today:
- Democrats may bail out Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and help to avert a shutdown at the end of the week. House Republican leaders set up a vote for this afternoon, so keep an eye on that.
- Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) wascornered by a passenger on Amtrak who claimed to be a journalist calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The video from the “quiet car” is pretty tense.
- Tens of thousands of pro-Israel supporters are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., today for a demonstration.
The House is scheduled to vote on a bill today to avert a government shutdown at the end of the week.
When is the final vote?: Around 4:20 p.m. Here’s the full agenda for today
Key details to know: Democrats are open to Speaker Mike Johnson’s(R-La.) stopgap plan to fund the government. That’s important because some Republicans — including the House Freedom Caucus — vocally oppose the two-step funding approach.
What’s in the bill?: It’s pretty no-frills. It doesn’t include funding for Ukraine or Israel — and it doesn’t include spending cuts. The two-tiered bill would fund parts of the government until Jan. 19 and other parts until Feb. 2, eliminating the one big expiration date.
What’s specifically happening today?: House Republican leaders are taking a step to pass the “laddered” funding bill today. The continuing resolution (CR) will be brought up under suspension of the rules, but will need support from two-thirds of the House to pass it. How that works
Where Democrats stand: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Monday that he is “pleased” that Johnson’s bill did not include spending cuts. House Democratic leaders did not dismiss the proposal either, saying they would “carefully evaluate” it.
Where Republicans stand: At least nine House Republicans have voiced their opposition so far. Hard-line conservatives initially supported Johnson’s “laddered” approach but now oppose it due to the lack of spending cuts. The House Freedom Caucus just officially opposed the plan.
^ This is important: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said he would back Johnson’s plan even though it doesn’t include the Ukraine aid — something that has been a priority for McConnell.