As the deadline for a government shutdown looms, the Senate has taken action to avert the crisis by advancing a bipartisan short-term funding bill. The legislation, which would extend funding through November 17, also includes provisions for $6 billion in aid to Ukraine and for disaster relief. However, there is uncertainty about whether the bill will be able to pass in the House of Representatives.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) may not bring the bill forward for a vote in the House, as it is unlikely to have the necessary support to pass.[0] Some representatives have even threatened to call for McCarthy's removal if he brings the bill to a vote. Despite this, the House has not presented its own stopgap bill.
The Senate proposal, as currently written, would require Democratic support to pass. This has raised concerns among members on the far right, including those within the conservative House Freedom Caucus.[1] They believe relying on Democrats to move the bill forward would result in a Republican lawmaker filing a motion to remove McCarthy from his position as Speaker.[1]
The Senate's stopgap bill aims to avoid a government shutdown, which would occur if a new funding bill is not passed before the deadline. The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stating that Democrats and Republicans worked together in good faith to reach an agreement.[2]
While the bill may not have everything that either side wants, Schumer emphasized that it will continue to fund the government at present levels.[3] It also maintains the commitment to Ukraine's security and humanitarian needs, while providing resources for natural disaster relief across the country.[4]
The Senate's stopgap bill includes $6.2 billion in aid for Ukraine and $6 billion for natural disasters. It also extends the expiring authority of the Federal Aviation Administration.[2] The bill is a result of bipartisan talks, but its fate in the House is uncertain.
The House has faced challenges in reaching a consensus on a short-term solution to keep the government open. McCarthy has struggled to unite his conference behind a plan that satisfies both the hard-right faction and ensures his leadership position.[1] Some Republicans have even stated that they will never vote for a continuing resolution, protesting the House's delay in considering full-year funding bills.[1]
The House GOP's focus has been on long-term appropriations bills rather than a short-term stopgap measure.[1] McCarthy has stated that he will offer his own short-term funding bill this week, but progress has been slow in resolving the standoff with the shutdown-fighting Republicans.[5]
In order to avoid a government shutdown, McCarthy would need to either pass bipartisan legislation or rally almost every member of his party.[6] With a narrow majority in the House, the outcome remains uncertain.[6]
Overall, the Senate's efforts to pass a short-term funding bill have moved forward, but the bill's fate in the House is unclear. The looming government shutdown deadline adds pressure for a resolution, but disagreements and political brinkmanship continue to impede progress.[7]
0. “Senate advances spending bill to keep government open” ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix, 27 Sep. 2023, https://www.abc15.com/senate-advances-spending-bill-to-keep-government-open
1. “Senate moves forward on short-term deal to avert government shutdown” The Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/26/senate-announces-short-term-deal-avert-government-shutdown-future-house-unclear/
2. “Senate votes to advance short-term funding bill to avoid government shutdown” The Hill, 26 Sep. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4224493-senate-votes-to-advance-short-term-funding-bill-to-avoid-government-shutdown
3. “Congress days away from a government shutdown with few solutions to avert it” NPR, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/1201557143/government-shutdown-house-republicans
4. “The Senate released its 79-page plan to avoid a shutdown. Here's what's in it.” Yahoo Finance, 26 Sep. 2023, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-senate-released-its-79-page-plan-to-avoid-a-shutdown-heres-whats-in-it-231613096.html
5. “Senate moves stopgap government funding, healthcare bill” Modern Healthcare, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/senate-stopgap-spending-bill-shutdown-hospitals-dsh-community-health-centers
6. “US Senate announces stopgap measure to avert impending government shutdown” Al Jazeera English, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/26/us-senate-announces-stopgap-measure-to-avert-impending-government-shutdown
7. “McCarthy Under Pressure As Clock Ticks To Avert Shutdown: Treasury Yields Mirror Market Jitters – iShares” Benzinga, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/09/34924068/mccarthy-under-pressure-as-clock-ticks-to-avert-shutdown-treasury-yields-mirror-market-jitters
