There are already signs that the deadline for passing a bill funding the government in Fiscal year 2024, which is September 30, has passed. Congress is unable to fund the government for the entire fiscal year. So, they will try to pass another stopgap bill that funds the government for several weeks.
Nobody is surprised. This time, a group of around two dozen Republicans wants to break the agreement McCarthy made with Biden regarding spending. They want deeper cuts, which Biden and Democrats will not do.
There have been no formal discussions between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, N.Y.) and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. But it’s generally believed on the Hill that the short-term funding bill would probably have to last until Christmas.
The Senate has reported 12 appropriations measures, all of which are in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, negotiated by President Joe Biden and McCarthy.
NBC News:
The Senate, where 60 votes are needed to override a filibuster in order to pass funding bills and overcome the obstruction, operates on a bipartisan base by seeking spending levels that both parties agree upon and avoiding controversial policies that either party views as poison pills.
Schumer stated that McCarthy would lose if he followed the hard right in attempting to pass a partisan law. The hard right wants the government to be shut down. McCarthy is aware that this would be a disaster, not just for the country but also for his own party.
McCarthy’s Republican allies have warned for weeks about the impending continuing resolution due to the lack of available time. Congress has repeatedly pushed back the deadline in recent years to reach a more generous funding agreement.
House Republicans are preparing for a shutdown of the government. Even if Congress passes the stopgap budget bill, a shutdown is still possible.
Washington Examiner:
A short-term agreement could be problematic, as the House Freedom Caucus has stated that they will not support a continuing resolution for a short time and are not afraid of a shutdown. A group of Texas House Republicans has also pledged to vote against any bill funding the Department of Homeland Security until changes are made to U.S. immigration and border policy. The GOP will only allow themselves to lose four votes to pass legislation without the support of Democrats.
Biden’s request for an additional $40 billion in funding for Ukraine assistance, border policies, and disaster recovery will add to the current spending standoff. These funding priorities are likely to be difficult for conservatives in the House who oppose more Ukraine aid and have expressed disapproval at the Senate’s spending levels.
The $32 trillion debt was created by 50 years of deficit expenditure. Republicans, however, insist that they want to balance the budget within a few short years. It is not known how they will reach a consensus with Democrats this time on federal spending.
