President Johnson presents plan to avoid government shutdown and prevent ‘spending monstrosity’
Chairman Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, on Saturday unveiled a short-term spending plan aimed at avoiding a government shutdown when federal funds run out on Nov. 17.
The two-step proposal would fund part of the government through Jan. 19 and the rest through Feb. 2. A top GOP aide told Fox News Digital on Friday that his goal is a House-wide vote on Tuesday.
Supporters of a short-term, staggered bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), argue that it puts targeted pressure on lawmakers to achieve their goals at an incremental pace.
Johnson’s CR does not include additional funding for Ukraine or Israel, but it does extend key programs under the Farm Bill, another mandatory law that expires this year.
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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, on Saturday unveiled his plan for a short-term government funding bill. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The speaker said his plan would avoid forcing lawmakers to make hasty decisions before the holiday season by extending funding into the new year. He also defended his exclusion from President Biden’s $106 billion request for supplemental aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the southern border.
In a one-page summary of the plan, Johnson’s office said the approach would “prevent another irresponsible ‘Christmas omnibus’ spending monstrosity.”
“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to put House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories,” Johnson said in a statement after his introduction.
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“The bill will end the absurd holiday season-wide tradition of massive, over-the-top spending bills introduced just before the Christmas recess. Separating the CR from debates on supplemental funding puts our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight of Ukraine Aid, and meaningful policy changes on our southern border.”
House Republicans have pledged to pass 12 appropriations bills for the next fiscal year. (Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The plan first forces lawmakers to consider some of the traditionally less controversial appropriations bills: those related to military construction and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Energy and Water; Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. The remaining eight appropriations bills must be resolved by February 2.
House Republicans have pledged to pass 12 individual spending bills for the next fiscal year, rather than one giant “omnibus” funding bill that the previous Democratic-controlled Congress passed. last year.
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Most Republican lawmakers, including Johnson’s allies, have signaled they understand a CR is needed to give them more time to reach a deal and avoid a shutdown.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, has already spoken out against Johnson’s plan.
But some hardline Republicans are already speaking out against expanding the “omnibus” priorities they opposed.
“My opposition to the clean RC that the Speaker of the Assembly has just announced [House GOP] It cannot be exaggerated. Money [former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.] level spending and policies for 75 days – for future ‘promises,’ House Freedom Caucus Policy Chairman Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote in X after an exclusive conference call for Party members House Republican.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
