House skips town for two weeks, while Congress returns for just three days before government shutdown again: Republicans fear another short-term spending deal with no alternative in sight
- The House of Representatives is in recess until February 28, just three days before the March 1 deadline, to finance the budget government
- If Congress does not approve funding by March, the government will shut down
- Republicans have indicated there is no need for a new short-term spending bill, while Democrats welcome the idea
The House of Representatives went into a two-week recess Thursday without passing a government funding bill, leaving just three days after their return to avoid another possible government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., could pass a short-term funding bill, called a continuing resolution (or CR), in mid-January to avoid a government shutdown. The measure passed 314-108, with Democrats joining Republicans in crossing the finish line.
But that funding expires on March 1 and the House won’t meet again until February 28.
However, many Conservatives opposed the January CR, but Johnson calmed their dissent by claiming that the government would be funded by twelve separate bills for each government agency rather than one large omnibus.
But the House of Representatives has just three days after returning from recess to pass those 12 separate bills, raising questions among some about how to achieve Johnson’s mission.
“I don’t think a CR will be well received by the Republican Conference,” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told DailyMail.com.
Rep. Byron Donalds said Republicans would be upset if they had to pass another short-term spending bill before the March 1 government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson repeatedly indicated that he would use the time after passage of the January CR to develop twelve individual spending bills
“When it comes to the Speaker, I think what needs to happen is they need to start thinking strategically about the long term, not just what’s in store for us from one week to the next.”
Donalds also said the 12 individual funding bills would not happen before the March 1 funding deadline.
“I already know this won’t happen before the first time,” he said, adding that the bills could not be passed because the Senate is already in recess.
Republican Mike Garcia of California agreed: “I don’t know if the individual, standalone bills are feasible.”
House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green told DailyMail.com he hopes border security funding will be tied to any upcoming spending measures.
“Well, what I’ve been working on is how do we get some border security and put some of these things in,” Green said.
Democrat Jamie Raskin said he hopes the House of Representatives will pass a CR in early March to avoid a government shutdown.
When asked if he believes the House is ready to pass another CR, the Speaker replied, “God, I hope not.” I hate voting no.”
Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee also said he would “probably” vote no on a new CR unless it included serious funding for drill safety.
“I’ve never voted for a CR since I’ve been here,” he said.
Democrats, on the other hand, welcome a new short-term spending bill.
“I imagine and I hope we get another CR instead of shutting down the government,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.
“I think Speaker Johnson and the Republican Party understand that they have already provided enough of a spectacle of chaos and dysfunction that they don’t need to delve deeper into it.”
The House has already passed two CRs since Johnson took over the gavel in October.