WASHINGTON — Congress is expected to expand current federal spending and keep the government open Thursday with votes in the Senate and House of Representatives, avoiding a shutdown and approving a final budget package through early March.
The relief bill comes after a bipartisan spending deal between House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., earlier this month and a subsequent agreement to to expand current expenditure so that the two chambers have sufficient time. to approve individual spending bills. The temporary measure lasts until March 1 for some federal agencies whose approved funds run out on Friday and extends the rest of government operations until March 8.
Johnson is under intense pressure from his right flank to jettison Schumer’s budget deal, and the bill to keep the government open will need Democratic support to pass the Republican-majority House. But Johnson has insisted he will stick to the deal as moderates in the party have urged him not to withdraw.
The emergency legislation will mark the third time Congress has expanded current spending, as Republicans in the House of Representatives bitterly disagree over budget levels and the caucus’ right flank has demanded sharper cuts. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by his caucus in October after first striking a deal with Democrats to extend current spending. Johnson has also been criticized for struggling with how to appease his members and avoid a government shutdown. election year.
“We just needed a little more time on the calendar to do it and now we’re there,” Johnson said Tuesday of the decision to extend federal funding again. “We’re not going to get everything we want.”
Most Republicans in the House of Representatives have so far refrained from saying Johnson’s job is in jeopardy. But a rebellion by even a handful of Republicans in the House of Representatives could jeopardize his position in the closely divided House.
Virginia Rep. Bob Good, one of eight Republicans who voted to impeach McCarthy, has pushed Johnson to reconsider the deal with Schumer.
“If your opponent knows in the negotiation that you fear the consequences of not reaching an agreement more than they fear the consequences of not reaching an agreement, you will lose every time,” Good said this week.
Other Republicans acknowledge that Johnson is in a difficult situation. “The speaker was dealt the same hand he was dealt,” said Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr. “We can only lose one vote on the majority side. I think it will have to be twofold.”
The emergency measure comes amid negotiations over a separate spending package that would give Ukraine and Israel war dollars and strengthen border security. Johnson is also under pressure from the right not to accept a deal weaker than a House-passed border measure that lacks Democratic support.
Johnson, Schumer and other congressional leaders and committee heads visited the White House on Wednesday to discuss that spending legislation. Johnson used the meeting to push for stronger border security measures, while President Joe Biden and Democrats assessed Ukraine’s security needs as the country continues to battle Russia.
Biden has requested a $110 billion package for war spending and border security.
___
Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.