Government shutdown averted: House of Representatives passes bill to keep US funded through March despite anti-Mike Johnson revolt from conservative Republicans

The House of Representatives has passed an emergency public funding bill to avoid a shutdown deadline in just over 24 hours, despite strong opposition from hardline conservatives.

The continuing resolution, or CR, funds the government through March 1 for four agencies and through March 8 for the remaining eight, at fiscal year 2023 levels enacted under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The measure passed 314-108, with Democrats joining Republicans in crossing the finish line.

The so-called “laddered” approach is intended to push lawmakers to pass 12 separate bills to fund each government agency, rather than one big omnibus.

Right-wing hardliners from the Freedom Caucus had tried to force Speaker Mike Johnson to attach HR 2, the Republicans’ tough border bill, to the deal — which would have sent the government into a shutdown.

Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., said he is furious with the speaker for passing a CR without boundary provisions and threatening to undermine other Republican-led bills in the future.

The hardliners even suggested that they would rather throw the government into a shutdown to demand border security provisions.

“If (Democrats) want to close the border, then it’s up to them to shut down the government,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told reporters.

“It’s GROUNDHOG DAY in the House chamber – always, every day. Once again, spending money we don’t have!’ complained Chip Roy, trying to urge his colleagues to vote “no” on the CR.

‘We know that the Budget Act of 1974 requires that the twelve budget bills must be introduced by the House of Representatives before June 30. And everyone just ignores that like it’s a recommendation,” Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont, told me. reporters. ‘It’s the law. And I’m disgusted that we’re still ignoring the process.”

Johnson resisted, relying instead on Democratic votes to make up for Republican Party defectors as a blizzard rages toward DC and lawmakers look to leave town.

The bill was shelved by the House of Representatives – meaning it required a two-thirds majority to pass, but did not need to progress into a rules vote that typically only passes with the votes of the majority.

Some hardliners threatened to undermine future rule votes to thwart the Republican agenda until Congress passed border security.

“That’s the discussion,” Burlison said of the idea. “If you’re ready to fight on the border. Let’s do it right now. Let’s not wait for a piece of trash to come back from the Senate.”

The Senate is currently spearheading a national security package that would include border provisions in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel.

The Senate had previously passed the continuing resolution by a vote of 77 to 18.

The CR will keep the government fully funded until at least March 1, giving lawmakers time to strike deals on 12 individual appropriations bills to fund each government agency.

The original deadline for passing bills to finance the government for the 2024 financial year was September 30. Since then, two CRs have been passed that keep federal funding levels at the same level as at the end of 2022.

And after extending the funding deadline to less than two months, the House will go into a week-long recess next week.

“The House is only meeting for two days this week, why?” Rosendale wrote on X.

“It’s GROUNDHOG DAY in the House chamber – always, every day. Once again, spending money we don’t have!’ Chip Roy complained

Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., was furious with the speaker for passing a CR without border riders and threatened to thwart future priority legislation for Republicans by undermining rule votes

“So the DC cartel can use Congress to enforce a continuation of Biden and Pelosi’s policies while its members smell airplane fumes. I remain steadfast in my commitment: close the border or close the government!’

“Americans have not given Republicans a majority in the House of Representatives to continue Nancy Pelosi’s inflationary spending and Joe Biden’s failed policies,” the Freedom Caucus said in a statement, urging its roughly 50 members to vote no on the deal.

“Unfortunately, that is exactly what has been proposed to buy time – incredibly – to pass a full year of appropriations that will increase Pelosi’s spending levels and likely maintain Biden’s policies. This is not what we promised the American people.”