Congress’s work on spending payments has floor to a halt with simply twelve working days scheduled earlier than the primary deadline to cease a partial authorities shutdown.
Veteran appropriators mentioned it was uncertain both the 2 spending payments due by a Jan. 19 deadline or the three due by a Feb. 2 deadline can be completed in time.
“I’m not betting on it right now,” mentioned Rep. Steve Womack, an Arkansas Republican on the Appropriations Committee.
The House has handed simply seven of the 12 annual authorities funding payments, however GOP infighting has halted work on the remaining 5 payments.
Neither the House nor the Senate has accomplished any spending invoice since earlier than lawmakers took a Thanksgiving break. The Democratic-run Senate has handed simply three of the 12 annual spending payments.
After the House and Senate go their payments, lawmakers nonetheless should negotiate a remaining model that may clear each chambers.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida Republican, urged his colleagues to simply accept that neither aspect can get all the things it desires.
“Whether I like it or not, that’s just a factual statement,” Mr. Diaz-Balart mentioned. “So the goal is to have very strong Republican victories in what we all know are ultimately going to have to be bipartisan bills.”
Bogging down the method is a dispute in regards to the general spending quantity.
As a part of the deal struck in May to droop the federal government’s $31.4 trillion debt restrict, the topline spending quantity for non-defense spending in fiscal 2024 was set at $1.59 trillion. The GOP-led House desires to spend much less and Senate Democrats need to spend as much as — or as House Republicans contend — above the cap.
The debt restrict deal, which was agreed to by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier than he was faraway from the publish, additionally triggers an automated 1% across-the-board spending lower if Congress doesn’t go the 12 annual payments in time.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Lousisian Republican, may resort to a full-year stopgap invoice, however that will not stop the automated 1% spending lower.
He has vowed to not use one other short-term spending invoice. He additionally threatened to place a full-year stopgap on the ground if Senate leaders don’t conform to a brand new topline quantity by the top of the month.
Mr. Womack mentioned that just about each possible consequence is grim.
“A full year [stopgap] is bad, and it’s marginally better than a government shutdown, but not much,” he mentioned.
House Freedom Caucus members, who led the cost for spending beneath the cap within the debt ceiling deal, are begrudgingly warming to the $1.59 trillion price range.
“Let’s go work it through at a spending level of $1.59 trillion or lower,” mentioned Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican within the Freedom Caucus. “That’s what we’re saying. Let’s do our job.”
But negotiations between House and Senate leaders on the topline quantity are at a standstill. That leaves appropriators twiddling their thumbs.
“It’s been almost impossible to operate. You need a clear top line early and agreed upon,” mentioned Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican on the Appropriations Committee. “Honestly, the more non-appropriators in the appropriation process usually the more difficult it is because most of them don’t understand how it works.”
