A coalition of House Republicans has introduced legislation aimed at keeping the federal government funded through Oct. 31. This bill proposes a reduction in discretionary spending, giving Congress more time to determine spending levels for 2024.
The measure, proposed by members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and the pragmatically minded Main Street Caucus, was introduced on Sept. 17, just two weeks before the end of the federal fiscal year.
The 165-page bill would continue all government operations, but with an 8 percent reduction in spending for most discretionary programs, excluding the military and Veterans Affairs.
Finding Common Ground
House Republicans have expressed their opposition to a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) that does not include spending cuts or extend through most of the calendar year. They want to avoid a repeat of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Democrats in December.
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) expressed his concerns about the appropriations process, stating, “A small handful of appropriators will write something up with a push from the law firm of Schumer, McConnell, McCarthy, and Jeffries.” He emphasized the urgency of passing the bill before a potential government shutdown, highlighting the lack of opportunity for review or amendment.
The Main Street and House Freedom caucuses, both comprised of conservative Republicans, have different priorities. The Main Street group focuses on everyday issues affecting ordinary Americans, while the Freedom Caucus aims to reduce the deficit through spending cuts and address what they perceive as government overreach by the Biden administration.
By collaborating on a short-term continuing resolution that includes non-defense discretionary spending reductions, the leaders of the Main Street and House Freedom caucuses demonstrate their willingness to find common ground in the appropriations process.
Opposition from Hardliners
However, some House Republicans remain opposed to continuing current spending levels, even if it leads to a government shutdown.
Representative Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) expressed his disagreement shortly after the legislation was introduced, simply stating, “NO.”
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) provided a more detailed objection, criticizing the bill for funding Ukraine and what he perceives as election interference by Jack Smith. He emphasized the need for improvement and better decision-making.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) echoed these sentiments, stating, “This is EXACTLY why I am a NO on the CR. Don’t listen to the propaganda media machine that will kick on this week. They don’t want what [is] best for the little guy. They want to feed the machine.”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) speaks in Washington in an undated photo. (Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Although the bill does not explicitly mention Ukraine or Jack Smith’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump, it does fund the Departments of Defense and Justice at 2023 levels for an additional 31 days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Washington this week, and President Joe Biden is expected to request $24 billion in additional funding to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.
Time is Running Out
The appropriations process in the House is already behind schedule. On Sept. 13, hardline Republicans effectively blocked consideration of the $886 billion defense appropriations bill by the full House, as they insisted on strict caps for non-defense discretionary spending.
Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) clarified that the objections were not about the content of the bill but rather an attempt to leverage it for other purposes.
While the number of Republican hardliners is relatively small, their dissent can block any piece of Republican legislation in the narrowly divided House.
Most House Republicans are not advocating for a government shutdown but are focused on achieving conservative wins by enacting some spending cuts and repealing certain parts of President Biden’s agenda.
Republican-sponsored bills aim to reduce federal spending in 2024, set caps on future spending growth, and repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, including clean-energy tax credits.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), joined by members of the House Freedom Caucus, speaks at a news conference in Washington, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Far-right conservatives are pushing for deeper spending cuts to reduce the federal deficit and limit what they perceive as the Biden administration’s misuse of government resources.
Representative Scott Perry (R-Pa.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, emphasized their determination to stop the Biden administration’s actions by controlling the power of the purse.
Meanwhile, the Senate has passed all 12 required 2024 appropriations bills through their respective committees with bipartisan support. The Senate is basing appropriations levels on the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
A compromise between Mr. McCarthy and President Biden has resulted in a bill that suspends the nation’s debt ceiling through Jan. 1, 2025. It includes a slight reduction in non-defense discretionary spending in 2024 and a 1 percent increase in 2025.
House appropriators are proposing larger spending committees than those set by the Senate, setting the stage for a conflict between the two bodies to reconcile the amounts. Democrats hold a slim 51–49 majority in the Senate.
The short-term spending extension was introduced by Representatives Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), and Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.).
The Epoch Times reached out to Messrs. McCarthy, Donalds, Johnson, and Perry for comment on the continuing resolution, but no responses were received before publication.
What specific concerns do Representative Matt Gaetz and Representative Anna Paulina Luna have regarding government overreach in the proposed legislation
Address what they see as government overreach. However, reaching a consensus on these issues has proven challenging.
With the introduction of the bill proposing a reduction in discretionary spending and funding the government through October 31, House Republicans from both the far-right House Freedom Caucus and the pragmatically minded Main Street Caucus are attempting to find common ground. The bill, spanning 165-pages, calls for an 8 percent reduction in spending for most discretionary programs, excluding the military and Veterans Affairs.
This move comes as House Republicans express their opposition to a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) that does not include spending cuts or extend through most of the calendar year. They aim to avoid a scenario similar to the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Democrats in December.
Senator Mike Lee from Utah emphasized the urgency of passing the bill before a potential government shutdown. He raised concerns about the appropriations process, highlighting the lack of opportunity for review or amendment. However, some House Republicans remain opposed to continuing current spending levels, even if it means a government shutdown.
Representative Eli Crane from Arizona expressed his disagreement shortly after the legislation was introduced, simply stating “NO.” Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida provided a more detailed objection, criticizing the bill for funding Ukraine and what he perceives as election interference. Representative Anna Paulina Luna from Florida echoed these sentiments, claiming that the media’s agenda does not prioritize the needs of ordinary citizens.
While the bill does not explicitly mention Ukraine or former President Donald Trump’s prosecution, it does fund the Departments of Defense and Justice at 2023 levels
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