Senate Overwhelmingly Votes To Continue Government Funding With No Spending Cuts
The Senate Passes Short-Term Spending Bill to Fund Government
The Senate has passed a short-term spending bill that will continue to fund the government at current levels until early 2024. This bill, which received support from Democrats in the House, faced criticism from some Republicans for its lack of spending cuts and maintenance of the status quo.
“Keeping the government is a good outcome, of course, but we have a lot more work to do after Thanksgiving,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a speech after the vote. “I know both sides genuinely care about approving aid to Israel and Ukraine and helping innocent civilians in Gaza. So I hope we can come to an agreement even if neither side gets everything they insist on.”
In the House, the stopgap spending bill passed with a majority of 336-95, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. Schumer praised the House for not working with the “hard right” and voting to continue government funding.
“Obviously, the Republican-led House needed Democratic votes to avoid a shutdown, and I was pleased to see that the speaker was willing to work with Democrats and resisted the siren song of the hard right in the House,” he said. “And if that continues, we can avoid further shutdowns and finish the work of funding the government.”
Ten Senate Republicans and Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet voted against the bill. The Republicans who voted against it were Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN), Sen. Mike Braun (IN), Sen. Mike Crapo (ID), Sen. Mike Lee (UT), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (OK), Sen. Rand Paul (KY), Sen. James Risch (ID), Sen. Eric Schmitt (MO), Sen. Rick Scott (FL), and Sen. J.D. Vance (OH).
An amendment by Sen. Rand Paul to cut spending and funding for the IRS was defeated 65-32. The amendment aimed to reduce funding by 15 percent, except for the Department of Defense, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to rescind $30,000,000,000 from enforcement funds provided to the Internal Revenue Service.
After the passage of the continuing resolution in the House, some Republicans have blocked the passage of additional spending bills, citing the concerns of conservative voters who do not want spending reform to be delayed further.
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In September, the U.S. national debt surpassed $33 trillion and is projected to exceed $50 trillion by 2033.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated that the two-step continuing resolution, which funds certain federal agencies through mid-January and others through early February, was necessary.
“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories. The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded-up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess,” he said. “Separating out the CR from the supplemental funding debates places our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight over Ukraine aid, and meaningful policy changes at our Southern border.”
What programs and agencies are included in the short-term spending bill
Nd continue to fund important government programs.”
While the short-term spending bill received bipartisan support in the Senate, some Republicans expressed their disappointment with the lack of spending cuts. They argued that the bill did not do enough to address the growing national debt and called for more fiscal restraint.
“I cannot in good conscience support a bill that does not address our nation’s fiscal challenges,” said Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) in a statement. “We need to be more responsible with taxpayer dollars and find ways to reduce spending, not just continue funding at current levels.”
However, Senate Democrats argued that a short-term spending bill was necessary to avoid a government shutdown and provide stability while negotiations for a long-term budget agreement continue. They emphasize the importance of maintaining government services and programs without interruption.
“We cannot afford to play partisan games with the budget and risk another damaging government shutdown,” said Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). “This short-term funding measure allows us to keep the government running while we work towards a long-term solution. It ensures that critical services are not disrupted and that the American people can rely on their government to serve them.”
The short-term spending bill includes funding for key government agencies and programs, such as defense, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It also includes provisions for disaster relief and border security. While both Democrats and Republicans expressed the need for a long-term budget agreement, they acknowledge the importance of keeping the government funded in the meantime.
With the passage of this short-term spending bill, the government will continue to be funded until early 2024. However, the debate over long-term spending and fiscal responsibility will continue as lawmakers work towards a comprehensive budget agreement.
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