Speaker Johnson suggests a unique solution to prevent a government shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has proposed an innovative solution to avoid a potential government shutdown on Nov. 17. He suggests a “laddered” continuing resolution (CR), which would extend individual pieces of the appropriations process instead of passing a stop-gap spending bill.
This idea could be a game-changer for Speaker Johnson, who is under pressure to complete the 12 spending bills required by law before the deadline. However, he admits that time is running out.
A Lifesaver for Speaker Johnson
In his first week as speaker, Mr. Johnson is racing against the clock to meet the Nov. 17 deadline. He acknowledges that it’s unlikely to complete the bills by then.
“We’ve run out of time,” he said.
Avoiding Another Shutdown
This isn’t the first time the government has faced a shutdown. When the fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, none of the spending bills were signed into law. A 45-day stop-gap funding bill was passed in the final moments to prevent a shutdown, but it cost then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy his job.
Now, with time running out again, Speaker Johnson had hoped to pass a longer-term stop-gap funding bill. However, some Republicans refuse to accept a short-term solution.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) expressed his opposition to another stop-gap bill, stating that Congress should focus on passing the necessary appropriations bills and budget.
The laddered CR might be a more palatable solution to hardliners. “I think we can build consensus around that,” Mr. Johnson said.
A Dozen Deadlines
The laddered CR concept is common in the financial world. It involves spreading due dates over time, allowing negotiations to take place individually for each bill.
However, there are concerns that the process could become increasingly partisan and that certain areas of the government could be shut down if funding is not in place.
The 12 bills cover various departments and agencies, including Agriculture, Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation.
While the details of the laddered approach are still unclear, Speaker Johnson plans to provide more information in the coming days.
So far, the House has passed six of the 12 spending bills, accounting for 86 percent of the expected total. The Senate has passed three bills.
With limited time left before the deadline, Speaker Johnson’s proposed solution could be the key to avoiding another government shutdown.
What challenges does Speaker Johnson face in implementing the “laddered” CR plan within the limited time available
He entire appropriations process in such a short amount of time. The proposed “laddered” CR offers a potential solution to this pressing issue.
Under the current system, the government often faces the threat of a shutdown when Congress fails to pass the necessary appropriations bills on time. This not only disrupts government operations but also creates uncertainty and undermines public confidence. In an effort to avoid such a situation, Speaker Johnson has put forward a creative alternative.
The idea behind the “laddered” CR is to break down the appropriations process into smaller, more manageable pieces. Instead of relying on a single stop-gap spending bill, this approach would allow for the extension of individual parts of the appropriations process. By prioritizing and addressing different sectors one at a time, Speaker Johnson hopes to prevent a complete government shutdown while still ensuring that essential services are funded.
This innovative proposal has the potential to be a game-changer for Speaker Johnson’s tenure. It demonstrates his willingness to think outside the box and find alternative solutions when faced with time constraints. While it is not without its challenges, implementing a “laddered” CR would allow Congress to focus on specific areas that are most time-sensitive or controversial, making progress where it is most needed.
However, Speaker Johnson is also aware of the limited time available to execute this plan. With the deadline of November 17 fast approaching, he faces an uphill battle in completing the 12 spending bills required by law. It requires a significant amount of coordination, negotiation, and compromise to pass individual appropriations measures within such a tight timeframe.
Nevertheless, the proposed “laddered” CR represents a potential lifesaver for Speaker Johnson. By providing a temporary solution to avoid a government shutdown, it buys him and Congress more time to address the broader issues at hand. It allows for a more targeted approach to funding and ensures that critical government functions can continue without interruption.
In conclusion, Speaker Johnson’s proposal of a “laddered” continuing resolution offers a fresh and innovative approach to avoiding a potential government shutdown on November 17. While time constraints remain a challenge, this idea has the potential to be a game-changer for Speaker Johnson and demonstrates his determination to find alternative solutions. By breaking down the appropriations process into smaller parts, this approach allows for targeted funding while preventing a complete government shutdown. As the deadline looms, the success of this proposal relies on effective coordination and the ability to prioritize key areas of funding. Only time will tell if this idea will be the lifeline Speaker Johnson needs to successfully navigate the appropriations process and prevent a government shutdown.
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