His plan would set two deadlines to keep parts of the government functioning.
Just six days before the government shutdown, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, presented his plan to Republicans on Saturday to avoid a shutdown.
Johnson told Republican lawmakers in a conference call that he was moving forward with a two-stage government funding plan in what Johnson described as a “phased CR” or continuing resolution, multiple sources said at ABC News. Notably, funding for Israel, Ukraine, or border security is not tied to mandatory legislation.
“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to put House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories. The bill will end the absurd holiday omnibus tradition of introducing massive, loaded spending bills just before the Christmas break. Separating the CR from debates over additional funding puts our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight of aid “Ukraine and significant political changes on our southern border,” Johnson said in a statement.
How the bill would work is a bit complicated, however.
Congress often passes a short-term funding bill or stopgap measure, known as a CR, to keep the government open at current spending levels. This is the option Congress used just a few weeks ago to avoid a shutdown.
But Johnson says that’s not on the table.
Instead, he is proposing a plan that would set two different deadlines to keep different parts of the government functioning, sources on the call told ABC News. The legislative text obtained by ABC News confirms two separate extensions for different parts of the federal government just two weeks apart – on January 19 and February 2.
When outlining the plan, Johnson mentioned that he had only been in office for a few weeks, adding that he was not “the architect of the mess we find ourselves in,” close sources said. folder.
Johnson is in the same boat that sank former President Kevin McCarthy — with a slim majority testing his leadership in every hall of the Capitol. Absent a far-right revolt, a House vote could take place as early as Tuesday, maximizing pressure on the Senate to act before the Nov. 17 deadline.
Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries have insisted that Republicans move forward with what’s called a “clean CR,” funding the government at fiscal 2022 spending levels set before Democrats lost control from the room.
This measure does not call into question this level of spending, which has already upset Republicans like Representative Chip Roy of Texas, who signals his opposition to X.
“My opposition to the clean CR that the CR president has just announced cannot be overstated,” Roy said. “Funding Pelosi-level spending and policies for 75 days – for future ‘promises’.”
The package also includes a one-year extension of the Farm Bill.
Johnson indicated Saturday that he was content to advance other policies with autonomous votes. House Republicans passed a $14.3 billion plan to aid Israel earlier this month, but President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats scoffed at the lower chamber’s proposed IRS cuts .
The current deadline to adopt a plan is the end of the day next Friday, November 17. The House leaves for the week on Thursday, leaving just a few days for deals to be reached when House lawmakers return on Monday.
The House Rules Committee will meet at 4 p.m. to hold a floor debate and potential vote as early as Tuesday.