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The Facts
On Thursday, the US White House announced that Pres. Joe Biden signed a $1.7T omnibus bill to fund the government for the 2023 fiscal year.
Biden had until Friday to sign the bill to avert a partial government shutdown. Before Christmas, the House passed the bill 225-201, a day after the Senate voted in favor of the bill in a 68-29 vote.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This bill is a final opportunity for Biden and Democrats to make their mark on government spending before Republicans claim the House in 2023, and its signing should be celebrated. Passing legislation has been a high point for the Biden administration in the past two years, and this omnibus bill — a model of bipartisan collaboration — secures funding for several critical areas and implements key policy changes to protect democracy.
Republican narrative
While increased funding for the military and checks on wasteful domestic spending ought to be applauded, the GOP should not have supported the passage of this bloated bill that was rammed through a lame-duck Democratic session. While it wouldn't be pretty, a government shutdown would have been preferable if it meant that the incoming Republican-controlled House could save Americans from Biden's unchecked wastefulness.
