US Congressional Leaders Present Stopgap Bill to Prevent Shutdown
The Facts
Leaders within the US House and Senate on Sunday agreed on a bipartisan short-term spending bill intended to extend federal funding of various agencies and prevent a partial government shutdown this Friday.
The extension, titled the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act 2024, would allow departments listed under: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Military, Veteran Affairs, and Related Agencies; as well as Transport, Housing and Urban Development to receive funding until March 1.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
With a deadline looming, this agreement represents a reasonable compromise from both sides and should be met with little controversy — even if a stubborn section of conservative GOP members will stomp their feet and complain about any deal that doesn't align 100% with their hardline agenda. Johnson must withstand the pressure for the sake of the bipartisan majority.
Republican narrative
Although the House GOP isn’t united on everything, one matter it can coalesce around is the Biden administration’s failed border security policies. So Johnson has successfully negotiated spending cuts into this bill, but he still must get more concessions from the Democrats in order to satisfy the right flank of the party.
