Conservative lawmakers within the GOP are expressing concern over the apparent slowdown in the ongoing government funding fight. They fear that delaying votes on the House’s remaining appropriations bills until the new year will cost valuable time in negotiations. In a recent interview on ‘Sunday Morning Futures,’ Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., discussed the White House’s economic policy and the latest developments in the GOP’s investigation into President Biden.
Lawmakers returned from their Thanksgiving break on Tuesday but will once again recess until January on December 15. Before leaving, Congress passed a temporary extension of last year’s government funding levels. However, there are two separate deadlines. The appropriations bills concerning military construction and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Energy and Water; Transportation; and Housing and Urban Development must be passed by January 19, while the remaining eight appropriations bills must be resolved by February 2.
While this measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), allowed Congress to avoid a government shutdown over the holidays, some lawmakers believe it has dampened the urgency to reach a deal. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, expressed concern that the CRs have merely kicked the can down the road and urged the House to push harder on the remaining spending bills or engage in daily discussions with the Senate to negotiate a deal.
The House has already passed seven of the 12 individual appropriations bills it committed to funding for the next fiscal year. The Senate, on the other hand, has passed its own three spending bills as part of a joint minibus and is considering a similar effort with the nine remaining bills.
The government funding fight has been marked by internal divisions within the GOP for months. Disagreements between moderates and conservatives have caused House leaders to pull spending bills from the vote schedule multiple times. A senior GOP aide cited these disagreements as the reason for the apparent slowdown, stating that there may not be a breakthrough at the moment.
Despite the concerns and divisions within the GOP, conversations between the top appropriators in the House and Senate are ongoing. A GOP lawmaker acknowledged that the official negotiating position can be set once something is passed out of appropriations or rules, reiterating the need to negotiate with the Senate.
As Congress continues its recess until January, conservative lawmakers remain wary of the slowdown in the government funding fight. They believe that delaying votes on appropriations bills could impede negotiations and hinder progress. With the CRs now in place, the pressure to reach a deal has lessened, raising concerns among conservatives who are urging action and engagement with the Senate. The internal divisions within the GOP have been a significant factor in the delays, and while conversations between House and Senate appropriators continue, a breakthrough may not be imminent. As the deadline approaches for the remaining appropriations bills, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and whether a resolution can be reached in time.
